Skinny in 4 Hours with The Salt Water Flush

She was talking about the salt water flush as a weight loss cleanser before fashion week.

You could lose 10 lbs in a day. I was intrigued.

If models were salt water flushing to lose weight, I wanted to know more.

Turns out, the salt water flush is everywhere.

Juicers use it to crap.

Detoxers use it to cleanse.

Bodybuilders use it to look as lean as possible before a show.

Ultimate fighters use it to drop weight and qualify for a lower weight class.

For others, a saltwater flush is a natural way to deal with intestinal issues and constipation.

This article is comprehensive and covers every aspect of the salt water flush, also known as the salt water cleanse. If you need info on a specific topic you can skip around using the table of contents here.

What is the Salt Water Flush

A salt water flush is one of the more unpleasant things you can do in the name of a diet or a detox.

The upside is:

You get quick and dramatic results, leaving you with no question as to whether or not it worked.

If you’ve never heard of the salt water flush, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

The Salt Water Flush in a Nutshell:

You drink a big glass of salt water (no iodine in the salt), which flushes out your entire digestive tract over the course of the next few hours.

Gas, bloating, water, solids, and not-so-solids exit the body with efficiency.

The saltwater flush became well known alongside the master to cleanse and the juicing cleanse. (As it turns out, both cleanses are so unnatural, they halt bowel movements.)

In other words:

You need a salt water flush (or a laxative) just to take a crap on those diets.

It might seem as though there’s a ton of salt necessary to achieve these ends, but oddly no.

You drink 2-3 teaspoons of salt dissolved in 4 cups of water, on an empty stomach…

…and bam:

The shit show begins about an hour later.

What to Expect from the Salt Water Flush

A saltwater cleanse works fast.

But:

It’s a short-term solution.

The only real long-term solution is something like a Skinny for Life plan or the Whole Food SkinnyDetox.

But if you’re still reading, you likely need a solution urgently, so we’ll move on.

For most people, this flush is rather unpleasant all around.

You’re not actually sick, so you won’t experience excessive cramping and certainly not aches or a fever.

The reality:

It’s just water rushing through your colon.

The upside is:

…how quickly it’s all over with and how fast you see results.

If you have bloating due to constipation or gas, or you need to drop some quick water weight, a salt water flush can help.

Believe it or not:

The worst part is not the colon blast, but drinking and keeping down the salt water.

The truth is:

It’s disgusting. You will gag.

You might dry heave.

But, on the bright side:

We have some tips to ensure you don’t vomit.

You’ll likely start having stomach sensations within 15 minutes of drinking the water and your most significant bowel movement about an hour after.

You need to stay near a restroom at all times and you may be darting in and out for the duration of the second and third hour.

Try to hold it for at least a few minutes and go as infrequently as possible, so as not to irritate your anus with all the crapping and wiping.

This is no time for chances.

As the trips to the bathroom progress, things will likely become less solid and more watery, but it’s different for everyone.

You could be the opposite.

If you feel like taking a shower, even multiple showers, go for it.

Whatever gets you through.

Just remember, it’s only for a day.

When you’re done, you can expect to weigh less, look less bloated, and feel refreshed knowing that you just removed a lot of waste.

Some of it had probably been in there a while.

How Does the Salt Water Cleanse Work?

It has to be the most effective and efficient way of cleaning your entire digestive system, totally naturally.

The salt in the water matches your body’s saliency so the water doesn’t actually get absorbed. It’s a true flush. (This is why sailors will die from drinking salt water—the body won’t absorb the water—and it triggers an inadvertent “flush”.)

A salt water flush can’t clear fat, but it does clear water weight, which can be significant (up to 10 pounds).

More tips on maximizing weight loss are coming up.

Consuming salty foods makes us retain water the next day, but downing a glass of sea salt water (no iodine) can release fluids along with everything else.

Why?

When you have diarrhea or rapid bowel, part of the body’s mechanism includes pulling water from other areas of the body into the digestive tract to help get things out.

