According to the Cleveland Clinic, there’s only one true way to detoxify your bowels: having regular bowel movements. The detoxification systems you see lining store shelves are nothing more than a marketing ploy. If you are feeling bloated or haven’t been moving your bowels regularly, there are some easy ways to detoxify your bowels.

1. Change Your Diet

A diet that is high in fat and low in fiber will quickly bind your bowels. Changing your diet to include foods that are high in fiber will help your bowels move. Diet changes are fairly simple to make. Try to limit dairy products along with anything that contains caffeine. Add a serving of fruits or vegetables to each meal. High fiber foods include baked beans, lima beans, lentils and split peas. If you can add any of these to your diet, you’ll find that your bowels move much more regularly.

2. Exercise

Many people don’t think of exercise as a way to move bowels. Exercising daily keeps all of your body’s systems working properly. You don’t have to run marathons to detoxify your bowels, but you do have to get up and get moving for at least 20 minutes each day. Find an exercise that you like and stick to it. Whether you walk, job, swim or play your Wii, the goal is to perform some form of exercise on a daily basis.

3. Psyllium

You can find ground psyllium in any health food store. The key to detoxifying with psyllium is in how you take it. Mix a teaspoon of the powder in eight ounces of water and drink it. You want to drink this mixture three times a day. Additionally, make sure that you are drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day. Drink psyllium daily for a week and then as needed. If you haven’t had a bowel movement by day three of your psyllium routine, consult your physician.

4. Probiotics

Once you’ve begun to have regular bowel movements, adding probiotics to your diet can help reintroduce friendly bacteria to your digestive system. While you can purchase probiotics in the health food store, the easiest way to get these good bacteria is through the consumption of plain yogurt. Products like Activia have added probiotics that can be beneficial for some people. Add one serving of yogurt to your diet each day to repopulate your digestive system with good bacteria.

Don’t buy expensive, complicated detoxification systems. If you think that your bowels could use some help, follow the tips above. Changing your diet, drinking more water and adding a product like psyllium or a laxative drink are effective, natural ways to jump start your digestive system.

Sarah is a stay-at-home mum with 3 children in primary school, in her past time she loves to garden, travel, cook and write blogs for other stay at home mums and anyone with similar interests.

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Marin – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net