Recipe

Pink Salt Detox Drink

A simple pink salt and lemon water recipe that tastes bright, feels refreshing, and takes 2 minutes. Hydrating, easy to customize, and perfect for slow mornings.

By Matt Campbell

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4.7

A clear glass of warm lemon water with a small spoonful of pink Himalayan salt on a wooden board beside it, set on a sunlit kitchen counter

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If your morning routine needs a low-effort reset, this is the drink. Pink salt, lemon, and water. That is it. No blender, no mystery powders, no shopping list that reads like a chemistry final.

People call it a “detox” drink, but I like to keep it honest: your liver and kidneys are the real detox team. What this does is help you hydrate, adds a little sodium, and wakes your taste buds up with that lemony snap. It is especially nice if you wake up feeling a little dry, after travel, after a sweaty workout, or after a salty dinner that left you chugging water at 2 a.m.

Make it warm and cozy, or iced and punchy. Either way, it is a tiny kitchen habit that feels like you are taking care of yourself without making a whole thing about it.

A hand stirring pink salt into a glass of warm lemon water with a spoon in a home kitchen

Why It Works

Fast hydration: Water does most of the work, and a small pinch of salt adds a little sodium that may feel helpful after heavy sweating.
Balanced flavor: Lemon keeps it bright so it tastes like something you actually want to drink.
Gentle, customizable routine: You can keep it super simple or add ginger, honey, cucumber, or vinegar depending on your mood.
No overdoing it: This uses a small amount of salt for flavor and a little sodium, not a heavy brine.

Quick note: If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, are pregnant, are on fluid restrictions, or your doctor has you watching sodium, check with them before making salty drinks a daily habit. If you deal with reflux, lemon can be a trigger, so keep it mild or skip it.

Pairs Well With

Storage Tips

This drink is best fresh, but you can absolutely prep it if mornings are chaos.

Fridge: Mix water + lemon juice and store in a sealed jar for up to 24 hours. Add the pink salt right before drinking so it dissolves cleanly and stays tasting bright.
Iced version: Keep a pitcher in the fridge and pour over ice. Add a fresh lemon wedge to perk it up.
Flavor boosters: Add sliced cucumber or a few coins of ginger to the pitcher and chill for up to 24 hours.

Tip: If it tastes flat the next day, add a squeeze of fresh lemon and a tiny pinch of salt. It wakes right back up.

Common Questions

Is this actually a detox drink?

Your body detoxes on its own through the liver and kidneys. This drink is better thought of as a hydration helper with a little sodium and a bright, lemony wake-up call.

What kind of pink salt should I use?

Look for pink Himalayan salt in a fine grind so it dissolves easily. Coarse salt works too, it just needs more stirring or slightly warmer water.

How much pink salt should I add?

Start with 1/16 teaspoon (a small pinch) per 12 to 16 ounces of water. You can go up to 1/8 teaspoon if you like it or if you have been sweating. More than that starts tasting like soup water.

Sodium note: 1/16 teaspoon salt is roughly 150 mg sodium, and 1/8 teaspoon is roughly 300 mg (it varies a bit by brand and how level your spoon is).

Can I drink it every day?

Many people do, but daily salty drinks are not right for everyone. If you are monitoring sodium, have high blood pressure, kidney concerns, or you are on a fluid restriction, check with your clinician. Also, if lemon triggers reflux for you, keep it mild or skip it.

Warm or cold, which is better?

Warm is soothing and helps the salt dissolve faster. Cold is crisp and refreshing. Choose based on the vibe and the season.

Can I add apple cider vinegar?

You can add 1 teaspoon for tang, but it is optional. Since vinegar is acidic, sip through a straw if you want, and rinse your mouth with plain water afterward to protect tooth enamel.

What about lemon and tooth enamel?

Lemon juice is acidic too. If you drink this often, consider a straw, rinse with plain water afterward, and avoid brushing your teeth for about 30 minutes after sipping acidic drinks.

Will this break a fast?

Lemon juice has a small amount of calories, so it can break a strict fast. Some people doing a more flexible, “dirty fast” style still include it. If you fast for medical reasons, follow your plan.

Is this a full electrolyte drink?

Not really. A pinch of salt mostly adds sodium (and chloride). Pink salt has trace minerals, but at these amounts they are nutritionally tiny. After heavy sweating, this can be a nice nudge, but it does not replace a balanced electrolyte drink that includes potassium and magnesium.

Matt Campbell

I have always had a huge passion for the culinary arts, people, working as a team, and so on. I wanted to pursue my love for cooking initially at Virginia Commonwealth University with a culinary arts degree; however, I instead decided to apply myself and acquire more practical skills. My end goal is to eventually open my own restaurant or similar establishment.

Kitchen Essentials

Measuring spoon (or just a clean pinch-ready hand)
Glass or mug (12 to 16 ounces)
Spoon for stirring
Citrus juicer (optional, but nice)

I started making this on mornings when I wanted something that felt like a reset but did not require a personality makeover. Just me, a glass, and that tiny pinch of salt that makes lemon water taste weirdly complete. The first time I tried it, I used too much salt and learned an important lesson: we are going for “fresh and bright,” not “ocean adjacent.” Now I keep it simple, taste as I go, and treat it like a small promise to myself before the day gets loud.