Thread: Body cleanse detox

I was watching an infomercial the other day and it got me thinking. It was for Dual Action Cleanse. It claims to cleanse your body and colon of waste that has built up over the years. The doctor on it was blunt and forward which made me laugh and kind of grossed me out but it got me thinking. If you don't have a bowel movement after a meal, where does that go? what's happening inside the body and is it possibly breaking down and staying in there? Eeewwww!!!

Anyone ever try this or any other product like it? What exactly does it do? Make you "go"? A friend tried a liquid detox drink and it was green and smelled nasty. My MIL did those foot pad detox things and loved them. I've never done a detox. What about the Acai Berry?
Are there any doctors or nutritionists here that can shed some light on the subject?

There's a whole thread on the idea of colon cleansing. Personally, I'm against it. I don't think messing with your body's own natural process of cleansing itself is a good idea. Here's a link to the thread:

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...-cleanser.html

Its all fake. The products contain kaolin clay and soluable fiber (e.g. kitty litter and metamucil), which combined with the food in your system, creates the turd monstrosities shown in the infomercials.

There is absolutely nothing food-wise anywhere in your GI tract that has been there for years, or even months, or even weeks. You have no 5 yrs old gummy bears or 10 yr old wads of undigested rotting meat, or last months macaroni and cheese in your system.

If you want to "cleanse", just take a day or so and eat nothing but fresh veggies and fruits. Or take a fiber supplement every day.

Originally Posted by ssipes

If you want to "cleanse", just take a day or so and eat nothing but fresh veggies and fruits. Or take a fiber supplement every day.

I would be careful of this as well. Check to see if you are healthy enough to cleanse since our fat cells absorb toxic substances. If you've been exposed to certain things you could have adverse reactions when you start to detox.

I used a 15 day cleansing kit a few years back. I think if I was to do another detox I'd just use some kind of Fibre product and Yoghurt with live cultures.

The fibre will clean the tubes out. The Yoghurt should flood the tubes with good bacteria.

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

If you don't have a bowel movement after a meal, where does that go?

It takes food approximately 24 hours to pass through the digestive tract. Remember, you have 25-ish feet of intestine that it needs to pass through! So the meal you have today, will not become part of a bowel movement until tomorrow.

I just recovered from a sickness due to this very issue. The worst pain of my life. All the build up and my really bad diet finally took a toll on me, and one day after eating something not so good, my system shut down on me for a week. Unimaginable pain, no sleep, no ability to eat or think properly, and the hospital could do nothing. Laxatives could not even save me. A near death experience that changed my diet and attitude towards a healthy life.

Completely off topic and sorry to hijack your thread, but I wanted to rant on that just to stress the importance to everyone about staying regular, cleaning yourself out once and awhile, and eating healthy.

Eeeewwwww, indeed!

BDF

Don't Buy Dual Action Cleanse

Originally Posted by ssipes

There is absolutely nothing food-wise anywhere in your GI tract that has been there for years, or even months, or even weeks. You have no 5 yrs old gummy bears or 10 yr old wads of undigested rotting meat, or last months macaroni and cheese in your system.

I don't understand how you have to brush and floss your teeth after every meal (and even then there is plenty of build up that needs to be removed by a dentist every 6 months), but we assume that nothing remains behind in the digestive tract? Is not saliva designed to help eliminate buggers that are left behind? If that's not working so well, what makes you so sure that the GI tract's own system isn't also falling a bit behind?

I haven't heard of this product, but I personally have had great results with periodic fasting/cleansing and think it can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

That's what I'm thinking. In the last few years I've had some annoying health issues and I am the only one in my family with these issues. For years people have been saying that we are killing ourselves with the chemicals we put in and put on our bodies and I'm starting to believe it. I don't find it so hard to believe that our digestive track could be running sluggish or not working up to its 100% potential. I'm not saying this particular product is the answer.

What about the nutritionists here. You want to chime in? What are your thoughts/opinions?

I just don't believe that taking some extra fiber and laxative herbs for a week or two makes up for eating a healthy high-fiber diet day in, day out. The best way to keep your digestive tract moving effectively and working its best is to get enough fiber to give stuff enough bulk for the peristalsis of your intestines to have something firm to push against. Most people don't get anywhere *close* to enough fiber daily.

Eat food, mostly plants. (I must read that book some day.)

TMI approaching: I generally have one to two bowel movements a day. Usually one, usually about 11am. If you pass a bowel motion every day you're probably fine. And while I am semi-vegetarian/pescatorian, I don't eat anywhere near as much fresh green food as I should. IF you don't poo daily then yes, you need to take a look at things. But you can do a great deal with diet. Diet is going to work better than laxatives in the long run.

I think we are quite obsessed with being "clean inside and out" in our society, and certainly the sensation we get when we fast and purge can be pleasurable in its way - it's one of the things that keeps anorexics and bulimics going. As for teeth, consider that we - and especially you in America - live in a society that is obsessed with white teeth and fresh breath. You don't actually *have* to brush twice a day, or once after every meal. You seriously don't. You can probably manage fine brushing once a week for that matter. It's just that your breath will not be nice and your teeth will not look attractive and eventually some of them will fall out, just like they did when you were seven.

