The Water, Lemon Juice & Cayenne Pepper Cleanse

Modern agricultural practices and consumer goods cause your body to be exposed to a variety of non-natural chemicals. Holistic medicine proponents claim that these chemicals cause ill health and recommend cleansing your body of potential toxins. One popular cleanse is the water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper cleanse. Because this cleanse can cause negative side effects, you should consult your physician to ensure it is safe for you.

Purpose

Non-organic produce and meats may contain trace pesticides, hormones, fertilizers and other chemicals that could be dangerous for your body. Holistic medicine advocates believe that these chemicals build up in your intestines and other organs, causing chronic fatigue, obesity, headaches and other problems. The water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper cleanse supposedly neutralizes these toxic chemicals and clears them from your body.

Beverage

The detoxifying cleanse requires dieters to forgo all solid foods and drink a special homemade beverage. The beverage consists of purified water, fresh lemon juice, ground cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup. These ingredients supposedly provide important vitamins and minerals that increase blood flow, decrease mucus development and neutralize toxins.

Cleanse Features

Dieters must drink eight to 10 glasses of the cleansing beverage each day. While a typical detoxifying cleanse lasts 10 days, some people choose to shorten or lengthen the cleanse based on their personal needs. Some people drink a large quantity of water with dissolved sea salt each day to induce bowel movements that supposedly cleanse the colon. Others use laxative teas and other herbal products for colon-cleansing purposes.

Side Effects

People performing a water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper cleanse may experience a variety of side effects. Cleanse proponents claim that these effects are a sign that the cleanse is working and driving toxic chemicals from your body. Common side effects include headaches, hunger pangs, food cravings, fatigue and abnormal bowel movements. Bowel movements may be watery or cause a burning sensation.

Warning

The lemonade cleanse plan severely restricts your caloric intake. While cleanse proponents believe that the lemonade beverage has detoxifying effects, no scientific evidence supports these claims. Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky notes that the detox cleanse may cause fatigue, dizziness, nausea and dehydration. These side effects can be serious, so discuss your cleanse plans with a medical professional before beginning.