You Have Sugar Cravings
Eating a diet high in refined sugar and processed foods can feed the bad bacteria in your gut, boosting their numbers. This imbalance can lead to more sugar cravings as the bad bacteria thrive on sugar to live.
High levels of bad bacteria may see them feeding on your gut wall, causing molecules to leak through into the bloodstream, leading to inflammation in the body. Inflammation has been linked to most chronic diseases including cancer.
Best Detox Drinks For Cleansing Your System
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Detox drinks are becoming increasingly popular as people become more health-conscious and want to rid their systems of toxins. But what are detox drinks, and why are they beneficial?
Detox drinks are beverages that help flush the body of toxins. They can be made from a variety of ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Some common ingredients include lemon juice, ginger root, parsley and cayenne pepper.
Detox drinks have many benefits. They can help improve digestion, boost energy levels, reduce inflammation and improve overall health. They can also help promote weight loss by cleansing the system of toxins that can interfere with fat metabolism.
There are several detox drinks on the market these days. It can be hard to find the right one for you. Weve gathered a list of some of our favorites to help you out.
Our picks for the best detox drinks include:
Exercise To Clean Stomach
You can also do certain exercises and yoga asanas to clean your stomach, including:
- Sit-ups: They trigger bowel movements and help with digestive issues, including constipation, bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome. Perform sit-ups repeatedly for at least 20-30 times.
- Uttanpadasana or Leg Raises: This exercise enhances the abdominal musclesâ strength. Performing 20-30 repetitions of leg raises every day is effective in tackling indigestion and stomach bloating.
- Apanasana: This helps in getting relief from gas pains and bloating. You may repeat this yoga posture 8-10 times daily.
- Spine Twist: This exercise is effective for stimulating digestion.
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Sleep Problems Or Persistent Fatigue
An unhealthy gut may be a reason for experiencing sleep disturbances such as insomnia or poor sleep, and therefore it leads to continuing fatigue. Most of the bodys serotonin, a hormone that affects mood and sleep, is produced in the gut. So gut damage definitely can hinder your capability to have a good sleep. Some sleeping problems have also been associated with risk for fibromyalgia which is a gut disease.
Easy Steps To Cleanse And Reset Your Gut
While some methods of a gut cleanse involve procedures like colonics or medications, there are plenty of simple versions for how to cleanse your gut naturally. These are easy steps that you can take to detox without expensive treatments or medispas. Whats even better – you can start tomorrow! Its simply a matter of dedication.
Step 1: Reevaluate What Youre Eating
- Try a food journal to kick off this step. Write down everything you remember eating from the past 1-2 weeks. Then make an note about everything you eat for the next 1-2 weeks.
- Chances are, you may surprise yourself with how much you will consume junk food or even make less healthy choiceslike piling in multiple servings of complex carbohydrates in one day or excess sugar.
- Once youve finished your diet audit, balancing out your macronutrients are key in this step.
- While an occasional gut cleanse can do wonders for the bodys microbiome, you can carry over many of the dietary principles to your everyday meal plan so that you constantly maintain a happy gut.
Step 2: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Step 3: Eat Probiotics
Step 4: Supplement Your Gut Detox
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When To Sleep: 11 Pm
Sleep deprivation has been found to alter the bacteria in your gut. Go to bed early at least 30 minutes before you normally do on a weekday for quality sleep.
But that doesnt mean that adults dont benefit from the fuzzy snuggles, too.
Get dirty
Garden. Play outside. Lounge on the grass. Exposure to the natural microbes around us can help replenish our microbiota and encourage diversity.
Its probably not wise to go around licking subway poles or eating undercooked chicken, but most of us could benefit from a little less cleanliness.
You Have Food Intolerances
Food intolerances are different to food allergies, which are caused by an immune system reaction.
Food intolerances are not life threatening but can affect the quality of your life in that they cause symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhoea, pain, nausea or even skin problems and headaches. It is thought that the quality and balance of the gut bacteria may have some part to play.
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Should You Do A Gut Cleanse
Doing a detox may not seem like an easy road to take, but if you see the benefits that it will provide not only for your gut health but also for your overall well-being, this is definitely worth a shot. If you have something like a stomach disease or colon cancer, its crucial to consult with a healthcare provider first.
Depending on your preferences, there are also specific things you can take to improve your gut health, like the above supplements. Choosing what to eat can also revolutionize your health. Focusing on consuming enough water, vitamin c-rich foods, amino acids, fiber, and fats like coconut milk can be helpful in supporting your gut biome as well.
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Regular Exercise Can Help Eliminate Toxins
Sweating when you exercise is the body’s natural way of detoxifying. But how can that make a difference to your gut?
While exercising, you are sweating, which helps eliminate toxins from your gut. Exercising to the point of sweat three or more times a week can help circulate your lymphatic system.
