Home Remedies for Colon Cleansing

The colon, a part of the digestive system, is responsible for extracting water, salt, vitamins and nutrients from indigestible food matter, processing food that was not digested in the small intestine, and eliminating solid waste from the body.

However, when it does not function properly, it begins to absorb toxins instead of eliminating them, thereby causing problems like headaches, bloating, constipation, gas, weight gain, low energy, fatigue, and chronic illnesses.

These problems can also be caused by undigested foods (most foods that we eat today are loaded with additives, preservatives and other chemicals) that leads to buildup of mucus in the colon, producing toxins that poison the body.

However, with the help of colon cleansing, you can easily get rid of harmful toxins and promote healthy intestinal bacteria. It will also help increase your energy and improve the body’s absorption of vitamins and nutrients. There are many treatments available for colon cleansing. But for many people, the best options are simple, natural home remedies.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for colon cleansing. Before starting any colon cleansing program, consult your doctor for proper guidance, especially if you are taking any medications or suffering from any health condition.

1. Water

For colon cleansing, the best thing you can do is drink plenty of water. It is essential to drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water in a day. Regular consumption of water will give your body the liquid and lubrication required to flush out the harmful toxins and waste from the body in a natural manner.

Drinking plenty of water will also stimulate the natural peristaltic action, helping the food to move through the digestive system. Also, water is essential to keep your body well hydrated. Along with water, you can also drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

2. Apple Juice

Fresh apple juice is one of the best home remedies for colon cleansing. Drinking apple juice regularly encourages bowel movements, breaks down toxins and improves the health of liver as well as the digestive system. Freshly squeezed apple juice provides the best results, but if it is not available, you can use packaged organic apple juice.

1. Start your day with one glass of unfiltered apple juice.
2. After 30 minutes, drink one glass of water.
3. Repeat this routine several times throughout the day and continue for three days. In between, you can also drink one glass of prune juice. When following this remedy, it is advisable to avoid solid foods.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon has antioxidant properties and its high vitamin C content is good for the digestive system. Hence, lemon juice can be used for colon cleansing.

• Mix the juice of one lemon, a pinch of sea salt and a little honey in a glass of lukewarm water. Drink this solution on an empty stomach in the morning. This will help you to enjoy more energy, better bowel movement and better skin condition.
• Add two tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon juice to a glass of apple juice. Drink it three or four times a day. This will thin out the mucous in the bowel.

Follow either of these remedies for a few days.

4. Raw Vegetable Juice

For colon cleansing, it is essential to keep away from processed and cooked food for one or two days. Instead of solid food, drink fresh vegetable juice several times a day. Green vegetables, in particular contain chlorophyll that helps remove toxins. Also, the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes present in it will keep your body healthy and well energized. You can also drink herbal teas.

It is advisable not to use ready-made vegetable juices as they do not contain the effective enzymes that help your body break down and remove waste products. You can easily make fresh vegetable juice from carrots, beets, corn, squash, spinach, kale, etc. at home using a juicer or blender.

5. Fiber-rich Foods

Eating foods rich in fiber will help cleanse the colon of the harmful toxins. Fiber helps keep the stools soft and improve the bowel movement, which ultimately encourages the body to expel waste products. At the same time, fiber-rich foods will also help get rid of any kind of intestinal problem.

You can add a lot of fiber into your diet by eating fresh fruits like raspberries, pears and apples, as well as fresh vegetables like artichokes, peas and broccoli. Cereals, whole grains, nuts, beans and seeds also contain a good amount of fiber.

6. Yogurt

Eating fresh yogurt on a regular basis is a good way to keep the colon healthy. Being a probiotic food, yogurt, especially the one with live and active cultures, will introduce “good” bacteria into the gut that promote digestion. It will also combat inflammatory bowel diseases.

Plus, it contains a good amount of calcium that discourages the growth of cells lining the colon. The intestine-friendly yogurt also solves various stomach problems such as indigestion, flatulence, irregular bowel movements and lots more.

