We’ve long known about the importance of colon health. It probably stretches back thousands of years, but we can only take an educated guess at what the societies of ancient India and China believed about the digestive tract – where food went after you swallow it.
Digestive troubles can be a massive burden on your life and your health. And they aren’t well treated with over-the-counter drugs, their prescription mates or chemical laxatives. Some patients have been using harsh chemical laxatives for so long that their colons actually no longer work as they should.
Just as clogged arteries can’t be ignored, neither can a clogged colon. I have personally witnessed natural remedies that become far more effective than drugs over the long term. I’ve found that natural solutions offer better long-term results than drugs. So I set about to figure out the best ingredients that would help recharge, invigorate and most importantly, clear a colon backed up with toxic substance.
Here they are.
1: Pysllium
No grain contains more fiber than the psyllium seed. Inside their husks are unique bioactive polysaccharides that are proven to relieve constipation.2 When you eat pysllium, it dives into your digestive tract and supports a healthy bowel function. It can lower symptoms of hemorrhoids as well, should they be a problem for you.3,4 It is the one great natural ingredient that can clear hidden constipation, the kind that lays unseen.5
2. Oat bran
Oat bran is a super source of fiber and relieves constipation on its own.6 Ingredients called “beta glucans” that make bran from oat more efficient in this way than other types of bran.7 Beta glucans are natural ingredients that aid the immune system.8 At the same time, oat bran has been found to keep your cholesterol levels healthy as well, a very important side effect.9
3. Beet fiber
Used for generations to relieve digestive disorders, beet fiber binds to toxins, heavy metals, and excess hormones that have been dumped into the gut from the liver.10 You want those toxins out, and beer fiber helps escort them out, before they can be reabsorbed into your body tissues.11, 12
4. Apple pectin
For diarrhea problems, look no further than apple pectin. Its soluble fiber turns liquid into gel and in so doing eliminates diarrhea. Pectin gently, naturally, restores your stools to a healthy form. 13,14 Unlike many of those chemical remedies.
5. Rice fiber
We can thank Traditional Chinese Medicine for this one. Rice fiber can quell indigestion, stop diarrhea and generally promote a healthy circulation of blood in the body. Several studies have proven that fiber improves the speed of your bowels, boosts the weight of fecal matter and slashes through constipation problems.15 Find a special source of fiber in rice.
6. Alfalfa
Alfalfa, other than a food, is a commonly used herb in medicine. Studies have found it can help with a variety of issues, particularly digestive troubles and upset stomach.16 You can toss abdominal bloating and flatulence into the mix as well.17
7. Fennel
The seeds of fennel are also well-used in medicine, and have the ability to relieve digestive problems such as gas and intestinal spasms.18 As the traditional medicine practitioners in China and Europe and you’ll discover fennel has been trusted for hundreds of years – especially for healthy digestion and stomach aches.19
8. Peppermint
Here is an ultra popular herb, known across the land for its antispasmodic abilities (fights spasms). In this way, peppermint can calm the stomach and digestive tract, soothing diarrhea and nausea in the process.20,21 One of its prized ingredients is menthol, which is proven to soothe your entire digestive tract.22
9. Barley
Barley grass, that is. This great source of fiber helps the digestive system, and is also loaded with phytonutrients and is regarded as a “superfood” by some.23
10. Slippery elm
This popular herb is a traditional remedy for stomach and digestive issues.24 Just as “slippery” would suggest, it is soothing and clears up issues in the intestines, including occasional bouts of diarrhea.
11. Red raspberry
Brand new research suggests that red raspberry leaf exerts a powerful antioxidant ability in the body. For centuries it has soothed patients’ stomach aches and relieved bowel disorders.25 Within the leaf are special natural chemicals that constrict the tissues of the intestines to prevent water loss.
12. Parsley
A bacteria-fighter, parsley is studied for its help in limiting stomach distress.26 It can improve digestion by stimulating the release of digestive juices that help digest proteins and fats.
13. Prune juice
Many of us have heard of this prune juice, known to relieve constipation and soothe an irritable bowel. It gently relieves constipation without the harshness or side effects of chemical laxatives.
14. Probiotics
Last but far, far from least is probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that populate the colon. Good bacteria make for excellent digestion, a powerful immune system, and flow to many other health benefits across the body.27
Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Victor Marchione, M.D.
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About the Author
Dr. Marchione is a respected leader in the field of smoking cessation and pulmonary medicine. He has been featured on ABC News and World Report, CBS Evening News and the NBC Today Show and is the editor of the popular The Food Doctor newsletter and is also the chief formulator at Bel Marra Nutritionals. He is also a contributor to the Doctors Health e-Bulletin, a free daily e-zine providing up-to-date health discoveries, advice and breakthroughs. For more information please visit www.doctorshealthpress.com
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