Movement can help your body get rid of toxins through your pores and your breath by increasing sweat production and promoting blood circulation.
Lymph nodes occupy your entire colon. The more blood you have circulating through your body, the easier it is for your lymph nodes to do their job to fight infection and disease and eliminate toxins from your gut.
This study shows how physical activity can protect the body from oxidative damage. Exercise has the added benefit of an endorphin increase which makes you feel good.
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An exercise that can help promote good gut health can be as simple as a brisk walk or jog. If you are producing sweat, you will activate lymph nodes to maintain a healthy microbiome. |
Next time you go out for a stroll, push yourself a little harder and feel the burn! Check out other benefits of regular exercise in these articles:
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Healthy Ways To Cleanse Your Gut
Weve all heard of the numerous claims by proponents of juice cleanses or the fad diets that promise immediate results. While its tempting to want a miracle cure, the best way to cleanse your gut of bad bacteria is a well-researched diet using proven gut cleansing foods while supporting your cleanse with carefully selected supplements.
One popular form of colon cleanse, which its efficacy and safety are often debated, is known as an enema. Theres currently no research showing that an enema can help reset and balance your gut microbiome. However, they are extremely popular, touting benefits such as relief from bloating and constipation, an increase in energy, and even as a way to expel cancer tumor waste.
Its worth keeping in mind that the goal isnt to get rid of the bad bacteria its to promote the good bacteria and eliminate toxins in order to achieve equilibrium. Lets take a look at some of the most effective and powerful ways to help your body reach that equilibrium naturally.
Gut Cleanse For Constipation
When your body is overloaded with toxins, it cant function properly. You might experience symptoms like acne, bloating, fatigue, and more. But what you may not realize is that one of the main causes of constipation is an overabundance of toxins in your body.
The buildup of toxins can slow down digestion, cause dehydration, and contribute to low fiber intakeall of which can lead to constipation. This means that cleansing your gut can help you relieve constipation faster than any other treatment on the market.
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Why Should You Do A Cleansing
There are several reasons why you should cleanse your gut:
Before Your Start A Gut Cleanse
Consult with an accredited health care practitioner. This is especially important for pregnant women and those with serious health conditions. During the cleanse, if you experience any pain or discomfort, stop and seek medical advice.
Dont cut any food group from your diet long-term without specific medical advice.
Avoid all fried, processed, refined and sugary foods. Image: iStock
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What Is A Colon Cleanse
A colon cleanse is the act of flushing out your large intestine.
The practice of natural colon cleansing, or colonic irrigation, dates back to ancient Greece. It became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s. But theories behind it lost support, and it fell out of favor. Recently, though, colon cleansing — using teas, enzymes, or colon irrigation — has become more popular.
Is colon cleansing good for you? Scientific research on colon cleansing is extremely limited. Thereâs no good evidence for most of the claims that its practitioners make. And the side effects can range from mild to serious.
Potential Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Natural Colon Cleanse
According to an ancient belief referred to as the theory of autointoxication, certain foods such as undigested meat can lead to mucus buildup in your colon. As a result, this buildup causes toxins that enter the blood, poisoning the entire body. Some people believe that these toxins can lead to a variety of side effects, including weight gain, fatigue, high blood pressure, and arthritis. By cleansing your colon, you remove the mucus and the toxins from your body, boosting your immune system.
Unfortunately, there is insufficient clinical evidence to show whether colon cleanses provide these benefits. Moreover, when misused, colon cleanses can be dangerous. For example, obsessive colon cleanse can lead to eating disorders, uncomfortable colon spasms, dehydration, perforation or a tear in the rectum, and changes in electrolyte balance.
If you attempt to do a colon cleanse, make sure to take the right precautions. Always check in with a reliable healthcare professional, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions and/or take medications for conditions such as heart or kidney disease.
That being said, when performed correctly, a natural colon cleanse can have many benefits. For example, these include:
- Reduced risk of colon cancer
- Improved mental outlook
- Improved immune system
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Summary: Is Colonic Irrigation Good For You
You may have been looking at how to clean my colon, but unless you have been advised by a medical professional that you need to do so, then there probably is no need to. Your body is a well-oiled machine which has its own colon cleanser in the form of your liver and dietary processes.
The benefits of colonic irrigation are highly debatable and mainly rely on good marketing to sell it as a weight loss solution. Remember, colonic irrigation at home is a no-go because it is dangerous, and if doctors dont prescribe, should you really be doing it?
Home colonic methods like enemas youll find online can have all kinds of weird and wacky concoctions with little or no scientific evidence. The same is true of colonic treatments like detox or juice diets. If youre looking for the best colon cleanse, then simply eating real food, including plant-based sources, and exercising regularly can keep your colon ship shape!
