Give Your Body a Spring Clean with a Salt Water Flush
A salt water flush is one of the simplest ways to support your body's natural cleansing process. Just as we clear unnecessary clutter from our homes over the cooler winter months and often feel so much better with a spring clean, imagine starting the season with a body spring clean. This traditional salt water cleanse uses unprocessed salt dissolved in water to gently move through your digestive tract, helping to clear built-up waste from the bowel and colon.
Did you know that we can have as much as 3 to 10 kilos of faecal matter inside our body at any given time? This depends on your diet, of course. A wonderfully simple way to do a body spring clean is using zazen alkaline mineral water and Himalayan or Celtic salt. Read on for the full salt flushing method, tips and what to expect.
You can also listen to our friends on The Wellness Couch podcast. Damien Kristof (Chiropractor, Naturopath & Nutritionist) and Marcus Pearce discuss Marcus' attempt at his first salt water flush. He shares his experiences; there may be some details you don't want to know, however there's plenty to learn (and some serious laughs to be had) about digestive health. You can listen to the 23-minute podcast here.
What You Need for Your Salt Water Flush
- Pink Himalayan salt or Celtic salt: 1 tablespoon (level only, no more)
- zazen Alkaline Water: approximately 3 litres
- 1 litre jug or bottle
- Kettle to boil water
How to Perform the Salt Water Cleanse
- Dissolve 1 level tablespoon of either Himalayan or Celtic Salt into a cup of boiling zazen Alkaline Water.
- Now add this hot cup of salted water to make a litre of zazen water and stir.
- Now take a couple of deep breaths and prepare yourself to drink the whole amount as quickly as possible. This is very important. It’s not natural because it tastes salty, and you may try to resist, however persevere!
- Wait 15 minutes, then start to drink another 2 litres of zazen Alkaline Water over the next 2 hours. The first litre will soften and get the bowel ready to evacuate and now this step will actually flush the bowel and colon.
The goal of salt flushing is to move the salt solution through your system quickly enough that your body doesn't absorb it. Instead, it passes through your digestive tract, loosening built-up waste along the way. This is why drinking the first litre rapidly is so important.
Important Rules for a Safe Salt Detox
Once you have completed the cleanse it's important to help rebalance your body. Drink a glass of green powdered juice or a fresh vegetable juice. Eat an avocado or some coconut oil for energy. Supporting your gut health after a salt detox helps your body recover and replenish beneficial bacteria.
- Allow 4 -5 hours (ideally a Saturday or Sunday morning) – definitely not before a work day!
- Wear underwear! Accidents can happen.
- Only do this cleanse when you are not going out anywhere and you are close to a toilet.
- Have plenty of toilet paper.
- If you feel an urge, any urge, go straight to the toilet! Trust us, you will thank us for this piece of advice.
If you have any existing health conditions, are pregnant, or take medication, speak with a health professional before trying a salt water flush. This is general wellness information, not medical advice.
Why Himalayan Salt or Celtic Salt (not Table Salt)?
Healthy Versus Unhealthy Salt
When you do use salt, make sure its unrefined and minimally processed. Himalayan pink salt is rich in naturally occurring trace minerals needed for healthy bones, fluid balance and overall health. The same cannot be said for modern table salt.
Salt provides two elements, sodium and chloride, that are essential for life (and in your drinking water so it can hydrate you!). Your body cannot make these elements on its own, so you must get them from your diet or in your water containing electrolytes.
Natural salt typically contains 84% sodium chloride and 16% naturally occurring trace minerals, including silicon, phosphorous and vanadium. Processed table salt contains over 97% sodium chloride; the rest is man-made chemicals such as moisture absorbents and flow agents. A small amount of iodine may also be added.
Some of the many biological processes for which natural salt is essential include:
- Being a major component of your blood plasma, lymphatic fluid, extracellular fluid and even amniotic fluid
- Carrying nutrients into and out of your cells and helping maintain your acid-base balance
- Helping your brain communicate with your muscles so that you can move on demand via sodium-potassium ion exchange
- Maintaining and regulating blood pressure
Why Water Quality Matters for Your Salt Water Flush
The water you use for a salt water flush matters just as much as the salt. You're consuming 3 litres in a short period, so you want that water to be free from chlorine, fluoride and other contaminants that could work against your cleansing goals.
In the zazen Alkaline Water System, the ‘Alkaline’ actually refers to the ‘salts’ (alkaline minerals) that are available in zazen water. These salts create the alkalinity in zazen water and are used by the body to absorb water at a cellular level, enabling immediate cellular hydration.
After your salt water cleanse, rehydrating with mineral-rich alkaline water helps your body recover more efficiently. The follow-on benefits from being properly hydrated include:
- Increased energy and vitality
- Release of toxins through natural elimination
- Clarity of thought
-
Improved general wellbeing
The right quality & quantity of Water is your body’s foundational nutrient supporting every bodily function. zazen alkaline water is in the perfect balance and structure to support peak cellular hydration, which is the key to the prevention of and recovery from illness and disease.
If you're interested in learning more about how hydration supports your digestive system, read our guide on water and digestive health.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that can be provided by your physician, therapist, licensed dietician or nutritionist, or any other health care professional. It is for educational and informational purposes only.