You can eat yogurt as it is or add some fresh fruit such as apples, limes, bananas and berries.

7. Flaxseed

Flaxseed is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and natural fibers, thus adding flaxseed to your diet is a great way to cleanse your colon. Flaxseed will absorb water and expand in the colon, and will assist in removing toxins and mucus as the waste matter passes through. In addition, flaxseed will help prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

You can add ground flaxseeds to cereal, yogurt, fruit and other healthy foods. For faster results, add one tablespoon of ground flaxseed to a glass of water and drink it 30 minutes before eating your breakfast and before going to bed.

8. Sea Salt

Another effective ingredient for colon cleansing is sea salt, thanks to its detoxifying properties.

1. Mix one tablespoon of sea salt in a glass of drinking water and boil it.
2. Drink this solution warm or cold, first thing in the morning.
3. Wait for a few minutes, and then lie down and massage your stomach down to your colon area in a gentle manner. This will stimulate your bowel movement and help remove harmful toxins, accumulated fecal matter, regular feces, parasites and bacteria from the digestive tract.
4. Do this up to five times a month.

As this solution can cause diarrhea, it is essential to drink plenty of water and frsh juices throughout the day. Avoid taking this remedy if your suffer from high blood pressure or have a heart condition.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is known for its detoxification abilities and acts as a laxative, hence it is regarded as an effective colon cleanser. The medicinal properties present in aloe vera gel will not only improve your colon health, but it will also treat other health problems like headaches, skin infections, diarrhea, gastric pain and constipation.

1. Add the juice of one lemon to fresh aloe vera gel and put the mixture in a blender to make a few ounces of smooth juice.
2. Keep this juice in the refrigerator for two to three hours.
3. Drink it several times a day for a few days.

10. Ginger

Ginger is a readily available ingredient that can help reduce bloating and stimulate colon functioning and keep it free from waste and harmful toxins. It aids digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive juices.

• You can take ginger in any form such as grated, juice or cut pieces for colon cleansing.
• One good option is to mix one teaspoon of ginger juice juice and one-quarter cup of lemon juice to twp cups of hot water. You can also a little honey for taste. Divide the solution into two or three parts and drink throughout the day.
• You can also add ginger to herbal tea.

Note: Ginger is not recommended for women who are pregnant.

To conclude, these effective colon cleansing home remedies will help you enjoy a healthy digestive system. Keeping your colon healthy is an important part of maintaining overall good health.

  Top 10 Super foods for Your Brain

We all know that eating a healthy diet is essential for our physical health. It’s equally important for our brain’s health. The brain is a complex and powerful organic machine that requires nutrients to function properly, just like your heart, lungs, eyes or muscles.

The brain controls all thought, movement and sensation, while calculating and reacting with blistering speed. It is a storehouse of innumerable data. Plus, the brain regulates the functions of other body organs without taking a break.

For the brain to work continuously and remain in good condition, it relies on a steady supply of essential nutrients from our diet, blood sugar and oxygen.

Through a well-balanced diet, you can easily provide your brain with all the necessary nutrients to enjoy better memory, sharpened reflexes and a better attention span. Also, it will help ward off mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s, dementia and more.

There are many super foods that you can easily include in your daily diet to strengthen your brain and enhance your mental performance.

Here are the top 10 superfoods for your brain.

1. Walnuts

Walnuts can boost thinking power and improve your memory. Walnuts have the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids among all nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids have a protective effect on the brain as they boost the functioning of neurotransmitters, which in turn improves memory and cognitive skills.

Walnuts also improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels in the brain and fight inflammation, which plays a role in many debilitating and degenerative conditions of the brain and body. Plus, walnuts also contain memory-protective vitamin B6 and magnesium.

When you are looking for a healthy snack, munch on a handful of walnuts. They are a tasty snack as well as a subtle brain power booster.

2. Wild Salmon

The brain is made up of 70 percent fat and requires essential fatty acids (omega-3s) to function properly. Salmon is a good source of omega-3 fats and an excellent superfood to boost brain power.

