Salt Water Flush: Does This Colon Cleanse Detox Work?

A clean and healthy bowel is essential for staying healthy and disease-free.

According to a study report published by the American Journal of Gastroenterology, colon cleansing helps eliminate belly fat, constipation, gastritis, fatigue, diarrhea, acne, a poor metabolic rate, and weight gain.

Among the many colon cleansing options available to you, “salt water flush” (also known as “saltwater cleanse” or “master cleanse”) is one of the best natural solutions for cleansing the colon and digestive system.

The salt flush at home is safe, natural, and inexpensive. It is the simplest and easiest flushing method you can try anytime from the comfort of your home.

This article will explore the pros and cons of salt water colon cleansing and master cleanse recipes.

What is a salt water colon cleanse?

Drinking salt water is a common colon flushing method. It is one of the oldest known intestinal cleansing solutions and has been practiced for centuries. It is the best way to cleanse your colon.

The saltwater solution is drunk to create a forced bowel movement.

These days, salt water flushing is popularly used as a “hack” method to do a basic cleansing of the colon and optimize the digestive process.

It is often done as a preparatory colonic irrigation step before the master cleanse program.

According to a few studies, cleansing the colon with salt water helps boost the body’s natural waste expulsion and detoxification mechanisms. It improves the digestive system and makes the person feel light and less sluggish.

Health benefits of salt water flush

A slat water flush is a simple and traditional gut detox to flush waste from the bowels.

With the arrival of the “master cleanse detox diet,” the use of the sea, pink Himalayan, or iodized salt for waste removal from the bowels has become an important part of this detox diet.

The Master Cleanse diet is the latest fad in the weight loss community, a fast-track solution. A lemonade-only diet is said to be a “hack” method for quick weight loss.

This diet consists of a liquid-only juice—a concoction of water, fresh lemon juicecayenne pepper, and maple syrup. It is extremely low in calories and dietary fiber.

Those who take up this diet often encounter severe constipation, bloating, and gastritis issues because of the low fiber content of this diet.

Including fibrous foods in your diet naturally boosts the process of peristalsis, which is required for healthy bowel movements.

People who follow extreme diet practices like the master detox cleanse require sodium chloride flushes along with the diet plan.

The “salt detox” solution helps eliminate the toxic waste accumulated in the colon.

Bowel cleansing with a salt solution is an effective colon-cleansing hack. The saltwater passes quickly through the intestine and colon, acting as a top-down enema.

The lemon water diet quickly cleanses the digestive system. It quickly purges and stirs up an excessive amount of toxic waste in the gut. However, an additional boost from other cleansers like salt is required to eliminate stored toxic waste in the gut.

The detox with salt helps to clear the gut and prevents constipation and bloating.

There is strong disapproval of this extreme colon detox practice from some quarters. However, the salt diet has been effectively used for hundreds of years with no side effects.

Salt can clear up fluid retention, unlike processed salt. It helps expel extra fluid weight through an optimal balancing of electrolyte and mineral levels in the body.

If you find it hard to follow the salt flush diet, you can choose other alternatives, like laxative tea.

Studies suggest that regular colon detox involves:

  • prevents constipation,
  • increases energy levels,
  • improves sleep quality,
  • makes strong bones,
  • boosts immunity,
  • helps in weight loss,
  • prevents colon cancer,
  • fights and prevents acne,
  • relieves migraine,
  • loosens up phlegm and mucus.

Salt water flush recipe

This colon flushing method has a simple recipe. This detox may have the simplest recipe in comparison to many others. It’s made of a mixture of warm water and salt, but you may also add lemon juice.

Ingredients: 

  • 2 teaspoons pure (grey) or pink Himalayan salt
  • 1 liter of pure water

Directions: 

  • Take one liter of lukewarm water in a jar and add 2 teaspoons of unrefined salt.
  • Shake and stir the solution well until the salt is fully dissolved in the water.
  • Then drink the salt water (the entire water should be drunk in less than 5 minutes).

Safety tips and cautions

For best results, it should be the first drink on an empty stomach in the morning.

Do not use more than 2 teaspoons of salt.

This drink is best if taken after fasting overnight; do not eat anything in the past 2 hours before the flush.

Do not leave your home before you feel the flush is completed (usually, you will have to be in the washroom a couple of times before the flush is fully done)

Do not drink this solution for more than 7 days in a row (normally, once a week is best).

Leave a gap of more than one month before you perform the next session of bowel detox if you have done 7 days of continuous flushing.

It is convenient to do the flush on holidays or off days when you can stay home for a long time (some prefer to do it in the evening after completing all daily chores).

If you can manage to hold in the solution for about 30 minutes, your body fully absorbs the salt.

It is healthy to perform the flushes occasionally; never do them regularly as it will result in problems balancing electrolytes and other dangerous side effects.

In case of prolonged discomfort after the flu, talk to your doctor.

How to do a master cleanse?

A “master cleanse” liquid-only juice diet works best when it is combined with a salt water cleanse.

First, drink 1 liter of salt water on an empty stomach. It is best to drink 30 minutes after you wake up in the morning; drink the entire liter of water in less than 5 minutes.

According to the user feedback, it is beneficial to lie on your right side for 30 minutes after you have taken the saltwater. This is said to be effective for flushing the water thoroughly through the system.