Known as an osmotic laxative, this is a critical way the body detoxes itself when you’ve eaten food that’s rotten or spoiled.

It’s also the reason you get dehydrated after having diarrhea.

As a bonus:

The saltwater flush uses sea salt, not table salt with iodine.

This means you get a bunch of supportive minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the process.

Is the Salt Water Flush Dangerous? How Safe is It?

The whole thing is pretty crazy.

But, we ingest salt every day.

We need salt to live.

Some days we have more than others because it tastes so good.

Your body requires salt for electrolyte balance, so there’s no harm in drinking it for a cleanse.

You can’t drink salt water for hydration because your body won’t absorb the water.

That’s what makes it perfect for a flush.

The salt water cleanse is perfectly safe when used in moderation.

If you have an underlying health condition or other health-related concern, you should check with your doctor before doing it. Conditions that include high blood pressure, digestive disease, or edema are of special concern.

And if you have constipation, you will soon find relief here. ​

Otherwise, if you’re relatively healthy, the salt water flush is just a very thorough colon cleanse.

It’s gross, but not dangerous.

Occasionally people have reported feeling ill afterward, but who doesn’t feel a little tired after evacuating their entire digestive system?

The saltwater detox should not be used as a weight management tool.

Here’s a better solution for long-term weight loss.

Repeated use will overwork the digestive system and leave you dehydrated and possibly even dependent on it for pooping.

Everything in moderation, please.

Side Effects of the Salt Water Cleanse

The most obvious side effect is diarrhea, but that’s not really a side effect, more of a desired effect.

Here’s a big tip:

• It is advised to do the flush on an empty stomach, such as first thing in the morning.

• If you can do it on an empty stomach after a bowel movement, even better.

• There will be less in there to deal with.

• Many people feel nauseous immediately after consuming the mixture and some people can’t keep it down.

• Gagging and vomiting are not uncommon, and we have some tips that will allow you to circumvent this problem as well.

• You will also feel very thirsty afterward.

• You can drink more water and suck on ice cubes to offset the uncomfortable dry feeling in your mouth.

The saltwater flush certainly has fewer side effects than a chemical laxative, and it’s totally natural.

Benefits of Salt Water Flush

Most of the benefits of the salt water flush have been covered in previous paragraphs, so I’ll sum them up briefly.

Salt Water Cleanse for Weight Loss

You’ve got to be wondering:

• How much weight can I lose doing this?

• You can lose a surprising amount of weight on this thing.

• Ten pounds is not unusual and twenty pounds is possible when you use some of the tips provided in this section.

• The weight doesn’t stay off long, especially if you resume your normal eating habits right away.

• For weight loss, the salt water flush should be done a day or two before the event you’re attending.

• Our bodies hold a lot of water because we need it to survive and feel okay.

• Shedding a bunch of it for just a day won’t hurt you and it could be the beginning of a healthier lifestyle.

As we mentioned before, weight lifters, fighters, models, and other celebrities use the salt water flush to lose weight all the time.

Here’s what professionals do to make the most of a weight-loss salt water flush:

In the week leading up to your salt water flush, avoid sugar, flour, rice, and fruit.

Go heavy on fat and protein.

On day 2 or 3 before your flush, start drinking tons of water. A gallon a day or so for a couple of days. This is far more than your body needs and it will send a signal to your body to start dumping water.

Because it takes a couple of days for this mechanism to turn off, you can trick your body into dumping even more.

Here’s how:

Remember, when you do a salt water flush for weight loss, the water is not absorbed by your body due to the salt. So it moves right through.

No retention.

Throughout the day of the flush, limit your water intake to just a couple of glasses.

You will find yourself still going to pee all day even with the limited water intake because your body is still in water dumping mode.

The following day (the day of your event) only sip on water up until your event begins.

Once you’re in the clear, you need to start hydrating right away or you won’t feel well.

​Warning:

Don’t combine this approach with alcohol. You’ll look and feel like complete shit and your event will be ruined.