Organic And Herbal Teas
Herbs like ginger and cayenne pepper contain antimicrobial phytochemicals that suppress bad bacteria. Teas made up of these herbs help tackle constipation and acidity.
However, certain herbs might not be suitable for you. So, before adding these to your tea, talk to your physician or healthcare expert.
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Indulge In A Spicy Lemonade Bomb
This last natural colon cleanse recipe is delicious and healthy. All youll need is a few simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. To make this colon cleanse drink, youll need:
- 1/2 tablespoons of raw honey
- 1/4 cups of fresh lemon juice
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- A pinch of ground ginger
- 1 cup of hot water
- Optional: a pinch of turmeric powder
Begin by filling a mug or a cup with hot water. Next, add your lemon juice and stir in the honey and the warming spices. Allow the ingredients to dissolve and consume immediately. You may expect colon spasms indicating a bowel movement very soon.
Short Breakdown Of The Gut Cleanse
- Get Ready: Stock up on raw organic apple cider vinegar , distilled water, and healthy, plant-based foods, or fruit if you’re doing the fruit-only option.
- Make ACV mix: Prepare six gallons of ACV mix by adding two tablespoons of ACV per one gallon of distilled water.
- Days 1 to 6: Follow a healthy diet with three small meals throughout the day, such as avocado, nuts, or fruit. Drink an ACV mix throughout the day. Before bed, take an oxygen-based colon cleanser.
- Post Cleanse: Follow a healthy, plant-based diet with three small meals throughout the day. Make sure to drink lots of water with fresh lemon.
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Best Foods For Gut Cleanse
An intestinal cleanse is one of the best things you can do for your gut. Think of it as taking a bath for your digestive systemyoure giving it a chance to relax and reset, and youre washing away any unwanted bacteria that have been hanging out in there.
So whats the best food to eat while you take an intestinal cleanse? Im glad you asked, so please check out my top 10 picks below:
1. Beet greens. Beet greens are some of the best foods to eat while you take an intestinal cleanse. Theyre full of vitamins A and K, and theyre high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium. They work to cleanse your body because theyre high in fiber and contain antioxidants that help your liver.
2. Celery. Celery is one of the best foods to eat while you take an intestinal cleanse because its so hydrating. Eating celery can help you avoid the dreaded post-cleanse sluggishness that comes when you havent been drinking enough water. The next time youre in the market for food that will help keep your energy up, turn to celery.
3. Cucumber. Cucumbers are the best food to eat while you take an intestinal cleanse because cucumber juice cleanses the body of toxins, is a natural diuretic and helps you stay hydrated while flushing your system. Cucumbers are also high in fiber, which makes them a great source of food for constipation.
4. Flaxseed. Flaxseed helps absorb toxins, which are then removed from the body. Eating flaxseed can also help reduce diarrhea during a cleanse.
Ways To Cleanse Your Colon
There are two main colon-cleansing methods. You can buy products or you can see a doctor to have a colon irrigation.
Colon cleansing with powdered or liquid supplements. You take some supplements used for colon cleansing by mouth. Others you take through the rectum. Either way, the idea is to help the colon to expel its contents. You can find these products on the internet or in health food stores, supermarkets, or pharmacies. They include:
Colon cleansing with colon irrigation . The first modern colonic machine was invented about 100 years ago. Today, colonic hygienists or colon hydrotherapists perform colon irrigations. Colon irrigations work somewhat like an enema but they involve much more water. While you lie on a table, a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum.
After the water is in the colon, the therapist may massage your abdomen. Then you release the water like a regular bowel movement the process flushes out the fluids and waste. The therapist may repeat the process, and a session may last up to an hour.
The practitioner may use a variety of water pressures and temperatures and may or may not combine water with enzymes, herbs, coffee, or probiotics. Probiotics are supplements containing beneficial bacteria.
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You Have Digestive Issues
The occasional bout of tummy upset is nothing to worry aboutbut if you regularly experience bloating, excess gas, feelings of nausea or ongoing constipation, its likely your digestive system isnt functioning optimally. As an example, your liver is one of your bodys main elimination organssending processed chemicals to your bowels to be excretedbut if your bowels arent moving properly, your body will struggle to eliminate them.Digestive issues may also hint at an imbalance of bacteria in the gutknown as dysbiosismeaning that your hardworking microbes are unable to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Given certain types of gut bacteria are responsible for metabolising and neutralising chemicals and excreting heavy metals from your system, if your gut is in a state of dysbiosis, youre facing an uphill battle. Ongoing digestive issues can also indicate more chronic conditions such as leaky gut, IBS or SIBOso determining the root cause of your digestive issues is important in order to feel healthy, well and vitaland to experience more glowing skin.
