What are the foods to detoxify and cleanse the intestines?

Let me make it clear first that there is no official term for "detoxification" in medicine. The bowel cleansing we talk about daily is nothing more than improving constipation and helping the intestines to evacuate metabolic wastes normally. The foods that can really play this role in a gentle manner are high dietary fiber foods that can be seen everywhere, such as peeled apples, prunes, and red dragon fruit. , whole-grain oats, enoki mushrooms, kale, etc. A while ago, I ate takeout hot pot for a week while rushing to work on a project. I squatted in the toilet for half an hour and couldn't get out. For two days in a row, I soaked 10 prunes in sugar-free yogurt and added a small handful of oats for breakfast. In the afternoon, I was very smooth. I didn't need to rely on the amazing enzymes mentioned by Internet celebrities.

Oh, yes, talking about enzymes, I also stepped into the trap two years ago. I spent hundreds of dollars to buy imported fruit enzymes. I ran to the toilet within half an hour after drinking them. I thought it was really useful at the time. Later, I asked my best friend who is a gastroenterology nurse and found out that the enzymes and bowel cleansing teas that cause diarrhea after drinking basically add anthraquinone laxative ingredients. Most of the diarrhea is water. Long-term consumption will damage the intestinal mucosa, and in severe cases, it can cause colon melanosis. Nowadays, many people on the Internet are talking about fasting and cleansing the intestines, saying that if they don’t eat for two days and only drink fruit and vegetable juices, they can eliminate the “old stool”. A friend of mine tried it. He was so hungry that he actually lost two pounds, turned around and regained it. He also suffered from constipation for three days. I found out later after reading some popular science. Tao said, "Feeding" itself is a marketing concept created by businesses. There will always be incompletely discharged food residues in the intestines of healthy people, which are not considered "toxins" at all. Fasting will instead cause the intestines to lack food stimulation and slow down peristalsis, which is counterproductive.

Don’t think these common ingredients are cheap and useless. Take apples with skin as an example. The pectin in the thin skin is soluble dietary fiber. When it enters the intestine, it acts like a small sponge. It can absorb excess residue and serve as "ration" for the beneficial bacteria in the intestine. Those little black seeds in dragon fruit that make a crunching sound will not be digested by the gastrointestinal tract. When it goes down the intestines, it can gently stimulate the intestinal wall, just like giving the intestines a gentle massage. My grandmother had severe constipation in the past few years and had to squeeze out the gel every day. Later, I added a small spoonful of chia seeds to her oatmeal every day. After drinking it for less than a week, she said she could go to the toilet normally without squeezing out the gel.

Of course, this does not mean that these foods are omnipotent. If you are prone to diarrhea, eating too many prunes or red dragon fruit at one time will make diarrhea more uncomfortable. Don’t expect that eating these foods can offset the burden of eating too much. I have tried to eat a heavy oily and spicy crayfish at night. I ate two prunes before going to bed, but I still had a stomachache the next day. The basis for intestinal comfort lies in regular diet and rest. These high-fiber foods are a bonus at best, but they should not be taken as "regret medicine".