What To Eat With The Master Cleanser Diet

The Master Cleanse diet is a 10-day fasting program that directs followers to subsist on only a liquid concoction of lemon juice, water, cayenne peppers and maple syrup. The diet also suggests drinking salt water as a tea that provides laxative-like results. Celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles tout impressive weight-loss results as a result of the Master Cleanse and claim it leads to a clearer complexion and a stronger immune system. Despite celebrity endorsements, however, Harvard Medical School and other medical sources say its effectiveness is unproven.

Master Cleanse Drink

The Master Cleanse drink is a combination of fresh lemon or lime juice, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and fresh spring or filtered water. The diet cautions against using bottled lemon or lime juice as a substitute as it won't cleanse the body or provide the same benefits as juice from actual lemons and limes. The diet also cautions against using maple-flavored syrup. The syrup must be unfiltered, real maple syrup. The diet also recommends drinking water in ounces that equals your body weight.

Laxative Tea

In an attempt to purge the body of foods and toxins, followers drink a liquid laxative herbal tea the night before starting the diet and continue to drink the tea first thing in the morning and before bed throughout the length of the diet.

Saltwater Drink

In addition to the juice concoction and laxative tea, the Master Cleanse diet suggests drinking a saltwater mix to help cleanse the digestive system and colon. Followers of the diet drink the saltwater mix on an empty stomach. The diet cautions against using table salt as it will not provide the same health effects as sea salt. Followers may experience frequent trips to the bathroom as a result of the saltwater drink.

Master Cleanse Beliefs

Stanley Burroughs, creator of the Master Cleanse diet, developed the program to help people that suffer from ulcers. Burroughs also claimed the diet may support weight loss, cleanse the digestive system, eliminate waste, relieve pressure and irritation and promote many other health benefits. Health experts, on the other hand, refute Burroughs' claims and state that crash diets may cause serious harm to the body. "There's no evidence that these types of diets are necessary or helpful," says Dr. Nasir Moloo, a gastroenterologist at Capitol Gastroenterology Consultants Medical Group.