A colon cleanse is a rigorous process of removing waste buildup in the digestive system. Because the removal of toxins from the body also removes necessary elements such as water and good bacteria, a colon cleanse diet should include supplements that restore the elements that are lost during the cleansing process. A colon cleanse diet also should include foods that are good for digestive health in general, and avoid those that strain the digestive system.

Nutritional Foods

Stick to whole grains, legumes, raw fruits and vegetables as much as possible during a colon cleanse diet, and add vitamin- and mineral-rich foods such as raw egg yolks, as well as fermented foods such as kefir and sauerkraut, which contain healthy bacteria necessary for digestive health. Eat raw vegetables rather than cooked vegetables whenever possible to retain the most nutrients from your food. Some cleanse diets recommend eating only fruits before lunchtime since these are easier to digest than grains and proteins.

Nutritional Habits

At every meal, eat the easiest to digest foods first and progress to those that require more digestion---begin with fluids, soups and fruits, then eat your vegetables, grains and beans, and finish with any meat or fish included in the meal. During and after your colon cleanse, make an effort to limit your portion sizes, eat at regular meal times and relax while eating to develop regular habits for good digestive health. Avoid eating two to three hours before bed, when digestion slows substantially.

Fluids

Drink plenty of fluids during a colon cleanse diet to assist in digestive health, including purified water, green tea and juice. Drink hot or lukewarm beverages whenever possible and avoid cold beverages, which can slow digestion, and drink before a meal to assist in your body's digestion of all the food you consume.

Supplements

Use supplements to boost overall health during a colon cleanse, including a pro-biotic supplement for restoring healthy bacteria, an oil supplement such as fish oil, coconut oil or wheat germ taken several times per day, yeast flakes for B vitamins and other minerals and a vitamin C supplement in the morning to combat feelings of tiredness during the colon cleanse.

Foods to Avoid

Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee, black tea and soft drinks. Also avoid junk foods such as potato chips, cookies and fast food, as well as quick packaged or frozen foods, which contain high amounts of salt and preservatives. Also avoid the consumption of tobacco and alcohol during a colon cleanse diet. In general, avoiding processed foods and foods with refined sugars, refined salt and white flour is good for digestive health both during and after a colon cleanse.

Source:

Colon Cleansing Zone: The Colon Cleanse Diet

Puristat:The Basic Colon Cleanse Detoxification Diet

Health, Wealth & Happiness: Colon Cleansing