Bentonite Clay: How it Helps Cleanse the Colon
You may or may not know about Bentonite Clay, as it is commonly found in various colon cleansing products on the market. Here are a few facts surrounding the benefits of Bentonite Clay.
What Is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite Clay is widely considered to be a rock-forming mineral. It has many uses, besides from its use in natural medicine. On of the most common uses for this clay is to line landfills, so toxins from the trash can't leak out. It is also commonly used in oil fields. When Bentonite comes into contact with water, it absorbs and swells up dramatically, kind of like a sponge. In the oil field this is important to keep the drilling going if they hit a pocket of water in the ground.
Another common use for bentonite clay is in cat litter. Specifically, because it has the ability to absorb liquid, or in this case... cat urine.
Because of the ability to absorb toxins, it is commonly used as an ingredient in various colon cleanse products, most notably Blessed Herbs. It is estimated that bentonite clay has the ability to absorb up to 40x its weight in toxins and water.
Benefits of a Bentonite Clay:
Because of the ability to absorb water and toxins, Bentonite can help ease symptoms of constipation and IBS. It is also commonly used in colon cleansing products, because it is able to help remove toxins and absorb massive amounts of liquid.
It is even said that it can help with food poisoning, because it discourages "bad" bacteria and encouraging "good" bacteria to thrive, similar to what probitotic supplements do.
The use of a cleansing program involving Bentonite Clay, you can help remove toxins from your liver, as well as stimulate liver secretions. Furthermore, using bentonite clay is said to help reduce food allergies, as well as improve absorption of important nutrients and vitamins in the intestines.
Side Effects & Risks of Bentonite Clay
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when using any colon cleansing product containing bentonite clay. First and foremost, it will absorb quite a bit of water! You have to drink ALOT of water while taking any product containing bentonite clay, otherwise, it is very likely you will become severely constipated. The same goes for any product containing psyllium.
It is important that you follow the instructions carefully while taking any colon cleansing product, especially those containing bentonite clay. It is very important to drink the recommended amount of water, not only to avoid becoming constipated, but also to help assist in flushing out toxins.
One last thing, because bentonite clay acts alot like a sponge, you must be careful taking it if you are on any type of medications. It is very possible that it will slow the absorption of the prescription. So, talk to your doctor BEFORE taking or buying any product containing bentonite. At a mimimum, you should wait at least two hours after taking your medication to take a product containing bentonite clay.
