Death Begins in the Colon
It may sound far-fetched, but many people believe that “death begins in the colon.” You’re probably wondering what that even means. Originally uttered by holistic guru Dr. Bernard Jensen (who introduced several alternative healing methods to the English-speaking world, lived to be 93 years old, and frequently removed what many considered to be “incurable” diseases from people’s bodies over his lifetime), it primarily means that maintaining good health must first include a clean colon and hygienic diet. When the body expends too much energy on digestion and elimination due to a poor diet and an unclean colon, it takes precious energy away from nourishing and optimizing cells and other such crucial activities which are more important to the body. For that reason, Jensen and countless others strongly believe in the colon cleanse diet.
Kim Evans from Natural News states it slightly differently, “because diets are far worse than any previous time in history. They’re more chemical-ridden, more sugared, more meat-oriented, and more processed; this is a recipe for disaster in the colon, and throughout the body…The thing about a chemical-oriented, processed, highly-sugared and heavy meat-eating diet is that our bodies aren’t equipped to process all of those things. And if we can’t process them, often times we can’t eliminate them…This means that old fecal matter gets stuck inside our bodies and becomes corroded on our colon walls. In a nutshell, this is why constipation is common and drugs companies sell 1.5 billion dollars worth of laxatives each year…Inside our bodies, the non-eliminated filth begins to rot and putrefy…After years or decades of accumulation, this putrefied mess can absolutely lead to disease. It can lead to disease in the colon, or anywhere in the body. The colon walls are porous and what is trapped inside the colon will eventually leak into the blood where it can be transported to accumulate anywhere in the body. Where it accumulates will often be the deciding factor as to the symptoms, or disease, your body develops.”
How often should I do it and what can I eat?
While some advocate for a colon cleanse diet to be done at the change of each season, others believe once annually is sufficient. In essence, the diets consist of large amounts of dark, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables either raw or lightly steamed, no refined sugar, no refined white flour, whole grains, unsalted whole nuts and natural nut butters, no fried foods, no dairy (other than occasional cultured dairy with no sugar added), and only lean broiled or boiled meats or fish. No butter is to be eaten or added to foods, and no dressings other than vinegar or Braggs are to be used. Typically the diet leads up to a period of a few days when only steamed or raw leafy greens are consumed, then returns to the beginning foods once again. Dieters must stay dehydrated during this time and drink plenty of water, but no caffeine or sugary drinks of any kind should be consumed. Some herbal teas, unsweetened, are okay as well.
You don’t need to starve on this diet – quite the opposite
The idea, however, is not that you starve or get hungry on the colon cleanse. This is not the time to fast. Quite to the contrary, you are allowed to eat whenever you feel hungry as long as you choose from the specified foods and only eat until you are full — not overly full. Just imagine you are pushing these whole, raw, grains and greens through the colon, cleaning it all up on their way out. You need to add the right amount of roughage to cleanse a dirty colon, not go without eating! You may notice you do get less hungry as the diet goes on, however, and you are less attracted to unhealthy foods and crave much less sugar and fried foods. (After completing the colon cleanse, I did not crave unhealthy foods at all for weeks, until finally I succumbed and then my body returned to old habits again…which is why some people opt for the seasonal colon cleanse — we are all human, and some of us may need to cleanse more often.)
Watch for signs of detoxification
The colon cleanse diet can last for several days, during which the dieter may experience symptoms of detoxification (meaning headaches or other pains or discomfort) and may need extra rest. For this reason, it’s best not to attempt a colon cleanse while working or busy. It’s optimally done during a period of vacation if possible, or otherwise during a time when you can sit down and put your feet up as needed. If you feel your symptoms are not what you expected or are especially worrisome contact your physician immediately.
If you prefer more specifics on what to each day of the colon cleanse, here is a detailed explanation with infographics for a seven day colon cleanse diet, including what to eat for each meal and all the supplies you’ll need. Although it may be a challenge to stick to such a diet, and you may feel lousy partway through due to the detoxification symptoms, you can look forward to feeling AND looking amazing afterward! Most people who tried the colon cleanse I did (it was for 11 days, and I am about 15 years overdue for another one…but I digress) experienced renewed energy at the end of it as well as weight loss (I lost 12 pounds on it), healthy, glowing skin, shiny hair and fingernails that actually grew (Mine rarely grew until I did a colon cleanse detox). So take heart if you feel like you can’t do it – just try your best and if you mess up, get right back into it. It’s better to do it partially than not to do it at all. Good luck!
*as with all my articles, please consult your physician before trying a colon cleanse diet or any other type of diet
