With Christmas finally here, many of us will be digging into more food than usual over the next week before the January diet and rush to the gym begins.
And overeating can actually lead to constipation in some cases, an unpleasant experience, especially when you're meant to be enjoying the festive season with your nearest and dearest.
So, any tips to ease such symptoms are always welcome.
Well, as many of us tuck into our Christmas dinner, one doctor turned TikToker has detailed a drink you can try to ease the pain.
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Dr. John Valentine, also known as @healthylifesage, explained: "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."
You're then going to want to drink this mixture on an 'empty stomach and let science do its job'.
The healthcare expert continued: "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."
After doing this for 'several days', Dr Valentine explained that you should be able to see a difference.
The drink, known as a saltwater flush, 'acts as a laxative', according to Medicine Net. The health site adds: "The mixture stimulates gut movements [and] you may experience better bowel movements and relief from constipation."
As well as potentially curing constipation, the health resource notes the saltwater flush drink can also help ease muscle cramps as 'himalayan salt contains various minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which work together to promote muscular contraction and relaxation'.
The drink can also help promote digestion, ease migraines, and even help with body odour.
Medicine Net does note, however, that some people may decide to purchase 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 adds.
Furthermore, extra salt is not recommended for folks with kidney dysfunction, the health site warns.
Topics: Health
Callum Jones