Lemon Cleanse Diet Ingredients

The lemon cleanse diet, also known as the Master Cleanse, is a detox diet that involves drinking a lemonade mixture every day. The Master Cleanse was created by Stanley Burroughs as a detoxification and weight loss diet but is not approved by doctors. Consult a doctor before trying the Master Cleanse diet, which can be dangerous and cause health problems in some individuals, says Mary Jane Detroyer, a registered dietitian and exercise physiologist in New York City.

Lemon Juice

In his book, "The Master Cleanser," Stanley Burroughs recommends using fresh-squeezed organic lemon juice to make the Master Cleanse lemonade, which is consumed during the duration of the diet. Squeeze the lemons by hand or with the help of a juicer to get approximately two tbsp. of lemon juice per glass of the lemonade mixture. You are permitted to drink as many glasses of the lemonade mixture as desired throughout the day. If desired, strain the lemon juice to remove the pulp before mixing it with the other ingredients.

Water

Use approximately eight oz. of water to make each glass of the lemonade mixture. In addition to the lemonade mixture, you may drink as much plain water as you would like throughout the day. For both drinking water and for the lemonade mixture, Burroughs recommends filtered water. Do not use distilled water because it lacks the impurities necessary to detoxify the body, says Burroughs. Burroughs also recommends ionized water, which is water that has been treated with a water ionizer, if you have the equipment available.

Cayenne Pepper

For each glass of lemonade mixture, Burroughs recommends adding 1/10 tsp. cayenne pepper powder and mixing thoroughly. Cayenne pepper helps detoxify the colon and clears impurities from the body, says Burroughs. The cayenne pepper may either be dried and then grated into a powder, or purchased as a powder from the grocery store or health food store.

Maple Syrup

The Master Cleanse diet includes maple syrup in the lemonade mixture to give a sweet flavor to the drink and to provide the body with essential nutrients it needs to survive while on the diet. Grade B maple syrup has more impurities than grade A maple syrup, so it should be used in the recipe to provide the body with additional vitamins, minerals and nutrients. After adding the maple syrup to the lemonade mixture, the drink is complete. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and drink the mixture as soon as possible.