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

• Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse

• Rating: C
• Company: Jillian Michaels
• Specs: Lab Report
• Site: www.jillianweightloss.com

Created by Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels, Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse is a nutritional supplement intended to reduce toxin buildup in the colon and digestive system--an issue Michaels says can cause bloating, fatigue and even a reduction in digestive function.

"Some people like to jump start their diet program with a detox and cleanse," writes Michaels on her website, JillianWeightLoss.com. "It [Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse] will help reduce belly bloat, reduce body waste buildup, support your colon and digestive system, help support the liver’s natural detoxification process, and help you feel lighter and more energized."

Michaels also claims her supplement is free of harsh laxatives or other chemical ingredients--common ingredients that have been purported to cause serious side effects. But her assertion that only chemical laxatives can cause harm may not be accurate--in fact, the ingredients in her supplement may be just as dangerous.

What ingredients does Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse contain? Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse contains magnesium oxide, Irish Moss powder, ginger root powder, dandelion root powder, buckthorn bark powder, butternut powder, garlic bulb powder, uva-ursi powder, yarrow flower powder, Chinese rhubarb powder, bacillus coagulans, fenugreek seed powder, fennel seed powder galactomannan and an antioxidant fruit blend of wild blueberry fruit extract, grapefruit and seed extract, raspberry fruit and seed extract, cranberry fruit powder, plum fruit powder, tart cherry fruit powder, wild bilberry fruit extract and strawberry fruit powder.

Do the ingredients in Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse help cleanse the colon? Not necessarily--and her assertion that her supplement doesn't contain harmful laxatives isn't true either. According to MedLine Plus, magnesium oxide (the supplement's main ingredient) is actually FDA classified as a saline laxative, which can cause rapid emptying of the bowel. In fact, magnesium oxide is commonly sold under the brand name Phillips' Milk of Magnesia--a product widely available in retail stores across the United States. This ingredient contains plenty of painful side effects, also: cramping and diarrhea are commonly reported.

Michaels's supplement also contains few high-quality ingredients: nearly every "natural" ingredient is in a cheapened, less effective powdered form. Only some of her natural fruit extracts are considered high grade, but these extracts have no beneficial effect on the digestive system, although it may prevent cellular damage.

Is Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse safe? No. Frequent use of this product may cause rapid diarrhea and cramping, which may worsen over time. It may also increase your risk for developing a laxative dependency, which can increase your risk for constipation—a condition this supplement claims to treat.

Verdict: Although this supplement is endorsed by one of the most famous personal trainers in the United States, this doesn’t necessarily mean it's safe or effective. It turns out this supplement is just an expensive laxative.