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

• Ultimate Cleanse

• Rating: C+
• Company:
• Specs: Lab Report
• Site: N/A

Nature Secret's newest colon cleansing product, a two-part cleansing program called Ultimate Cleanse, claims to detoxify and remove waste by soothing the colon with its multi-fiber blend of herbs and minerals, which gently eases toxins out of the colon and digestive tract. Ultimate Cleanse also contains almost 60 unique herbs and minerals--to compare, most colon cleansers typically contain around 20 different ingredients. While this doesn't suggest it may be more effective, it does live up to its promise that it's all-natural. Unfortunately, this comes with another catch--you need to take Ultimate Cleanse continuously to maintain your results.

What ingredients are in Ultimate Cleanse?
 Ultimate Cleanse contains calcium, iodine, alfalfa, fenugreek, finger, dandelion, fennel, yarrow flower, Siberian ginseng extract, green tea extract, hawthorn berries, horsetail herb, licorice, marshmallow, mint, red clover top, red raspberry, safflower oil, skullcap herb, burdock, chickweed, mullein, papaya, black cohosh, cayenne, club moss, Irish moss, plantain herb, slippery elm, yellow dock, ginkgo biloba extract, milk thistle extract, echinacea angustifolia powder, calcium carbonate, cascara sagrada, fennel, psyllium, ginger, acacia gum, alfalfa, apple pectin, apple powder, barley rice, beet, glucomannan, gum karaya, lemon peel, mint, oat bran, red raspberry, slippery elm, lactobacillus acidophilus, chlorella and guar gum.

Do the ingredients in Ultimate Cleanse cleanse the colon? There is some evidence it can speed up waste evacuation. According to About.com, cascara sagrada isn't known for its cleansing properties--it's better known as an herbal laxative. Anthraquinones, compounds found in cascara sagrada, are responsible for speeding up bowel movements by stimulating the nerve cells in the bowel, encouraging the rhythmic contractions that commonly lead to waste evacuation. Unfortunately, the FDA banned the use of cascara sagrada in over-the-counter (OTC) products in 2002 due to concerns it can increase a person's hepatitis and colorectal cancer risk. Still, many "natural" colon cleansers, including Ultimate Cleanse, use cascara sagrada for this purpose. As for its other ingredients, there is currently no evidence it contains any detoxification properties, although they are rich in digestion-friendly fiber.

Is Ultimate Cleanse safe? Not if you have a history of kidney disease, high blood pressure or heart disease. Cascara sagrada can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and changes in the way your heart beats, which can worsen the above conditions. Cascara sagrada may also cause mild side effects, including nausea, gas, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Verdict: For effective “waste removal”, Ultimate Cleanse may be an option to consider due to its strong laxative content. It does not contain any ingredients that promote the elimination of toxins, however.