The salt water detox diet or salt water flush, as it's often called, tends to be used in conjunction with the Master Cleanse diet. By drinking a salt water solution, the belief is that you will flush out waste from the body and expel toxins, according to MasterCleanse.org. And while you may certainly induce diarrhea, the benefits of this detox are limited at best.
Identification
The salt water detox diet is a small part of the Master Cleanse diet. The Master Cleanse involves fasting from solid foods for several days while drinking a special lemonade that contains fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. While on this diet, you are supposed to drink a salt water solution to cause the body to purge itself of waste, resulting in weight loss and the expulsion of toxins says the Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center.
Purpose
Drinking a salt water solution is intended to force waste and toxins out of the digestive tract quickly. Drinking the lemonade mixture every day reduces the burden on your digestive tract. Then, by drinking the salt water solution once every three days, you detox the body and encourage weight loss, according to the Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center.
Drink Preparation
To make the salt water solution, you need just 2 tsp of sea salt and 2 qt of water. Mix the salt with the water and shake well. The water should be slightly warm. Then, drink down the entire solution all at once, though this is difficult for some people, notes MasterCleanse.org. You can add some lemon juice to the mix to make it easier to drink.
Effects
The primary effect of the salt water detox diet when performed as a part of the Master Cleanse is an increase in bowel movements. You can expect diarrhea and mucus after drinking the salt water solution. In fact, it is a good idea to stay near a bathroom when you perform this detox, as the effects can be quite instantaneous. Other side effects of detoxing with salt water or any detox regimen include nausea, fatigue, dehydration and dizziness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
Going on the Master Cleanse or performing a salt water detox is not recommended for everyone. In fact, if you have digestive issue, you should probably avoid it since salt solution could irritate your stomach. Likewise, those with ulcers should avoid it as well. Additionally, fasting for any great length of time can cause low blood sugar and dehydration.
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