The lowdown on colon care: they say death begins in the intestines. Here's some lifesaving advice that's easy to digest

DETOXIFY YOURSELF

Martin Gallagher, D.C., a chiropractor in Jeannette, Penn., is representative of the nutritionally oriented practitioners who strongly believe that many illnesses are related to an overload of intestinal toxicity. Thus, he frequently starts treatment programs with 10 days of detoxification. For the first nine days, patients eat only raw vegetables, fresh fruits, vegetarian soups, juices, distilled or mineral water (one to two quarts a day) and herbal teas. On the tenth day, they fast with distilled or mineral water. "I can't really emphasize detox enough for the health of the colon and the health and vitality of the whole body," Gallagher says.

Fasting (practiced by most native tribes and organized religions) is another method of detoxification recommended by holistic practitioners. They also suggest supplements that enhance cleansing, such as ground psyllium husks. Psyllium is hydrophilic (meaning it attracts water) and expands tenfold in your intestinal tract, where it acts like a broom and sweeps out waste material. Again, be sure to follow label instructions.

Finally, patients on prescription drugs should be aware of possible gastrointestinal side effects. Antibiotics are notorious disturbers of intestinal peace. Besides zapping the "bad" bacteria, they wipe out the "good" bacteria as well, opening the door to yeast overgrowth, infections, diarrhea, constipation and a host of other problems. After a course of antibiotics, it is advisable to take a probiotic, a nutritional supplement containing acidophilus and other beneficial bacteria that restores balance to the intestines.

There's a lot you can do to create your own strategies for maintaining a healthy large intestine. Death may begin in the colon, but wellness starts in your head.

Martin Zucker, a writer in Los Angeles, has been writing about health and nutrition for 20 years, most of which time he has been a vegetarian.

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