Are Colon/Intestinal Cleanses Necessary While Eating Raw?

[Universal]

Peace again to the board


I wanted to pose this question to the board. As far as it concerns various colon, intestinal cleanses, fasts, etc.. Do you feel that raw food (raw leafy green vegetables, juicy sweet fruits) will help the body cleanse itself to a point where these various cleanses are unnecessary? I just wanna see other people's perspective on this, because for instance i have my own view of it.
The way i feel, for me personally, i've had 20-21 years of eating SAD, and its only been the last year and a half that i've actually started focusing on what i'm putting into my body. Now i've been raw for about 6 months now, and i've quit eating meat (directly at least) for a year and 2 months. I've done the Master Cleanse. And i've begun to regularly to a water fast once a week for the last 2 months. However, while i feel great, i Know that i can get better. I'm also an athlete and i workout very regularly doing a mix of cardio and resistance weight training throughout the week.
Someone in my position, do you feel that it may still be necessary for me to do a special intestinal cleanse, or colon cleanse? And if so, do you Know of any ones in particular that provide the best benefits for the body?
As always, i'll be highly appreciative of any feedback on this.


PEACE
Universal

[flutterfly]

"Renew Life" is the best you can get. Yes, I would do a cleanse once every 6 months. There are still fecal materials on the walls of your colon and the cleanse will help remove them

[askcassyfirst]

A high fiber diet, or a cleanse with added fiber consumption is probably considered the most effective / efficient cleansing you can give your bowel. (Insoluble (roughage) fiber acts like a scrub brush to loosen caked on materials and send them on their way. Soluble fiber absorbs water and water soluble toxins, kind of like the soft side of a sponge and allows them to be eliminated in a movement.) Colon cleansing is important, because it is the colon's very own job (absorption) that causes the most problem if you have stagnant waste. Toxins and wastes, both old and new and recycled are absorbed by the colon and sent to the liver. This can become cyclical if one is not eliminating properly in a BM, or if they have a constipated liver. Toxins can be sent to weak tissues in our body where they sit around causing free radical damage and inflammation. (There is a pretty significant link between autointoxication and autoimmune conditions.)

That said, a high raw, or 100% raw diet will naturally be high in fiber, and therefore a great way to keep one's bowels clean. However, if like most, one didn't eat perfect for their life before this path, an herbal or mineral cleanse, is a great way to give our digestive tract an extra scouring. Some, like Stanley Burroughs (who wrote and developed the Master Cleanse,) feel that fasting and liquids are able to "soak" the walls and move things on. I for one agree. However, since i am not one to make it to day 40 of a master or juice cleanse, I have always added a periodic bowel cleanse, or organ cleanse. Just my thoughts.

For brands, I am partial to Renew Life, as I work here, BUT, no matter what you choose, look for one with a safe history, without irritants such as senna or cascara, and preferably without large amounts of Psyllium. (Psyllium can be of questionable quality, as it is nigh on impossible to get organic. I look for Flax fibers instead.) Personally, I think it is less about the brand, and more about whether the product fits your needs. Look for organic, vegecaps, etc. (you wouldn't want to consume something with binders and fillers ~all tablet types~ for these ingredients are extraneous and are a burden for your liver to detoxify, and that is the organ you are trying to help by cleansing.

My two cents.

Cassy

[sport]

I assumed that when you said "colan clense" that you were refering to an enema style clense. I have just completed a week at "The UK Centre for Living Foods" and the course incorporated self edministered enemas followed by 2 oz of wheatgrass placed in your anal cavity. The theory is that it is absorbed in to the liver from there. I have to admit that when I did it, the entire 2 ounces of wheatgrass went up and no sign of it was ever seen again. They recomend that this becomes part of your daily routine and should be done in the evening following your last meal. Does anyone think that this is extreme or is anyone doing this

[flutterfly]

I feel that is extreme. I will do an enema about once every two weeks. I did get in the habit of doing them every day for a long time when I was eating all the wrong foods but not any more. I also feel that doing them that often will make your intestines weak so you can't go naturally. It took me a long time before I could have reg. bowel movement after I stopped using enemas as a crutch and that is what I was doing.

