Holistic medicine advocate Stanley Burroughs developed the Master Cleanse diet in his 1976 book, "The Master Cleanser." This cleanse plan regained popularity with the 2005 release of the book "Lose Weight, Have More Energy, and Be Happier in 10 Days" by Peter Glickman, an alternative medicine practitioner and chiropractic clinic director. Singer Beyonce Knowles said she lost 20 lbs. for her role in "Dreamgirls" through the Master Cleanse, prompting many to use the plan. Because a 10-day Master Cleanse can be dangerous, talk to your doctor before beginning the cleanse.
Purpose
Your body comes into contact with foreign chemicals every day. Packaged meals, non-organic produce and other foods contain additives, preservatives, food dyes, hormones, artificial sweeteners and other chemicals. Alternative medicine advocates claim that these foreign chemicals accumulate in your cells, causing fatigue, depression, weight gain, gastrointestinal problems, bloating and irritability. Master Cleanse proponents claim that the diet plan clears your body of toxic chemicals and improves overall health.
Lemonade Diet
Master Cleanse practitioners cannot eat any food for the duration of the 10-day cleanse. Instead, they drink a beverage made from freshly-squeezed organic lemons, organic cayenne pepper, pure maple syrup and filtered water. Dieters drink six to eight glasses of this mixture daily for 10 consecutive days. Purified water is the only other beverage permitted during the 10-day Master Cleanse.
Salt Water Flush
The salt water flush is an important part of the Master Cleanse; its purpose is to clear excess waste from your digestive tract. To perform the flush, dieters drink 1 or 2 qt. of warm salt water on an empty stomach. Bowel movements begin 30 to 60 minutes after drinking the salt water. Master Cleanse dieters perform the salt water flush every morning for a week. Perform the flush one more time on day nine of the 10-day Master Cleanse.
Warning
Despite its popularity and claims of dramatic weight loss, the Master Cleanse can be a very dangerous diet plan, warns Dallas dietitian Lona Sandon, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Sandon said that detoxifying diets such as the Master Cleanse can cause nutrient deficiencies and breakdown of lean muscle tissue. Furthermore, your liver and kidneys neutralize toxins and cleanse your body naturally, making a Master Cleanse unnecessary. Before beginning a 10-day Master Cleanse, talk to your doctor about possible side effects and weight loss alternatives.
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