How to Do a Salt Water Cleanse

An effective and easy salt water cleanse means doing as much as possible to ensure things go smoothly. The timing, recipe, and supplies all play a role in your success.

Timing​

You’ll want to schedule your flush for a day that’s not too demanding. Most people want to be at home for their cleanse, though seasoned flushers will just spend the first couple of hours at home as long as they have access to a bathroom at their next location.

Women, do not do the flush near your period. Your body will need its full strength for the day, so save it for the middle of your cycle.

An empty stomach will greatly reduce the likelihood of vomiting when you drink the mixture. It will also allow the salt water to work more effectively because it won’t be competing for other resources required to digest food.

First thing in the morning is an ideal time, though anytime 2 hours after your last intake of food will work. Starting after you’ve already had your daily bowel movement will mean you have less stuff shooting out your rear.

I recommend at least four hours before leaving the house, but some people need more time. A lot of people don’t like taking a big loose crap in a public place. Model, Shelby Welinder said she doesn’t leave the house the entire day. Just makes a day at home. Near a toilet and a shower.

What You Need​

What You Need: The materials are cheap and simple. You need water and sea salt. Note that sea salt is not the same as table salt, which is stripped of minerals and contains iodine. You need pure sea salt. White, grey, pink; it doesn’t matter as long as it’s sea salt. Himalayan will do as well.

Ideally, you want purified water, but in our recipe, you boil the water to ensure the salt dissolves, so tap water is fine if it’s what you’ve got on hand.

You’ll need plenty of toilet paper and a good functioning toilet. If not, make sure you have a plunger. The last thing you need is backing up your toilet at a time when you won’t be able to hold your bowels.

Lastly, you should have a comfortable place to rest. A couch or bed will be inviting if you don’t feel so great in the first hour or so. This feeling passes, but you want to be gentle with yourself while you give your body a treatment as intense as this one.

Hacking the Salt Water Cleanse: Getting it Down and Not Vomiting

If you have incredible focus and can go to your happy place, your best bet is chugging all 4 cups at once, while holding your nose and looking in the mirror. This provides enough brain distraction that most people can get it down.

If you’re like the rest of us, you need all the help you can get. We have several tips. You’re sure to find at least one that will work.

• Address The Flavor. Some people find it easy if they re-imagine the flavor or if they change the flavor. Picture yourself drinking hot broth, like you do when you have a cold. Chicken broth without the chicken is essentially hot salt water. And it feels nice on the throat.

• Change the flavor. Suck on some strong mints or gum immediately before to retain some of that taste while you swallow. You could even brush your teeth or use mouthwash. If you chug the water, most of it won’t have a chance to interact with your taste buds anyway. Remember college parties.

You can also add just a bit of lemon juice to the mixture. It won’t affect your results and it might make it easier to swallow.

• Change The Process. Instead of diluting 2-3 teaspoons of salt into 4 cups of water, dissolve it into 2 cups. The flavor will be worse, but the volume less. Immediately chase it with the other 2 cups of regular water. It can even be cold water if that helps. Just be sure you consume a total of 4 cups.

• Use a Chaser. If you’re really worried about vomiting, chase it with a spoonful of honey or bite into a lemon or lime—like with tequila shots

However you manage to get it down, you may feel ill for a few minutes. Lie down or get some fresh air and the sensation will fade. Before you know it, you’ll be passing so much out of your ass, you won’t remember the nausea.

After the Flush

Eight hours after you down the salt water, you’re ready to move on. You can resume normal eating and drinking habits as you wish. The flush is finished.

If you’re in the middle of another cleanse, continue as directed. If you are dealing with constipation issues, now is the time to introduce lots of fiber and whole foods into your diet so you don’t have to do this again in a month.

If you were using the salt water flush for weight loss, keep this one in your back pocket for special occasions when you need help.

Congratulate yourself on your freshly cleansed digestive system and recognize your own ability to intervene and take action when it comes to your body.