Colon cleansing has become a popular way to remove toxins and waste from the body. The primary goals are typically to improve overall health, digestion, and to release excess weight. Salt water flushes are commonly practiced to rid the colon of waste, but mixed reviews and the overall safety of this process can make people hesitant or nervous.
As with anything that involves your health, it is always best to do thorough research before attempting it. In the case of the salt water flush, many people report weight loss, release of fluid retention, and improved gut health via forced bowel movements. Not everyone benefits from salt water flushes, though. In fact, many people can experience dehydration, vomiting, overall weakness, and imbalanced electrolytes. The success of a salt water cleanse will depend entirely on each individual and the inner-workings of his or her body.
What Is A Salt Water Flush?
The body needs salt to complete biochemical processes, including cell wall stability, muscle contractions, nutrient absorption, pH balance, and adrenal and thyroid gland function. The idea behind mixing salt into drinking water is a way to stimulate the body’s ability to naturally cleanse itself and eliminate waste. The goal is to get one’s health back on track, feel lighter, and be less weighed down by the waste that exists in the digestive tract. The build-up of waste is often attributed to poor diet, which can lead to constipation, digestive issues, low energy, and chronic inflammation. Roughly 20% of the American population suffers from regular constipation, thus explaining the piqued interest in the many forms of cleansing.
What Does A Salt Water Flush Do To The Body?
Salt is often perceived in a negative light, primarily because people consume table salt and other sodium-rich foods that contribute to high blood pressure. Real sea salt, on the other hand, should exist in every person’s diet. Sea salt does contain a lot of sodium, but it is balanced out by the inherent minerals, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, and over 60 additional trace minerals. Now, it is not recommended to drink salt water all the time because the kidneys and bladder would cause a greater loss of water than supplied to the body. Sea salt activates the enzymes that are responsible for digestive processes, which is why people turn to salt water flushes. Some other benefits are listed below:
- Clears up digestive issues
- Lowers pains in inflamed muscles
- Eases sore throats
- Reduces water retention
- Supplies the body with trace minerals
- Helps balance hormones and electrolytes
- Encourages healthy metabolic processes
How To Do A Salt Water Flush
According to many anecdotal reports, it is optimal to perform a salt water flush in the morning on an empty stomach. This will completely depend on your personal schedule, but flushing the body prior to eating is ideal. The flush takes about two hours from the moment you drink the salt water until you finish emptying your bowels. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to use the bathroom several times before you leave the house, or do a salt water flush on your day off. It is best to do this once every couple weeks to encourage the production of healthy bacteria in your microbiome.
Salt Water Flush Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- glass jar with lid
- 1 liter hot filtered water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions:
- Heat up the water in a large saucepan, but don’t boil it. Remove from the heat and pour it into the glass jar.
- Add the sea salt and fresh lemon juice to the water, screw on the cap, and shake the jar to combine. Alternatively, you can stir the mixture with a mixing spoon to dissolve the salt in the water.
- Drink the entire mixture in five minutes if possible.
- Lay on your side and massage one side of your stomach. Roll to the other side and repeat.
- Shortly after consuming the mixture, you should feel an urge to use the restroom. You may have to go more than once, occasionally needing to use the restroom for a couple hours to completely eliminate intestinal waste.
The Risks Associated With A Salt Water Flush
The salt water flush is not for every person, and each person will have to choose to try or not try the flush at his or her own will. As with all forms of cleansing, some side effects can occur. It is quite possible to experience dehydration, due to the complete evacuation of your bowels. According to several gastroenterologists, salt water flushes can induce lots of diarrhea, causing the complete emptying of fluids, which can leave you in a dehydrated state. If you perform a salt water flush, make sure to sufficiently hydrate throughout the day to replenish your fluids. A salt water flush can also cause an electrolyte imbalance, commonly associated with dehydration. When the body is in an over-hydrated or dehydrated state, problems can occur, disrupting the delicate balance of electrolytes. One can also experience vomiting or muscle aches.
Before trying the salt water flush, be sure to do your research and see if it is right for you. Some people are more toxic and others and may require this style of cleansing to fully eliminate waste.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