[stevek42]

I don't know what's best but I found this hilarious.

http://www.poopreport.com/Consumer/Content/Oxypowder/oxypowder.html

[UltrasonicRaw]

i dont think you need any of these, especially on a high raw diet. i know a lot of people will disagree, but i dont think you should mess with your colon so much. i read about a lot of people doing enemas regularly and i just dont see why it is necessary to focus too much on this. i have never gone to the bathroom so much in my life since going raw. maybe its just me?????

[love6kids]

i have never gone to the bathroom so much in my life since going raw. maybe its just me?????

Trust me....it's *not* just you! I am experiencing the same thing!

[Ginger]

That link is hilarious!

[Universal]

Peace,

Thanks to all for the replies.

I have to second that (or third, lol) love6kids and UltrasonicRaw. I also have been constantly in the bathroom eliminating a lot more often since being raw.

What exactly is Renew Life????

[RawTruth]

Since you're considering a colon cleanse, this is a good article to read:

http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2004...bious-idea.html

I am also someone who doesn't feel that cleanses are necessary, that they're unnatural, and that the raw food we eat cleanses our bodies when and how the time is right for each of our individual systems.

Sport, I also think that is not just extreme, but is bizarre and makes no physiological sense at all. We have salivary glands and digestive juices in our mouths and stomach because that's where our food comes into our bodies. Unless I flunked anatomy, there's no reason on earth to insert wheatgrass juice into the anus.

[Revvell]

Unless I flunked anatomy, there's no reason on earth to insert wheatgrass juice into the anus.


Actually, at the Optimum Health Institute, if I remember correctly, it's not the juice but the wheatgrass itself. It's made into lil torpedoes, then inserted. Don't remember quite why though. Maybe I need a wheatgrass torpedo inserted in my ainy?

:cool:

[RawTruth]

Don't remember quite why though. Maybe I need a wheatgrass torpedo inserted in my ainy?Hmmm ... if that'd help the memory, I bet a bunch of people over 50 would be walking around with green stains on the back of their britches.

[CAdreamer]

Steve...that link had me laughing harder than I have in a long time...it was hilarious. Actually, I only read his story, the rest of the site didn't appeal to me, but our body functions are pretty weird sometimes and he had quite a way with words.

Prior to my sigmoidoscopy last year, I had to take a 'fleet' enema. overnight it cleaned the colon slick as a whistle...However, my sigmoidoscopy failed, and I ended up having to do a barium xray (all just routine, nothing suspect). Forgive me if I am giving TMI here (you know, too much information), but it was both one of the absolutely worst, most painful experiences I've ever had and was sort of funny too. The procedure, for those 'inexperienced' here is that the doc puts a balloon in your rectum to keep the air from seeping back out. And then he proceeds to fill the gut with air, more air, and more air !!! I don't think my belly was that big with either child !! The reason it 'failed' is that the air went through my intestines, into my stomach, and out my mouth !! I couldn't keep from belching and belching...long, loud, rumbling belches for about 10 minutes...which was kind of embarrassing, but...it was a very clean, odorless belch. The doctor kept pushing the air in while I kept belching it out. All the while, my stomach is painfully distended, and the doctor (who had a horrible bed-side manner) kept getting irritated that the air was not staying in.....sorry, there was nothing I could do. The procedure took a LOT longer than it should have and I was absolutely miserable and very close to tears. However, what I did see of the scoping that he did do, was only pink colon tissue with no evidence at all of fecal material.

It's really hard for me to believe that anyone has to spend a lot of money and days of discomfort and constant need to be close to the toilet. The fleet was what I had to use both times and I was totally clean. I watched the herbal cleansing process when my husband did it last year, and it wasn't predictable enough that we could go anywhere...close to home was good !

