Hey there, viewers. We’re going to get gross today, so brace yourself. It’s going to be that
unpleasant, but it’s probably something you’re not used to talking about. When was the last time you
thought about your colon? Also known as the large intestine, the colon helps remove nutrients and
water from the food in your digestive tract. Let’s talk today about how to keep it clean…
Are you eating lots of fiber? Have you ever done juice fast? What’s
your favorite type of tea? We’re talking about all that AND more…
Let’s start things off with some tea.
I’m talking about herbal tea to be exact. This is one of the best ways to clean your insides. Herbs
like aloe vera, peppermint, marshmallow root, psyllium and senna act as natural laxatives.
I know, I said “laxative”. I’m not trying to turn you off with a discussion about bowel
movements. But hey, we’re talking about your colon here! It’s going to come up at some point.
If you’ve been having trouble going to the bathroom,
drinking some herbal tea can really help– you know– loosen things up down there.
Senna is particularly good for this. It stimulates the intestines, softening your
stool and allowing you to go easily. Peppermint is known to help people with irritable bowel
syndrome. It soothes your intestines, relieves abdominal pain and makes you less bloated.
You may not think much of herbal tea now, but trust me,
you’ll appreciate it more when you’re older. Studies show that nursing home residents
dealing with constipation see a lot of their symptoms go away after drinking herbal tea.
While it's not quite a herbal tea, green tea can do a lot for your colon
as well. When you drink green tea, it helps soothe the digestive tract,
allowing food to digest easier and pass through your colon.
Not quite a tea person? Try some juice!
A juice cleanse is one of the best ways to clean your colon out and allow it to
function better. It’s the go-to for people looking to step up their digestive health.
Sure, juice contains a ton of sugar, but if you buy the right kind, the fiber content
can provide a healthy balance. Fiber passes through your body with ease. The more fiber
in your digestive system, the better off you’ll be when it’s time to use the toilet.
A juice cleanse is a detox diet where you drink nothing but fruit and vegetable juice for a
period of time. As to how long that period lasts, well, it’s debatable. Some say one to three days,
while others say one to ten. However long, you have to make sure you commit to it.
Keep in mind, more research needs to be done on the positive effects of juice
cleanses. But just as a general rule, adding more juice to your diet isn’t
going to hurt your colon. You just want to make sure you’re drinking the right kind.
In case you were wondering, the healthiest juices are things like cranberry, beet, tomato, apple
and orange. Some brands of lemonade, pineapple juice, tropicana and grape juice are known to
have more sugar than soda. If you’re unsure about drinking juice, maybe this next entry will help.
Afterall, you can’t go wrong with water!
Want an easy way to control your digestion? Drink lots of water! The easiest way to stay
up on your H2O consumption is to follow the “8x8” rule. Not sure what this is? The 8x8
rule is when you drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Now, there are
people who debate whether or not this rule works. Some people suggest you drink even
more water. Let’s just say that when you feel like having a drink, pour yourself a glass.
The more you stay hydrated, the less likely you are to have colon problems.
The water allows you to flush excess weight out of your system.
If you’re having problems digesting your food, or going to the bathroom,
you may want to try drinking lukewarm water.
Studies have shown this can really be effective for digestion. One study from 2016 found that
drinking lukewarm water helped people have bowel movements just before going into surgery.
If you’re already caught up on your water intake, and you’re still feeling constipated,
try eating more foods with higher water content. These are things like watermelons, celery,
peaches, apples and tomatoes. Cucumbers are about 95% water, and extremely low in
calories. If you’re looking for something light that can hydrate you, go for a serving of that.
There’s also something known as a saltwater flush.
Now, there’s little to no actual evidence that this works, but if
you want to make things interesting, try drinking lukewarm water with salt.
The idea behind this is that enough saltwater will wake you want to go
to the bathroom. It should also be done on an empty stomach, so do it before eating.
What you want to do is pour yourself some lukewarm water and mix in 2 teaspoons of
salt. I’m not talking about any salt. Usually sea or Himalayan salt does the
trick. Once it's properly mixed, drink it and wait to see if you
need to use the bathroom. This should be done in the morning and the evening.
Like I said, there’s not very little research to show that the saltwater flush works,
so you may want to talk to a doctor before doing it. This way you’ll know
whether or not your body will have a negative reaction to it.
Let’s focus on food for a second.
It’s not just what you drink that can help your colon, it’s also the type of foods you’re eating.
If you’re looking to help your digestive system, you may want to focus on more plant-based foods.
Not just fruits and veggies, but also nuts, seeds and grains.
I get it, not everyone’s body can adapt to a plant-based diet.
Well, you’ll be happy to know you can eat greens without going full vegan.
Plant-based foods contain cellulose. This is a fibrous particle that passes through your
intestines, adding bulk to your stool. Cellulose also boosts the production of prebiotics.
These are good bacteria that help clean your gut.
So if you’re having trouble on the toilet, load your shopping cart up
with healthier options the next time you’re at the grocery store. It’s also
good to read the label of your food to see just how much fiber it contains. Ideally,
women need around 21 to 25 grams of fiber a day, while men need between 30 to 38.
Broccoli is one plant-based food you should really focus on.
It may be the last choice for many of you,
but broccoli holds so many great benefits for your digestive system.
Not only is it packed with nutrients, it’s also low in calories and goes down easy.
There are several studies that show the more broccoli you eat, the more you’ll go to the
bathroom. On top of making your trips to the toilet so much easier, broccoli also contains
particles that go to war with cancer cells. This lowers your chances of getting sick down the road.
So, if you’re trying to up your veggie intake, grab some fresh broccoli. You
can steam it in a pot, or even eat it raw if you’re feeling adventurous. Whatever you do,
don’t boil it. This will take away most of the nutrients that make it so healthy.
There are also things called probiotics.
These are microorganisms found in fermented foods. They increase the production of healthy
bacteria that will clean your stomach and strengthen your digestive tract. It
will also decrease any inflammation happening in your digestive system.
If you’re into pickles, yogurt and kimchi, you’ll be getting a big boost in probiotics.
There’s also something called apple cider vinegar. Now this is certainly an acquired taste. Not
everybody’s going to be able to handle it. But, if you’re willing to try something new, apple cider
vinegar can be a really good way to clean your colon and improve digestion. Once you get past
the gross taste, the probiotics in apple cider vinegar will start killing off harmful bacteria.
You should also try resistant starch.
Normally when people hear the word “starch”, they think something unhealthy that’s going to load
their body with unwanted sugar. Resistant starch is a little different. You see,
resistant starch helps control your digestive system. It’s a lot like fiber in this way.
Once it's consumed, resistant starch ferments in your large intestine,
feeding your healthy gut bacteria and allowing food to process. It’s found in carbohydrates,
so the next time you’re thinking about eating things like bananas, potatoes,
rice or grains, don’t hesitate. There are plenty of positive starches in these food options.
If you’re looking for bananas, make sure they’re green. The lower the
banana is on the ripening scale, the more resistant starch you’re going to get.
Your colon is key for digesting food, but there are so many other organs you need
to take care of. Care to learn more? Let’s keep things interesting with
a couple of related videos, shall we? Here’s what you need to know.
Check out 11 Ways To Clean Gut Bacteria. Or how about
9 Healthy Drinks That Help Improve Digestion and Reduce Inflammation?
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both and learn more about how
to clean your digestive tract. Are you thinking of trying any of these
colon cleaning methods after watching this video? Let us know in the comments below…