You can have the first drink of the lemonade diet (master cleanse) 10 minutes after your first bowel movement. Usually, the first bowel movement after the saltwater drink excretes the maximum amount of waste from your colon.

You can expect the second bowel movement within 1 hour after you had the lemonade drink. With this, your gut is practically empty, and you can set about your daily chores without needing to be in the bathroom frequently.

Throughout the day, you can repeatedly have a juice-only diet whenever you feel hungry. The typical regime is to consume only lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup for 7 to 10 days.

Please note that salt and water cleanse must be carried only once daily and for no more than 7 days.

Who should consider a salt water flush?

A pure salt diet ingested in moderation does not generally cause any side effects on health. However, a few people may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or weakness.

Using a saltwater diet along with detoxes and cleanses is safe. However, if you suffer from serious digestive issues or high blood pressure, do not try it without consulting your doctor.

Master cleanse solutions like the lemonade diet contain very few calories and lack essential nutrients. It is not recommended for unhealthy people or individuals under medication.

Those who follow colonic irrigation should ensure a balanced amount of nutrients and have sufficient rest.

Salt is said to be the best colon-flushing solution. It is much superior to laxative teas and gentler on your digestive system.

A well-blended drink of warm water and pure salt lets your body absorb the salt’s minerals easily. You should ensure that the salt is fully dissolved in warm water, making the diet effective and safe. This also allows the kidneys to flush out the excess salt and water from the diet; this protects the bloodstream from absorbing too much salt.

Few scientific reports suggest that the body tolerates oral sodium mixtures; thus, the saltwater drink is more effective than other colon-cleansing blends.

However, one study by the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia found that salt mixtures cause similar side effects as other colon cleansers (like cramps, some nausea, etc.). However, over 90% of oral sodium mixture users have reported satisfactory results.

Should I use sea salt or iodized salt?

A few different types of salt can be used for a saltwater flush, but the two most common are sea salt flush and iodized salt flush. Some prefer to use pink Himalayan salt (another non-iodized salt) instead of them. Both of these types of salt will work to help cleanse your colon, but there are a few key differences between them.

Sea salt is typically less processed than iodized salt, which means that it still contains many minerals and nutrients found in natural seawater. This can make it a more effective detoxifier, as it helps pull toxins out of your body more effectively. However, sea salt can also be more difficult on your digestive system, so it’s important to start with a small amount and work your way up.

On the other hand, Iodized salt has been processed to remove impurities and add iodine. This makes it easier on your digestive system, but it also means that it could be more effective at detoxifying your body. If you’re looking for a gentle cleanse, iodized salt is a good choice. But if you’re looking for something more powerful, sea salt or non-iodized pink Himalayan salt is the way to go.

Benefits of sea salt cleanse

Refrain from getting confused between salt and sodium. Pure salt is a healthy food loaded with several essential minerals.

The common health risks from salt are associated with regular table salt, which is iodinated and highly processed. Too much-iodized salt can cause significant side effects in some people.

It is healthy and beneficial to have real salt in your diet. There is nothing harmful about ingesting a moderate amount of salt as part of a colonic hydrotherapy diet. Using salt for flushing in moderation and other healthy diets will not dehydrate your body, unlike table salt.

Besides the detox effects, salt is also good for cleansing wounds and sore throats, reducing muscle pain, and providing trace minerals that make foods tasty.

Salt activates and strengthens the abdominal muscles; it increases the contraction of muscles in the colon walls. The increased contraction of colon muscles flushes out the toxic waste deposited on the colon walls.

It has a low amount of sodium but good calcium, potassium, magnesium, and more than 50 other trace minerals.

Salt from the sea contains natural properties that activate digestive enzymes and help parietal cells produce hydrochloric acid.

It helps establish an optimal pH level in the body and improves the metabolic process. Intake of salt in moderation aids in synthesizing aldosterone, which is needed for balancing magnesium and potassium levels in the body.

How long does it take to work?

Drinking a salt and warm water mixture has a laxative effect.

Upon waking, a saltwater flush is typically done first thing in the morning. It usually causes urgent bowel movements.

Usually, within an hour after you try a salt water flush, you have to go to the bathroom. It can happen in 30 minutes to an hour.

The saltwater flush may not work for you as expected. In such a scenario, you should massage your stomach and lie on your side for 30 minutes. You can also do light yoga or a moderately fast walk for 10 minutes to stimulate bowel movement.

Human kidneys cannot absorb salt beyond a limit. Usually, kidneys make the urine less salty than the salt water you drink. Thus, to get rid of excess salt from the gut, you have to drink more water than the saltwater you drank. Or else you’ll experience severe thirst and dehydration.

Conclusion

Many people regularly suffer from constipation and bloating in the stomach. The “master cleanse” liquid-only juice diet is one of the best natural options for colon cleansing.

Saltwater cleansing is a beneficial mixture of real salt dissolved in warm water. This excellent natural cleanser flushes through your digestive system and removes toxic waste from the colon.

Real salt also aids in getting rid of the extra fluid weight by properly balancing out electrolyte and mineral levels in the body.

Finally, flushing the colon with salt water is healthy and less likely to cause side effects, unlike other colon cleansers.

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