It is essential when doing a colon cleanse that you drink enough water to keep your body hydrated. During the cleanse process, the body is ridding itself of toxins found in the gastrointestinal tract and can increase your risk for dehydration. An additional risk to be careful of when considering a colon cleanse, is that certain laxatives used in colon cleansing, like those with sodium phosphate, can cause a rise in your electrolytes, which can be dangerous if you have kidney disease or heart disease.

If you are considering doing a colon cleanse yourself, make sure you talk to your health care provider first; especially if you are on any medications or have any medical problems. Also, beware of any colon cleanse product that claims to cure specific diseases or conditions. Colon cleansing is meant to rid the body of toxins and can oftentimes make you feel more energetic, but doing a colon cleanse alone is not meant to cure diseases.

Also, if you decide to go ahead with the colon cleanse process; be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid the risk of dehydration. And listen to your body. If it doesn’t feel right, it might not be for you. Only you and your doctor can decide what is best for you.