What To Eat During A Colon Cleanse

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If you’re looking to detoxify your system, there are many ways to do it.

Colon cleansing can have a wealth of health benefits so it isn’t surprising it’s become a popular health choice.

When embarking on a colon cleanse some people prefer to go cold turkey, while others opt for a gentle approach.

Either way, eating well during the process is important. But what exactly does one eat on a colon cleanse? And what foods are best for cleansing the digestive tract?

The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to achieve optimal digestion.

The best detox foods are vegetables and fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds.

They contain enzymes that help improve digestive function and also many nutrients that act as powerful detoxifiers.

These include vitamin A, B6, folate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, and others.

Vegetables and fruits are high in fiber and thus help push toxins out of the body via the bowels.

Whole-grain products are rich in phytochemicals and dietary fiber, both of which aid in toxin removal.

Beans, nuts, and seeds are high in fat-soluble vitamins that stimulate brain cells and improve cellular functioning.

Antioxidants found in these foods protect against free radical damage and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

All these foods help promote health and prevent disease.

Studies show that people who eat diets rich in fruits and vegetables have lower rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity compared to those who do not.

Let’s look at some different foods in a bit more detail.

Fruit

As we’ve seen, fruit is one of the most important foods you can eat, providing many health benefits.

It contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, including fiber.

Fiber helps keep your digestive system healthy, while antioxidants help fight free radicals in your body.

Vitamin A helps maintain healthy eyesight, vitamin C promotes strong bones, and potassium helps regulate blood pressure.

Fresh fruit provides a great source of fiber and is packed with nutrition. Here are some tips on how to incorporate it into your diet.

Eat fruits every day. If you don’t like eating fruit straight out of the refrigerator, try freezing it. You’ll still enjoy the flavor, but it won’t spoil quite as quickly.
Keep a bowl of fruit handy throughout the day. When hunger strikes, grab a piece of fruit to snack on.
Add fruit to breakfast. Try adding sliced apples, bananas, or strawberries to oatmeal or yogurt parfaits.
Make smoothies. Blend frozen fruit with milk, water, ice cream, or even protein powder for a delicious treat.
Include fruit in meals. Serve slices of apple or banana alongside chicken or fish. Or toss grapes into pasta dishes.

Dark Leafy Greens

Eating dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are great ways to detoxify your body.

They contain high amounts of fiber, vitamins A, K, and C, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants.

These nutrients help boost energy levels and improve digestion. Leafy greens are also rich in chlorophyll, which helps flush out toxins from the body.

Oatmeal For Fiber

Oatmeal is one of those breakfast staples that are super nutritious.

Not only does it help keep our blood sugar levels steady throughout the day, but it’s also packed full of nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and iron.

And while most people think of oatmeal as just plain old oatmeal, there are plenty of ways to add flavor and make it an enjoyable addition to your detox diet.

Why is fiber so important?

The average American consumes about 13 grams of fiber per day, according to the USDA.

But experts say people should really eat 25 to 35 grams for the best colon health. Fiber is plant material that aids digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract.

It helps cleanse the large intestine because it encourages regular bowel movement and moves food through the digestive system, helping to prevent constipation.

Experts recommend eating some fiber each meal to spread out your intake throughout the day to avoid getting too much in one sitting.

Ginger

Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

It stimulates peristalsis, increases intestinal motility, and improves the absorption of nutrients.

This root contains gingerol, shogaols, zingiberene, paradol and beta-carotene.

These compounds are responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger making it a great food to add to your colon detox.

Fish

Cold-water fish like salmon and mackerel are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight inflammation and boost immunity.

Smaller fish like salmon, trout, cod, flounder, halibut, sole, and snapper are less likely to be contaminated, and you can safely enjoy them regularly whilst trying to cleanse your system.

Salmon is particularly beneficial because it contains high levels of vitamin D, which helps protect against cancer and boosts metabolism.

Be Balanced

A healthy detox diet involves eating fewer unhealthy foods and increasing the number of healthy ones.

You might even want to try some of the following tips to help kickstart your detox journey.

1. Start off slowly. Don’t go cold turkey. Gradually reduce the amount of harmful food you are consuming.

2. Eat smaller meals throughout the day. A small meal every three hours helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

3. Drink plenty of water. Water flushes out toxins from your system.

4. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body and makes it harder to flush out toxins.

5. Try intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting allows your digestive system to rest while still getting enough nutrients.

6. Get outside. Fresh air is great for clearing your head and breathing deeply.

In Summary

What to eat during a detox diet depends on what type of detox you’re doing.

If you’re cleansing your liver or kidneys, you’ll need to cut back on red meat and dairy products. For other types of detox diets, you may have more flexibility.

Whichever type of system cleanse you embark upon be sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals to maintain energy levels then will help your colon cleanse to be super beneficial.