Bernard Jensen, a very famous iridologist, first came up with a very important phrase that is revered by all alternative health practitioners - "Death begins in the colon." As one of the main organs of elimination, the colon is where many nutrients from the foods we digest are broken down and then assimilated into the bloodstream for conversion into the muscle, tissue and fuel. It is also one of the largest organs in the body, and once it becomes dysfunctional so do many other organs and systems in the body.

A colon that is impacted with debris from inefficient elimination, lacking peristalsis from a lack of toning and exercise or traumatized by allergies or parasites can cause you to quickly gain weight.

Some people can carry as much as thirty pounds of uneliminated waste in their colons which often prolapse and cause droopy looking "beer bellies."

Colons that contain parasites are often impacted with mucous that prevents nutrients for cells from being absorbed. This compels the individual to eat more and more in order to get enough nutrition to get through the day.

There are two ways to cleanse the colon. The fastest way is through a process called colonic irrigation, which involves the insertion of a tube into the rectum far enough into the colon to flush it out with water.

The second way is to use cleansing herbal formulas which often contain herbs that are known to kill parasites, reactivate the peristalsis (muscular action of the colon) and eliminate mucus and compacted feces from the sides of the colon wall.

Before you take a colon cleansing herbal formula make sure that you check with your doctor first to make sure that this is a good idea. Many powerful colon-cleansing herbs such as wormwood also come with unpleasant side effects such as headaches, disassociation and a fatigue that is very difficult to fight.

Neither way of colon detoxification is that comfortable but it is certainly a way to jump-start your weight loss program and make it more effective. You can eat all the healthy low calorie foods that you want but if they are not able to be absorbed by the body you will not make much progress. You will also suffer from unbearable hunger and fatigue.

Colon cleansing is also often the automatic result of changing your lifestyle habits. If you suddenly switch from refined, fatty and sugary foods to a healthy diet that consists mainly of vegetables the feces that are compacted on your colon walls will naturally detach. This will aggravate any bacteria or parasites that are present in the digestive tract, which usually respond by producing toxic substances such as alcohol.

As you drink more water, eat healthy and eliminate more often you may periodically find yourself experiencing some unpleasant side effects such as headaches, bloating, gas and nausea. Usually these symptoms only last a week or two in a healthy individual and are to be welcomed, as they are evidence that the detoxification and cleansing of your body is working.

One of the best ways to take care of your colon is to use a natural fiber product. Unlike those which are heavily processed and rely on harsh chemicals, the natural fiber products are gentle, reliable and actually have good food nutrient properties.

There are several natural products on the market and when you choose one read the ingredients carefully. Choose one with gentle ingredients such as apple pectin, one with both soluable and insoluable fiber, Ellagitannins, Ellagic Acid, OPC, Resveratrol and other nutrient cofactors from the plant sourced fiber as well.

Although most would like not to think about their colon, they should remember how much extra weight they may be seeing on the scale and on the tape measure due to avoiding the use of fiber products.