[RawTruth]

I also had a colon exam -- 2 years ago. Also, a Fleet enema in combination with a laxative was used the night before to empty everything out. The exam was with a camera (very small!!) and I watched the entire thing on the screen (similarly to how you can watch the ultrasound of a fetus). I was amazed that the entire colon was pink with no "pockets", no deposits, nothing at all of any kind. That was when I realized that rationale and reasoning behind intestinal cleanses is specious at best. Now that technology can show us what's actually in (and not in) us, we can emerge from the dark ages (pun intended) of believing that we're coated with sludge and toxins are physically encrusted on the sides of our bowels. We're not, and they're not.

When people do cleanses where they see gunk leaving their bodies, the gunk is actually the clay, betonite, or whatever concoction they're taking. When you stop to think about it, it's just so simple. As is written here -
http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2004...bious-idea.html - it's the only "cure" that eliminates something that it actually causes itself. What a great deal for the guy who's been putting this over on gullible members of the alternative health community.

Anyway, I think that it's easy fo some to get a bit fixated on "cleaning out" their body like it's a house that gets dirt tramped into it and needs to be swept and vacuumed. My personal belief is that our bodies were designed to do all this automatically; all we have to do is feed it raw, ripe fruits and veggies. But, we're so used to "doing" something to get a result, it's hard to just relax and let our body do what it's designed to do.

[pizda]

Good statement RT. I am wondering sometimes why I am doing my weekly 2-littre enema. Well it feels good afterwards )). I had colonoscopy several times and observed the same picture of my colon. May be we just blessed with intestinal health. On another hand, the raw diet is definitely the best cleanser over time. The main idea of naturopathy is if you give body the proper condition it will heal and clean itself. Nevertheless, the many years of SAD and ethnic European diet probably had impact on my body and it will take many years to erase. If ever.
I would like to say people in their twenties who are changing to the raw lifestyle – I envy you. I wish I did this in my twenties. Sooner you switch to healthy life stronger your body will be in future. Do not hesitate, do not look back, do not listen to SAD food commercial, and do not give in to friends and relatives who are trying to feed you. With a little will power you will discover new yourself in your new body (or rather old body that you had in you late teens – that what I have now ,-)))). If you feel like cleansing will help you, do it. However, do not go crazy about it. RT is right it is probably more like a mental reinforcement. Except liver flush. It did good for me. On the other hand, may be it was my diet change.

[sport]

I have to say in reply to Raw Truth's comments that I found taking the wheatgrass up my bum was preferable to taking it in my mouth. I was usually ill after taking it orally and even trew it back up a few times. I had to reduce froom 2oz to 1oz per shot and even then had to lie down for a while after taking it. It also had the added bonus of giving me a really flat tummy. I would recomend it if you want to get in to that little black dress for that special night out.

[UltrasonicRaw]

i know a lot of people shy away from the medical community, that is why most of us eat the way we do or seek different types of treatment for our ailments. but what raw truth said is right on, our intestines and colons will function just fine left alone. now, if you have diverticulitis or some other bowel disease or complication, then of course you may have symptoms or complications that need to to be addressesd. i just think that our philosophy of eating raw and allowing our bodies to eat what it wants, having an open mind to eating in a more natural way, gets lost when we start obsessing about our bowels. everything that goes in, will come out and as i have seen with this raw diet, it comes out fast and furious! :)

[Universal]

I would like to say people in their twenties who are changing to the raw lifestyle – I envy you. I wish I did this in my twenties. Sooner you switch to healthy life stronger your body will be in future. Do not hesitate, do not look back, do not listen to SAD food commercial, and do not give in to friends and relatives who are trying to feed you. With a little will power you will discover new yourself in your new body (or rather old body that you had in you late teens – that what I have now ,-))))

Those are very Powerful, inspiring words there.

