A healthy digestive system plays an important role in your overall well-being. Your colon helps absorb water, process waste, and supports the trillions of microorganisms that make up your gut microbiome. Despite popular claims, however, a healthy colon does not usually require special “cleanses” or detox programs. For most people, the digestive system naturally processes and eliminates waste on its own.

Instead, maintaining healthy daily habits is one of the best ways to support colon health. Foods such as garlic, pumpkin seeds, ginger, turmeric, and peppermint tea can all fit into a balanced diet and may offer digestive benefits for some people. But they shouldn’t be considered proven treatments for intestinal parasites or substitutes for medical care. And there’s another popular claim worth understanding: Can “cleaning” your colon actually help you lose weight?