Other people can see and smell your teeth. They shouldn't be able to see or smell your colon.

Originally Posted by nasila

I don't understand how you have to brush and floss your teeth after every meal (and even then there is plenty of build up that needs to be removed by a dentist every 6 months), but we assume that nothing remains behind in the digestive tract? Is not saliva designed to help eliminate buggers that are left behind? If that's not working so well, what makes you so sure that the GI tract's own system isn't also falling a bit behind?

The bacteria a body harbors is a very very very complex eco-system. Evryone has their own unique balance of bacteria and there is much not yet known about what bacteria are benificial, harmfull, and in what proportions. Scientists admit that they have a long way to go...so I don't understand why people trust an over-the-counter mass-marketed product/the people who produce it, to know what our individual bowels need.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Eat food, mostly plants. (I must read that book some day.)

I think we are quite obsessed with being "clean inside and out" in our society, and certainly the sensation we get when we fast and purge can be pleasurable in its way - it's one of the things that keeps anorexics and bulimics going. As for teeth, consider that we - and especially you in America - live in a society that is obsessed with white teeth and fresh breath. You don't actually *have* to brush twice a day, or once after every meal. You seriously don't. You can probably manage fine brushing once a week for that matter. It's just that your breath will not be nice and your teeth will not look attractive and eventually some of them will fall out, just like they did when you were seven.

I think the Pollon book was also where I learned that there are a lesser number of teeth problems in groups that don't eat a high-processed western diet.

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

That's what I'm thinking. In the last few years I've had some annoying health issues and I am the only one in my family with these issues. For years people have been saying that we are killing ourselves with the chemicals we put in and put on our bodies and I'm starting to believe it. I don't find it so hard to believe that our digestive track could be running sluggish or not working up to its 100% potential. I'm not saying this particular product is the answer.

Well depending on how poor the diet has been you can also get a colonic irrigation. I heard a friend of a friend did that after chronic illness due to very poor diet. Some of the crap that came out could have potential been in the tubes for years before getting flushed out.

Although it isn't highly thought of as a regular diet, there are advantages to the Cabbage soup diet, if properly modified. One of the main advantages is as a cleanse / detox. My only real suggestion on all of this is to ease into what ever you are doing, eliminating foods, etc. which are most 'toxic' and then doing the detox / cleanse for a pre determined number of days. 5 - 7 is what I generally hear from people who have done them successfully. Then ease back into a normal, healthy eating pattern.

{{{HUGS}}}

I have to say that the idea of eating a lot of cabbage soup to cleanse yourself makes more sense, just to me, you understand, than ingesting nothing but lemonade, maple syrup, olive oil and cayenne pepper. It's something to do with all the SUGAR in the latter diet that makes me feel that it, ooh, might be complete quackery.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I have to say that the idea of eating a lot of cabbage soup to cleanse yourself makes more sense, just to me, you understand, than ingesting nothing but lemonade, maple syrup, olive oil and cayenne pepper. It's something to do with all the SUGAR in the latter diet that makes me feel that it, ooh, might be complete quackery.

I have to agree. I don't see why it's advantageous to not eat a healthy balanced diet including lots of fiber, vitamins, and proper amounts of protein if that is how are bodies are meant to process things. Bombing your system with loads of sugar and improper nutrients seems like a terrible idea. I currently have been on a gestational diabetes diet, and I can tell you that if you have a normal American diet I bet you're already eating too much sugar, which is probably part of the problem anyway.

I read somewhere a few years ago that grape juice made with concord grapes has the effect when going through your intestines of cleaning out debris that may have been sitting there. I guess there is a sticky substance in the grape juice. I have no idea if it is true but I started drinking concord grape juice every night before bed and have become much more "regular". I myself am too chicken to do a detox diet.

Biologically speaking, if you really want to "clean" out your insides, you need to go for roughage, like celery. There is a reason it is a "diet" food.... our bodies aren't equiped to digest it! (I know veggie/vegan diets are good, but you have to admit we are evolved to be meat eaters as well, which is why we have cutting teeth as well as grinding). So eating lots of greens with no nutritional value (since we can't digest cellulose) will result in our bodies having to process and expell all that extra cellulose.... scraping out everything along with it on it's way out.

I have to agree with _sarai_ and sspies....

Those "detox cleanse" things are hoaxes and are nothing more than money wasters.

The best thing you can do to "cleanse yourself" is to eat cleanly, and get lots of roughage.

When you go and get a colonic, or any sort of "irrigation" the center will usually make you take flora or other probiotic pills, etc., etc...because they know full well that "cleansing" your bowels in such a manner removes BENEFICIAL things in your body.

The best way to cleanse your body is to take in little chemicals...and to eat healthfully. If you drink lots of water, eat a clean, healthy diet with a lot of fruit and vegetables...it will clean itself naturally. The body was MADE to do this.

