Buyer's Guide To
Colon Cleanser Products
What Everyone Needs to Know About Colon Health

• First Cleanse

• Rating: C
• Company: Renew Life
• Specs: Lab Report
• Site: www.renewlife.com

First Cleanse is a dual dietary supplement used to support the body's natural cleansing and detoxification process, which reportedly improves the function and health of the intestinal tract. According to First Cleanse's website, the results are nearly instantaneous: many consumers say they feel more vitalized and report producing more bowel movements within days of use. Unlike other colon cleansers, however, First Cleanse doesn't need to be used on a regular basis--it reportedly cleanses the entire colon within two weeks of use, and can be used on a periodic basis to prevent toxin buildup.

What ingredients are in First Cleanse? First Cleanse contains parsley leaf, artichoke leaf, blessed thistle herb, burdock root, dandelion leaf, dandelion root, echinacea angustifolia herb, fenugreek seed, garlic bulb, green tea leaf, hawthorn berry, horsetail herb, kelp, milk thistle seed, mellein leaf, nettle leaf, oat straw, oregano leaf, red clover herb, tumeric root, wormwood herb, yarrow herb, yellow dock root, ginger root, fennel seed, papaya leaf, cayenne pepper, coriander seed, cumin seed gentian root, black pepper, peppermint leaf, spearmint leaf and cellulase.

Do the ingredients in First Cleanse help cleanse the colon? Although many of its ingredients have been used traditionally to detoxify the colon, clinical evidence suggests it may be unable to eliminate any sort of toxins. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that milk thistle has been show to treat health conditions affecting the liver and gall bladder, two organs that are commonly purported to contain toxins. Regular use may help protect the liver from hepatitis and liver disease caused by alcohol, and while alcohol is considered a toxin, there has never been any definite proof milk thistle can remove these toxins--it simply prevents the liver from its adverse effects.

Many of First Cleanse's ingredients are also rich in molecules called antioxidants, which help prevent free radical damage--a common precursor to cancer. Some companies claim antioxidants are a powerful detoxificant because of its ability to prevent cellular damage, although these claims have never been scientifically proven.

Is First Cleanse safe? Nearly all of its ingredients are considered safe for short term use. Be aware that some of these ingredients contain capsaicin, a spice-inducing chemical that may cause some slight stomach upset.

Verdict: Although this product may prevent some liver damage, it has never been shown to detoxify the liver or colon. It is unlikely to be effective for colon cleansing.