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BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
You're watching multisource health news analysis from Newsy.
Colon Cleansing. It has celebrity endorsements, popular support and a long history. But a new study says the one thing it doesn’t have -- is evidence. KABC gives us the rundown.
“A popular treatment may be harmful to your health. A new study shows how colon cleansing can have serious side effects. Georgetown University doctors say those side effects include acute kidney damage, digestion problems, infections, and even heart failure.”
Colon cleansing has been around since at least the ancient Egyptians, and is still a pretty popular treatment. The basic idea is that food and toxins get stuck in your gut, causing illness. They need to be washed out -- either by an oral supplement or by a more... direct approach.
A writer for IB Times explains how it’s supposed to work.
“Colon cleansing procedures are similar to enemas, except that volumes of liquids -- containing herbal extracts such as burdock, and milk thistle, or other substances like coffee and enzymes -- in excess of 50 liters are often used, and the procedure may be done repeatedly.”
The cleanse is supposed to give you healthy skin, more energy, and treat everything from allergies to weight problems. But the researchers checked out recent studies and trials, and they found -- the treatment just doesn’t hold water. Beyond the harmful side effects, the promised health benefits never materialized.
MSNBC explains -- the fear of modern living may be driving the treatment’s resurgence.
“...everything that’s old is new again, and detoxing is hot, stemming largely from people’s fears of the copious amounts chemicals and pesticides found in food and the environment. With claims that a cloggy, toxin-filled colon can lead to a litany of ills … detox devotees are making colon cleansing trendy again.”
Instead of reaching for a hose, the study authors say the keys to health are the same you’ve heard your whole life: eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly.
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