The average transit time for food to make its way through the digestive tract and be expelled through the colon should be about 16 to 18 hours, but with a diet high in processed, fatty foods, for many Americans this transit time is almost 3 or 4 times as long. And the more time that this debris is spent sitting in the digestive tract, the more time it has to spawn bacteria and other toxins that can make us sick. But not to fear, simply by changing your diet and eating the right foods can help clear your colon of debris.

So what is the best diet for colon cleansing and ultimately good health? The consensus today is that a plant-based diet is best for reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases and ailments. This type of diet has obvious benefits for the colon.

Plant-based diets containing lots of vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, nuts and whole grains are high in fibre. A high-fibre diet supports a healthy digestive tract by sweeping debris from the colon, much like a broom. Fibre exercises the intestinal tract by stimulating muscular contractions of the bowel that push along the waste and decrease bowel transit time. Fibre also holds moisture in the colon, softening the stool.

Flax seed and oats are high on the list of fibrous foods. Other foods high in soluble fibre include beans, peas, rice, barley, citrus, strawberry and apples. Foods high in insoluble fibre include whole wheat, rye, brown rice, barley, cabbage, beets, carrots, brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower and apple (with skin).  

Green foods such as alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley grass, and spirulina have a high chlorophyll content which also makes them ideal for colon cleansing. Chlorophyll helps the body to obtain more oxygen and draws out toxins. Plus, chlorophyll soothes and heals damaged tissue in the digestive tract.

If you eat a lot of junk food and processed foods your diet is likely high in refined carbohydrates and low in fibre.  This type of diet reduces the number of friendly bacteria in the intestines, upsetting the balance of the body’s intestinal ecosystem. Thus, it is also important to eat Yogurt, kefir and other fermented foods such as miso (used in Japanese cuisine) and sauerkraut, which can replenish friendly bacteria. These beneficial bacteria synthesize vitamins from food remnants, degrade toxins, prevent colonization of disease-causing micro- organisms, crowd out less beneficial bacteria, and stimulate the immune system.

Most people need to drink more water. Water is crucial to all processes in the human body and an insufficient amount of it causes constipation and toxicity in the bowel and kidneys. Physical activity, fever, hot or dry climates and consumption of meat and salty foods all increase the need for water. So drink lots and try to stay away from pop and coffee, which do very little to hydrate the system.