Salt Water Flush: What It Is and Its Potential Side Effects

Salt water flushes — also called cleanses or purges — have been touted in the health and wellness world as a way to lose weight, cleanse the colon and alleviate constipation.

But do salt water cleanses really work and, more importantly, is a salt water flush safe? Here, we explore if drinking salt water is bad for you and whether or not you should try a cleanse.

There are two common types of salt water cleanses, including:

One form of flushing involves drinking a homemade or store-bought salt water laxative to trigger bowel movements: In other words, yes, salt water does make you poop.

For instance, some claim that drinking salt water for constipation can help relieve discomfort. And indeed, some over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives contain different forms of sodium or magnesium salts — like Golytely and Milk of Magnesia — which may help soften stool to make it easier to pass, according to the University of Virginia.

However, salt water is also used to induce diarrhea for weight-loss purposes. This type of flush was in part made popular as part of the Master Cleanse diet, a "detox" plan that promises to help you lose weight fast and clear your body of toxins, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Part of the Master Cleanse involves quickly drinking warm salt water to encourage frequent bowel movements or diarrhea.

There's no compelling scientific evidence to support this salt water flush diet plan — in fact, it may be ineffective and downright dangerous (more on that later).

Colon cleanses are another version of salt water flushes.

Proponents of colon cleanses claim they can help "detox" the body, reduce bloating and constipation, shed excess weight caused by waste build-up and water retention and remove parasites from the colon, according to the Mayo Clinic. It typically involves flushing large amounts of water into the colon using a tube that's inserted into the rectum.

It's important to note that while salt water cleanses may remove waste from the colon by producing numerous bowel movements, there's no scientific evidence that they can "detoxify" the body by purging harmful toxins, waste or parasites, or that they can contribute to long-term weight loss, per the Mayo Clinic.

The takeaway? It's typically safest to skip salt water cleanses of any kind.

It is typically not safe to drink salt water without doctor supervision, which is why there aren't any proven salt water flush benefits to speak of.

Instead, drinking or colon cleansing with salt water can produce side effects such as:

The sudden, frequent diarrhea produced by a salt water cleanse can result in dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, and can cause symptoms like:

• Extreme thirst
• Dry mouth
• Infrequent urination
• Dark-colored urine
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Confusion

In severe cases, dehydration can also lead to:

• Black or bloody stools
• Kidney issues
• Seizures
• Shock

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals that help your body maintain balance in its water and pH levels, deliver nutrients to the body's cells and support proper function of the brain, heart, muscles and nervous system, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). They're extremely important to your body's functioning.

The sudden, frequent diarrhea produced by a salt water cleanse can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, according to the NLM. This can cause symptoms similar to those of dehydration, such as:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Extreme thirst

Per 2013 research in the ​World Journal of Emergency Medicine​, electrolyte imbalances can also cause issues like:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Edema
• Confusion
• Heart problems

A severe imbalance in electrolytes can have serious health complications like seizures, muscle cramps, kidney damage or low blood volume, which can be life-threatening, according to the Mayo Clinic.

You can prevent an electrolyte imbalance by replenishing lost body fluids with water or electrolyte drinks.

If a salt water flush didn't work and you don't have a bowel movement, you may accumulate too much sodium in your body, according to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

This can lead to high levels of sodium in your blood, a condition called hypernatremia, according to the University of Utah Health. It can cause symptoms like:

• Thirst
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Restlessness
• Increased heart rate
• Muscle spasms
• Seizures

In extreme cases, hypernatremia can cause coma, brain damage or death, per the University of Utah Health. It can also lead to complications for people with underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension and kidney, liver and heart disease, according to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

As a result, it is not OK to drink salt water or try a salt water colon flush, especially if you have these conditions.

Although detox diets and salt water flush weight loss results are promoted by celebrities and TV doctors, there's no evidence to support the health claims surrounding them, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

While salt water may help you lose weight initially by eliminating water from your system, most people regain the weight they've lost as soon as they resume their usual diet, per the NIH.

Salt water flush weight-loss diets also claim to rid your body of toxins and harmful substances. But there's likewise no evidence to back this assertion.

In fact, you never need to follow a special salt water weight-loss program or detox plan to help your body get rid of harmful substances. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, your body naturally detoxifies itself — all day, every day — and rids your body of the toxic substances through respiration, urination, feces and sweat.

There are countless cleanses, detoxes and laxatives available today, but the safest way to detoxify your body is to support the health of your organs, particularly your liver and kidneys — the two most important pieces of your body's built-in detoxification system, per Texas A&M University.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, here's what you can do to promote organ health and overall wellbeing:

• Eat a balanced, fiber-rich diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables
• Drink plenty of water
• Get 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise each week, as recommended by the American Heart Association
• Take care of your skin
• Avoid smoking
• Reduce alcohol consumption