After hearing celebrities Naomi Campbell and Demi Moore proclaim the benefits of the Master Cleanse, many people began following this popular cleanse plan. Alternative medicine advocate Stanley Burroughs of Portland, Oregon, wrote "The Master Cleanser" in 1976. The Master Cleanse typically lasts 10 days and requires you to adhere to a very restrictive diet. Cleanse proponents claim it is a natural way to lose weight, boost energy and detoxify your body. However, the Master Cleanse can cause serious health problems, according to dietitian Anna Raymond of the British Dietetic Association. Talk to your doctor before beginning any cleanse diet.
Purpose
Master Cleanse practitioners believe that toxins from pesticides, air pollutants and other chemicals accumulate in your body. The cleanse plan purportedly eliminates these toxins through inducing frequent bowel movements and supplying your body with beneficial enzymes. People who perform a Master Cleanse claim it can boost energy levels, improve immune functioning, reduce fatigue, decrease cravings, promote weight loss, improve mood and eliminate dangerous toxins.
Preparation
The Master Cleanse consists of a very rigid diet plan which can cause gastrointestinal distress. Master Cleanse practitioners recommend taking three or four days to ease into and out of the cleanse phase. To prepare yourself for the cleanse, eliminate processed foods from your diet. Drinking large quantities of juice and water prepares your body for the cleansing process. People undertaking a cleanse should avoid eating high-calorie or high-fat foods during this time.
Lemonade Diet
The Master Cleanse diet requires you to drink a lemonade beverage for 10 days. The lemonade drink consists of 2 tbsp. fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 2 tbsp. maple syrup, a pinch of cayenne pepper and 2 cups of filtered water. During the cleanse, dieters drink this lemonade beverage 10 to 12 times per day whenever they feel hungry. People undergoing the cleanse also drink large quantities of water throughout the day.
Stimulating Bowel Movements
The Master Cleanse requires dieters to complete a salt water flush at least once a day to stimulate bowel movements. This consists of 1 tbsp. of sea salt dissolved in a liter of water. Dieters drink this beverage on an empty stomach, causing bowel movements to begin within 20 to 30 minutes. Some people also use herbal laxatives such as psyllium husks, aloe or cascara sagrada bark to stimulate frequent bowel movements and flush the colon of its contents.
Warning
Little scientific evidence suggests that detox diets such as the Master Cleanse are effective, according to registered dietician Katherine Zeratsky of the Mayo Clinic. Your kidneys and liver naturally neutralize and eliminate toxins from your body, making cleansing processes unnecessary and possibly dangerous. Detox diets such as the Master Cleanse may cause dizziness, nausea, dehydration or fatigue, according to Zeratsky. Consult your doctor before beginning the Master Cleanse or any other detox diet to ensure it is safe.
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