I am always amazed at the number of drug commercials and over the counter pills they have to help keep your bowels working correctly. The problem with cleaning out all the 'bad' stuff too often is that you also clean out all the 'good' stuff, like the good bacteria that lives there. (I would recommend if you are using a colon cleanse, that you supplement with a good probiotic as well.)
This being said, you really don't need any of the OTC stuff to get yourself regular. Eating a few prunes, every day, or drinking a small amount of prune juice daily, will do the trick better than any pharmaceutical.
Prunes contain three ingredients that work together to keep your digestive system on track. First, prunes are high in insoluble fiber, which is perhaps the key to preventing constipation. Insoluble fiber isn't absorbed by the body. It stays in the digestive tract, where it absorbs large amounts of water, increasing bulk, which helps everything go smoothly.
Second, prunes also contain soluble fiber, the type that lowers cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Lastly, prunes contain a compound called dihydroxyphenlisatin which stimulates the intestine, causing it to contract. This process is essential for regularity.
If you're eating prunes for regularity, about 5 a day is all you need. If you would rather drink prune juice, six ounces is all you need.