More specifically, salmon is high in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. Plus, omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and support increased blood flow to the brain.

Try to eat only wild salmon, as farmed salmon contains high levels of mercury and PCBs that can have adverse effects on the brain.

3. Green Tea

The latest studies show that green tea helps the brain function properly. Researchers at the University of Basel concluded that green tea extract increases the brain’s electrical connectivity, which in turn enhances cognitive functions and helps treat dementia.

Plus, it has been found that those who drink green tea have better memory, focus, and concentration compared to those who do not drink tea. Also, people who drink tea each day are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.

Drink two to three cups of freshly brewed green tea – hot or iced – to boost brain power.

4. Blueberries

You can keep your memory sharp, even during old age, by eating blueberries. The compounds in blueberries known as flavonoids play a key role in improving memory, learning and various other cognitive functions.

Flavonoids help protect the brain from free radicals, which can harm healthy tissue and are associated with memory decline. Plus, these flavonoids provide protection against age-related mental disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

To give your brain a boost, eat one-half cup of blueberries daily.

5. Spinach

Being high in potassium, spinach is exceptionally good for the brain. Potassium helps maintain the electrical conductivity of the brain. This helps produce lightning-fast signals between neurons, which in turn improves thinking as well as recall capacity.

Packed with antioxidants, spinach also protects the brain cells from damage. This leafy green vegetable is also loaded with nutrients like folate, magnesium, and vitamins E and K that help prevent dementia.

To think more clearly and respond quickly, eat spinach as well as other green vegetables.

6. Broccoli

Scientists have discovered that a compound known as choline found in broccoli is extremely beneficial for the brain. Choline has the potential to spur the growth of new brain cells and neural connections that are essential for sharp and strong memory.

Studies have also found that choline deficiency can cause neural tube defects in newborns. Also, being an excellent source of vitamin K, broccoli enhances cognitive functioning and improves brainpower.

One cup of broccoli three times a week will boost your brain power.

7. Turmeric

Experts at the University of California-Los Angeles Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center found that turmeric can help keep your brain sharp. Turmeric is rich in cur cumin,a compound that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Its antioxidant properties also slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric can also protect your brain from inflammation and lower artery-clogging cholesterol levels that can reduce blood flow to your brain.

Sprinkle a little turmeric power in a glass of warm milk and drink it every day. Also, add turmeric in your cooking to keep your brain sharp for years.

8. Tomatoes

You can’t ignore the memory-boosting power of tomatoes. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant present in tomatoes, protects against free radical damage to cells that contributes to dementia, especially Alzheimer’s.

Plus, those who consume lycopene on a daily basis enjoy sharper memories compared to those who do not. Also,tomatoes can help protect your brain against strokes.

Be it tomato salad or mouth-watering tomato soup, do not forget to eat tomatoes daily to enjoy the full power of your brain. 

9. Dark Chocolate

The list of foods that is good for the brain would be incomplete without dark chocolate. Antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is healthy for your whole body as well as your brain. The caffeine content in dark chocolate plays a key role in maintaining mental acuity.

Plus, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids  that help improve blood flow to the brain. A study done at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia found that dark chocolate improves concentration, response time and recall.

So, add a little piece of dark chocolate to your daily diet plan to boost brain power. Along with dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate are also good for the brain.

10. Acorn Squash

Acorn squash, also known as winter squash, is another excellent superfood for your brain. Acorn squash is a rich source of folic acid.

According to a 2007 study published in The Lancet journal, folic acid helps improve cognitive functioning that normally is affected by aging. Folic acid plays a key role in increasing the transmission of information through nerve cells and boosts memory.

The folic acid along with vitamin B12 present in acorn squash is also reported to prevent nerve damage and brain shrinkage. A deficiency of folic acid can cause birth defects of the brain.

You can eat acorn squash baked or roasted to reap its brain-boosting benefits.

Along with these superfoods to boost brain power, you must drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water makes up 85 percent of the brain’s weight, and lack of water in the body can cause brain shrinkage and adversely affect concentration and memory.