What Foods Cleanse the Bowel?

Regularly cleansing the bowel offers several health benefits and works primarily to improve the digestive system and restore healthy bowel functioning. Certain foods help to cleanse the bowel and keep the digestive system in order. These foods are high in calcium, magnesium and fiber, and can be eaten in regularly as part of a bowel cleansing diet.

Types of Foods

The best foods that cleanse the bowel include: fresh fruits with skins, yeast flakes, fresh vegetables, wheat products, sea vegetables, sprouted grains, spinach, broccoli, almonds, kale, beet greens, sesame seeds, watercress, legumes, acerola cherries, pysllium fiber and flax seeds. All of these foods must be eaten in their purest form and eaten on an empty stomach.

If you are undertaking a bowel cleanse, it's also important to drink as much purified water as possible, as this helps to improve elimination and promote the cleansing process.

Effects

Increasing intake of bowel-cleansing foods helps to eliminate toxins and waste build up in the intestines and colon, thereby improving digestive functioning. When the digestive system is not working properly, most people experience fatigue, constipation, an inability to concentrate, and have difficulty sleeping. Weight gain and indigestion are also common when the bowels are not functioning properly.
Eating more foods that cleanse the bowel can reduce the risk of health problems and restore healthy bowel movements.

Benefits

Eating more foods that cleanse the bowel offers several health benefits. A bowel cleanse can leave you feeling relaxed and give you more energy. Removing wastes and toxins in the body can also lead to weight loss, healthier skin and an improved sense of well-being.

According to HealingDaily.com, the typical American holds approximately eight meals of undigested food in her colon. This is because waste byproducts are not eliminated regularly through the bowels. One of the best ways to get rid of the waste buildup is to eat more fiber and undertake a bowel cleanse.

Considerations

When increasing the amount of high-fiber, raw foods in the diet, you can expect to have more bowel movements throughout the day. Foods that cleanse the bowels must be consumed at regular intervals throughout the day, and in conjunction with lots of water. All processed foods, sugars, caffeine, starches and meat must be eliminated from the diet during the cleanse, or the effects will be mitigated.
Supplements such as lecithin, chlorophyll and Triphala may accompany a bowel or colon cleanse.

Misconceptions

Eating more foods that cleanse the bowels does not guarantee weight loss or provide relief from certain diseases and health problems. Most people experience slight discomfort from the detoxification process. This can include headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness and fatigue. However, as soon as the toxins are out of the body, the health is restored.

Bowel cleansing supplements may be used as part of the cleanse to promote more bowel movements and speed up the detoxification process. However, any supplements should be evaluated by a physician to ensure there are no ingredients that may trigger adverse side effects.