The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet, was devised in the 1940s by American naturopath Stanley Burroughs. Burroughs believed illness was caused by the build-up of toxins in the blood. He thought various forms of alternative treatments, including pressure point and color therapies, could expell the toxins. He developed the Master Cleanse while looking for a cure for ulcers.
The diet has gained popularity since the 1990s, after being heavily promoted by Peter Glickman, a chiropractic clinic director and advocate of alternative therapies. Various celebrities, including Beyonce, Jay Leno and Demi Moore, have become proponents of the Lemonade Cleanse.
Step 1
Drink a laxative tea. The first laxative tea should be consumed the night before you begin the lemonade detox. The tea is to be taken every evening for the duration of the diet, before you go to bed.
Step 2
Prepare a saltwater flush. Upon awakening, mix 1 qt. lukewarm water with 2 tsp. uniodized sea salt. When the salt is dissolved drink the mixture. Glickman advises drinking the whole quart in 30 minutes. Hold your nose while drinking if you find the taste very unpleasant. Shortly after finishing you will feel an urgent need to visit the bathroom. Do not leave your home unless you are guaranteed to be very close to a bathroom for at least an hour after drinking. The saltwater should be consumed every morning while you are following the diet.
Step 3
Make the lemonade. Extract the juice of a lemon by using a citrus juicer or squeeze by hand. Mix 10 oz. spring or purified water with 2 tbsp. lemon juice, and 2 tbsp. maple syrup. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and mix well. This will make one serving of lemonade.
Throughout the remainder of the day, drink more lemonade. Drink six to 12 servings per day.
Tips and Warnings
- It is optimal to spend a minimum of 10 days on the Lemonade Diet, according to Burroughs.
- Even if you decide to break the diet before the recommended 10-day minimum, do not return to your regular diet immediately. Your digestive system will have become unused to solid foods, and regular eating could cause a great deal of discomfort. If you have been on the diet for a week or more, drink only fresh fruit or vegetable juices for two days before attempting to eat solids. During the cleanse you are likely to experience detox symptoms. These symptoms can be anything from a mild headache to severe flu-like sensations. During a detox or fast this is to be expected, and the symptoms will pass. Before attempting any detox diet or liquid fast such as the Lemonade Diet, consult your nutritionist or health-care provider.
Things You'll Need
- Laxative tea
- 1 gt. water
- 2 tsp. uniodized salt
- Lemons
- Filtered water
- Grade B maple syrup (preferably organic)
- Cayenne pepper
- Natural sea salt
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