With Christmas upon us, many will indulge in more food than usual during the festive period before the January fitness resolutions kick in.
Consuming more than the usual amount can sometimes lead to constipation, a discomfort that can dampen the holiday spirit with family and friends.
Therefore, advice to alleviate such discomforts is always beneficial.
As many enjoy their holiday meals, a doctor who shares advice on TikTok has introduced a drink that might offer relief.
Dr. John Valentine, also known by his social media handle @healthylifesage, shared: “The preparation is simple. Bring a cup of water to a boil and add a pinch of sea salt & little sugar. When it boils for five minutes, remove it from the heat and squeeze in half a fresh lemon.”
It is recommended to consume this drink on an ’empty stomach and let science do its job’.
The healthcare specialist added: “If you don’t manage to go to the bathroom, you can increase the amount of salt. The salt creates an osmotic effect, drawing water into your intestines to soften everything that’s stagnant.
“At the same time, the citric acid from the lemon acts as a powerful natural stimulant for your digestion. This not only cleanses your intestines, but also fights bad breath from the root, eliminating the problem from your stomach.”
Dr Valentine noted that after repeating this for ‘several days’, improvements should be noticeable.
This beverage, known as a saltwater flush, is described as a ‘laxative’ by Medicine Net. The site mentions: “The mixture stimulates gut movements [and] you may experience better bowel movements and relief from constipation.”
Beyond addressing constipation, the health resource details that the saltwater flush drink might also alleviate muscle cramps since ‘Himalayan salt contains various minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which work together to promote muscular contraction and relaxation’.
Additionally, this drink may enhance digestion, provide migraine relief, and help manage body odor.
Medicine Net also points out that some individuals might opt to buy pre-made sea salt flush packages available in stores.
“However, these solutions can contain up to 4,700 mg of salt, which is almost twice the daily recommended amount of sodium,” the site states.
Moreover, increased salt intake is not advisable for those with kidney issues, warns the health site.