PEACE
Universal

[pizda]

Thanks Universal,
I wish I would now 10-20-30 years ago what I know now. Wisdom of maturity?! ,-)))) or avareness of health?!
I was swimming yesterday, doing my regular 3000 meters (non-stop in 65 minutes) in the 90 F water temperature (soup-like), blazing sun, very high humidity. It was not easy ,-)))0. I was thinking that no way I would have a stamina to do this 20 or 30 years ago. Thanks to the raw food lifestyle (please note I do not say raw food diet, since it is not just diet to me).
Just do it. Took me only 2 years.

[RawTruth]

I found taking the wheatgrass up my bum was preferable to taking it in my mouth. I was usually ill after taking it orally and even trew it back up a few times. I had to reduce froom 2oz to 1oz per shot and even then had to lie down for a while after taking it.Victoria Boutenko describes this, saying that many people have this reaction. She believes that wheat grass juice is not a desirable thing to drink -- humans, after all, are not grazing animals like cows are.

To me, vomiting something back up is an indication that your body doesn't want it (therefore, it doesn't need it). I'm a strong believer in listening to your body.

I realize that this goes against the Ann Wigmore camp and the claims that wheat grass juice is somehow miraculous. So, I just want to be clear that, if you choose to drink it ... or insert it some other way into your body ... that's just fine with me. Everyone has to listen to his or her own body. It's just not something I choose for me.

[Heather Lynn]

i don't feel that you NEED to...... it is a big help in the beginning of your raw journey. doing an enma or colonic daily is a bit extreme, but introducing it into your cleansing and detox regime can be a help. i suffered from ibs badly and the colonics gave me a head start on clearing that up. i started raw over 2 months ago and i did it cold turkey. at the start i felt awful but the colonics helped me get a lot out of my system a bit quicker. i like to do 1 every change of season as a mini cleanse. i was doing them more often before raw but since going raw things are under control and i don't feel the need. leave it to your body and discretion.

[CAdreamer]

Wheat grass is not the same as, nor related to, the grasses that herbivore animals eat...it's a grain, not a seed. Personally, it doesn't matter if I eat the whole sprouted wheat grain, or just the sprout that results....I do both, and each serves its purpose. God gave us and animals lots of common things to eat. Just because an animal eats it does not mean that I shouldn't. Wisdom here is the key...we eat bananas, but that does not make us monkeys. However, I wouldn't stick up my ....you know what I mean...wisdom.....

[RawTruth]

God gave us and animals lots of common things to eat. Just because an animal eats it does not mean that I shouldn't.What I was referring to was the difference in our teeth from cows and not having cud. Our teeth and digestive system is much more similar to chimpanzees, etc., and, as far as I know, they don't eat grasses. I just didn't overtly say that. So much for good communication on my part!! Honestly, though, it's just more of a personal preference - my body doesn't feel drawn to wheat grass or sprouted wheat or grains at all, actually. Just a case of to each her own.


Wisdom here is the key...we eat bananas, but that does not make us monkeys. However, I wouldn't stick up my ....you know what I mean...wisdom..... :eek: :eek: What an image! :eek: :eek:

[CAdreamer]

Oh, now I understand what you were saying.... ;) ;)

[organic alaskan]

I recently purchased a comprehensive colon cleansing kit from Arise and Shine herbal products, which is owned by Dr. Richard Anderson at www.cleanse.net , he's the one who coined the term "mucoid plaque." It seems to be the most authentic and high quality product I could find. Although I am not sure who's right about what's really going on in our systems, I've read his book and I just want to try it to find out for myself. I don't see how it could really hurt me, and if I don't feel a difference after I do it, then I'll just never do it again!

I definitely agree that each person needs to follow their own intuition and do what they think is best for themselves. For me, this is something that I really want to try, but others may feel no need to do it. All I can say is, if you choose to do it, be sure you purchase a high quality product and not some cheap, useless formula. Good luck.