As far as the fear of the body "leaving things behind" in the digestive tract...you must understand that you aren't going to have a bowel movement for every meal/snack that you eat. Your body digests and USES much of the food you take in. The bowel movement is simply the "remainder" or the waste. It is the leftover parts of the food that the body doesn't need at the time. When it goes through your body...the nutrients are absorbed, the protein, fat, and other macronutrients in the food that the body needs are absorbed, etc. and the part that leaves your body is simply what your body doesn't need. So...you might eat 2, 3, or 4 meals before there is "enough" waste for your body to signal to you that it needs to get rid of it. You simply are not going to expel the exact quantity that you take in...because your body utilizes much of that nutrition.

Originally Posted by nasila

I don't understand how you have to brush and floss your teeth after every meal (and even then there is plenty of build up that needs to be removed by a dentist every 6 months), but we assume that nothing remains behind in the digestive tract? Is not saliva designed to help eliminate buggers that are left behind? If that's not working so well, what makes you so sure that the GI tract's own system isn't also falling a bit behind?

I haven't heard of this product, but I personally have had great results with periodic fasting/cleansing and think it can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Because teeth and colons are very different. It is a bit like asking if we have to clip toenails why not ear lopes? The colon has a lining that is designed to shed - so it is self cleaning (unless you get an actual blockage).

Basically the benefits of fasting is eating less - specifically eating less processed food. Eat lightly with plenty of natural fibre and you won't need to fast. The other benefit of course is it makes money for rip off merchants.

Your body digests and USES much of the food you take in. The bowel movement is simply the "remainder" or the waste. It is the leftover parts of the food that the body doesn't need at the time. When it goes through your body...the nutrients are absorbed, the protein, fat, and other macronutrients in the food that the body needs are absorbed, etc. and the part that leaves your body is simply what your body doesn't need. So...you might eat 2, 3, or 4 meals before there is "enough" waste for your body to signal to you that it needs to get rid of it. You simply are not going to expel the exact quantity that you take in...because your body utilizes much of that nutrition.

Food in "necessary for normal bodily function" shock!!!

Unfortunately food is rather demonised these days. But we actually *need* to eat some...

Might be something to discuss with your doctor, if you have concern about lack of movement and you are eating healthfully. I knew someone who had maybe one movement a week; her doctor said that was all her body needed as it used (almost) every bit she ate. A rare occurence, perhaps, but a possibility nonetheless.

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

I was watching an infomercial the other day and it got me thinking. It was for Dual Action Cleanse. It claims to cleanse your body and colon of waste that has built up over the years. The doctor on it was blunt and forward which made me laugh and kind of grossed me out but it got me thinking. If you don't have a bowel movement after a meal, where does that go? what's happening inside the body and is it possibly breaking down and staying in there? Eeewwww!!!

Anyone ever try this or any other product like it? What exactly does it do? Make you "go"? A friend tried a liquid detox drink and it was green and smelled nasty. My MIL did those foot pad detox things and loved them. I've never done a detox. What about the Acai Berry?
Are there any doctors or nutritionists here that can shed some light on the subject?

It never fails to amaze me when people try all manner of marketed detox drinks/potion/powders etc when all they need to do is eat properly. One detox I can highly recommend, through personal experience, and is the no wheat, no meat, no sugar, no alchohol, no dairy, and no packaged or processed foods or drinks, diet. So may people say, well what the hell does that leave. You can eat as many nuts, fruits, honey, veg, rice and rye bread etc as you like and you never go hungry and trust me, your bowels will thank you for it. I lost two stone on it, and I'm currently doing it again to notch up my energy levels, which go through the roof with this diet. Basically it is a vegan and gluten free diet which also cuts out sugars. Very healthy. I found the most amazing thing about this diet, apart from the weightloss, was how energised I felt.

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

It never fails to amaze me when people try all manner of marketed detox drinks/potion/powders etc when all they need to do is eat properly. One detox I can highly recommend, through personal experience, and is the no wheat, no meat, no sugar, no alchohol, no dairy, and no packaged or processed foods or drinks, diet. So may people say, well what the hell does that leave. You can eat as many nuts, fruits, honey, veg, rice and rye bread etc as you like and you never go hungry and trust me, your bowels will thank you for it. I lost two stone on it, and I'm currently doing it again to notch up my energy levels, which go through the roof with this diet. Basically it is a vegan and gluten free diet which also cuts out sugars. Very healthy. I found the most amazing thing about this diet, apart from the weightloss, was how energised I felt.

Okay, we are talking about detox and bowel movements - dare I ask what you mean by "I lost two stone on it"? I'm hoping that means weight?

Two stone is about 28 pounds on our side of the pond, I think. Or maybe 14. I'm getting "stone" mixed up with "fortnight" perhaps, but yes, it means losing weight.

Yep, 28 pounds.

I just wanted to add a quick note- not all fiber is created equal. Food with lots of insoluble fiber (as in many raw veggies), while beneficial for most people, can actually produce more, erm, blockage for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
If you are eating a lot of roughage and not seeing any results, you might want to talk to your doctor about IBS.