The Master Cleanse, also known as the lemonade diet, uses lemon water to detoxify the colon and digestive system. Originally designed by Stanley Burroughs, it has been advocated by fasting and detox experts such as Dr. Elson Haas and Paul Bragg. This powerful cleanse is moderately challenging to follow, however, as it requires total fasting from solid foods for seven to 10 days.
The Master Cleanse
Step 1
Drink an 8-oz. glass of water mixed with 2 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice, 1-2 tbsp. of pure maple syrup and a pinch of cayenne pepper, eight to10 times per day throughout the cleanse. In addition, make sure you drink plenty of pure water each day in-between the lemon water. Consume nothing else besides the lemonade, water and herbal teas for the next seven to 10 days.
Step 2
Exercise each day. Fasting and cleansing does not require excessive sleep or bed rest. In fact, most people experience increased energy after two or three days of cleansing, as the hunger begins to subside. Take advantage of these bursts of energy. Try going for a brisk walk, bike ride or some other form of exercise each day. Exercise helps to move the lymphatic fluid as well as the intestines, encouraging an overall body cleanse.
Step 3
Consider an internal bath for the large intestines. Although you will not be consuming any solid foods, you want to make sure the colon continues to empty as toxins are purged from the liver and other digestive organs. Try a pure water enema or colonic irrigation at the start and end of the cleansing period.
Tips and Warnings
- Although weight loss is an inevitable side effect of cleansing, it is not the only benefit. Lemon water helps to loosen mucous that has built up in the digestive tract, and remove toxins. Use freshly squeezed lemons instead of bottled lemon juice for maximum results. Including lemon water as part of a healthy, balanced diet also helps to clean the digestive tract on a regular basis. For those with busy schedules, try mixing a day's worth of the lemonade ahead of time and carrying it in a large thermos or sport bottle. Keep this handy so you can sip it throughout the day.
- Check with your physician or health-care practitioner before beginning this or any other diet program. Individuals who are underweight or who have been diagnosed with eating disorders should not follow a total fast. The lemonade can be included with a raw food cleanse to provide additional cleansing and detoxification.
Things You'll Need
- 8-10 fresh lemons
- Pure maple syrup
- Bottled or purified water
- Cayenne pepper
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