[LISAinTN]

I was doing a search related to some questions I had on the MC and ran across this thread. Sorry to resurrect it, but I wanted to share something that happened to my sister. She has IBS and Diverticulitis. She had to have a colon restructuring in June of this year. Her doctor put her on an intensive cleansing regiment because it was imperative that her colon was clean before he opened her up for surgery. He told her after the surgery that after all that cleansing she STILL had crap, literally, stuck to the insides of her bowel. He told her you wouldn't believe the amount of people that have built up gunk in there. Also he said that cleaning the lower part of the colon is much easier and that higher up it can easily remain gunked up. Of course, he used better medical terminology then I just did. LOL I too was thinking of how clean people's colons look in the vidoes of colonoscopies and thought a cleansing wasn't necessary until my sister told me this. So, I'm trying the MC. On day 3 now.

[pizda]

Buy for $5 water bottle from Walmart and do regular enema with vineger. In conjuction with raw food it will do the trick.
In beginning the Norman Walker's colon cleansing procedure is a good thing to do. For the stronger clensing of the whole intestinal system you can do a Shankha Prakshalana.

[LISAinTN]

Thanks Pizda, but I'm already on day 3 of the MC. :)

[Mystical]

For me, cleansing was essential to being able to digest raw foods. I use Dr. Schulze's products, and have done all of his cleanses.

Here's a post I wrote about it:
Hi - I tried going raw a few times, and had too many digestive issues. Like PixieGreen, I did a number of cleanses, and now I can eat raw with no problem! For me, healing my digestion had to come before an all-raw diet. I used Dr. Schulze's products after trying many others. I just completed his 30-day detox a few weeks ago, and am now on a raw diet and really enjoying it. You eat raw foods or juice fast during the cleanse, so it is easy to segue into a raw food diet from the cleanse. I plan to do more of his cleanses over the next 6 months. It is sometimes good to do them over again a number of times - each time, you get healthier. Digestion was always my problem, so I focused on bowel & liver cleanses, but I did kidney too. You can order his products from American Botanical Pharmacy, or 1-800-herbdoc - every 2 months he has a sale of something, so check in Sept 1st.

[sprstr305]

SteveK42 that was the funniest link. Boy, did I need a laugh this morning and you provided. That's what I love about this forum. A person can glean all they need to get thru just by reading these posts. It helps with us all in different stages of this eating plan, doesn't it? :)

[nemo]

you know, after doing raw for a number of years i can deffinitely see a value to doing cleanses, both colon/intestinal and liver/gallbladder.

are they 'necessary'?

i believe that we can heal our bodies in a variety of way, so read everything, and find what works for you.

i'll also say that the world had become alot more toxic since the days of the original natural hygenists, and arold erhet... which includes the gunk many of us have been eating... i doubt those guys could have fathomed the kinds of horrors that pass for snack food these days...

i like schultze's products so far... just keep educating yourself, relax, and enjoy your experiences...

nemo

[Ariannah]

My personal belief is that our bodies were designed to do all this automatically; all we have to do is feed it raw, ripe fruits and veggies. But, we're so used to "doing" something to get a result, it's hard to just relax and let our body do what it's designed to do.

I agree with RawTruth. I believe in doing all things naturally, and cleansing my body is what is happening when I am eating raw, delicious foods. Otherwise, what's the point? I know opinions and experiences vary differently, but one of the reasons I am going raw permanently, as a lifestyle change, is actually just to see how long the body will do it's thang as it's designed to do, when I am eating the foods which are designed for my body.

The rapid changes I have seen already in other parts of my body, is already evidence enough for me that doing it naturally works, so who knows what other parts of my body are being benefitted?

I've been using wheatgrass on days when I don't have many greens in the house and want to have some - unlike many I love the taste, but I can see myself not using it any more after my supply is gone. I see it more as a supplement, and not as an optimal food.