The popular saying "salt water in the morning, honey water at night" claims to clear old waste and detoxify the body. Is it really that effective? It probably depends on an individual's physical condition and environment. Modern people often eat out, and in winter, they tend to consume more meat, which can lead to constipation for many. There has always been a theory online that drinking a cup of salt water upon waking and some honey water before bed can help detoxify and clear old waste, a health method passed down since ancient times. For modern people with insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, is this simple method really effective?
There's no need to drink salt water if you're not sweating heavily
First, the role of water is undeniable, as the human body needs it. But is salt water necessary? The concept of drinking salt water for health originates from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which believes salt can brighten the eyes, calm the mind, and clear stomach heat. Bian Huawei, deputy director of the Nutrition Department at the Third Affiliated Hospital, says whether drinking salt water is necessary depends on the actual situation and cannot be generalized. Ancient people believed it was beneficial because they often worked hard in the fields, needing salt water to replenish minerals and maintain their strength. Furthermore, salt was a precious and hard-to-come-by commodity in ancient times.
Modern people sit in cars and stay in air-conditioned rooms, with low levels of activity and sweating. Therefore, drinking extra salt water is often unnecessary. Moreover, modern people already get enough salt from their daily meals and snacks, far exceeding the nutritional association's recommendation of no more than 6 grams per person per day. A recent "Survey on Dietary Nutrition of Guangdong Residents" found that the average daily salt intake in Guangzhou is 8.7 grams per person. Excessive salt intake increases the risk of diseases like high blood pressure. It seems that controlling salt intake is more necessary than promoting drinking salt water at this point. Unless you have special needs, such as needing to drink light salt water to replenish electrolytes due to diarrhea, or engaging in strenuous physical activity or heavy exercise that causes a lot of sweating, in which case a little salt water can prevent the body from depleting too many minerals.
Therefore, the "morning salt" theory depends on the person, their living environment, and their individual condition; it should not be promoted without前提. It is certainly beneficial for the human body to drink water, as the body needs it. For most urban office workers, drinking salt water is unnecessary. Instead, attention should be paid to ensuring adequate daily water intake. Drinking warm water in the morning is highly beneficial for the digestive system and the body's metabolism.
Honey moistens the intestines, time is not a constraint
After analyzing "morning salt," let's discuss "evening honey." Bian Huawei says that honey does indeed have a laxative and bowel-moistening effect. However, constipation is of two types. For one type, the patient's stool is not well-formed and lacks sufficient pressure to be expelled. For these people, eating more fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, and drinking more water or honey water, can help improve constipation.
For others, the constipation problem is not due to the stool's form but rather weak intestinal motility, commonly seen in the elderly and young women who have taken diet pills for a long time. For these individuals, eating fiber-rich foods and drinking honey water will not only fail to improve their constipation but may加重 the burden on the intestines, making the problem worse. For these patients, improving constipation should focus on increasing intestinal motility. It is recommended to exercise more, and if necessary, use enemas to solve the "big problem."
So, you must figure out your type of constipation. If it's due to eating too much meat recently, you can drink honey water to moisten your intestines and promote bowel movements. This does not have to be limited to day or night; it works either way to improve constipation. If you feel like squeezing toothpaste when you have a bowel movement—you have the urge but can't go—and drinking water, honey water, or eating fruits and vegetables doesn't help, you should see a doctor to determine the cause of your constipation and take appropriate medical measures.
Conclusion: "Morning salt, evening honey" is not suitable for everyone
In summary, the idea of "morning salt and evening honey for detoxification" is not scientific and must be considered based on the environment and physical condition. It should not be a one-size-fits-all recommendation for everyone. Furthermore, many beauty books often mention the concept of "detoxification." Bian Huawei believes that the human body's regulatory function is actually very good, and the concept of "detoxification" is debatable.