Expert Q&A for How to Detox Your Colon

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Question

Does your colon really need cleansing?

Gary Hoffman, MD
Colorectal Surgeon
Dr. Gary Hoffman is a board certified Colorectal Surgeon and the Clinical Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Hoffman has helped to advance laparoscopic and robotic surgery for the treatment of colon and rectal cancer. Dr. Hoffman holds a BS from the University of California, Irvine, and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Vanderbilt University. He completed his surgical internship at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and his surgical residency at Louisiana State University-Charity Hospital of New Orleans Medical Center. Dr. Hoffman is an Attending Surgeon in the Division of General Surgery and Colon and Rectal Surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at The David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Hoffman is a member of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, The Southern California Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, The American College of Surgeons, and The American Medical Association.

Gary Hoffman, MD

Colorectal Surgeon

Expert Answer

No. Unless you're getting a colonoscopy or something, fasting and cleansing are really unnecessary. Your body doesn't produce poisons that you'd even theoretically need to get rid of, so there's no meaningful point.

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Question

I want to clean my bowels -- is it okay to eat fruit & vegetables for a day?

Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.

Lisa Bryant, ND

Licensed Naturopathic Physician

Expert Answer

Yes, eating lots of fruits and vegetables for a day is fine for most people. Make sure you are also drinking plenty of fluids.

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Question

Do humans have worms in their intestines?

Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.

Lisa Bryant, ND

Licensed Naturopathic Physician

Expert Answer

Humans can have parasite infections that are typically diagnosed from a stool sample. Parasite infections are treated differently than the colon detox suggestions listed above.

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Question

What is the difference between a colonic and colonoscopy?

Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.

Lisa Bryant, ND

Licensed Naturopathic Physician

Expert Answer

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure done by a gastroenterologist (stomach/intestine specialist) to screen for colon cancer or to help diagnose inflammatory bowel conditions. This uses a camera and sometimes involves collecting tissue samples that are sent into a lab. A colonic is a procedure that flushes out your colon.

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Question

Is it safe to do salt flushing to detox your colon using ordinary rock salt?

Lisa Bryant, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.

Lisa Bryant, ND

Licensed Naturopathic Physician

Expert Answer

There aren't any official medical guidelines on saltwater flushes for detox, but typically these are done with any type of non-iodized sea salt.

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