Since the 1940s, the Master Cleanse -- a detox diet that has you drink a special lemonade made from lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper -- has helped people rapidly lose weight. Although not designed as a weight loss diet, the cleanse is meant to detoxify your body and prevent or cure illness, according to Stanley Burroughs, developer of the Master Cleanse. Always consult your doctor before beginning any cleanse or detox program.
The Lemonade
The cleanse is a modified fast that requires you to drink between six and 12 glasses of lemonade daily. Each glass of lemonade contains 8-oz. of purified water, 2 tbsp. of freshly squeezed organic lemon juice, 2 tbsp. of grade B maple syrup and 1/10 tsp. of cayenne pepper -- or as much as you can tolerate. Grade B maple syrup is less purified than other grade A and contains more minerals. The maple syrup is your main source of calories; each glass of lemonade contains about 100 calories.
Other Aspects of the Cleanse
Although there is no food allowed during the detox, in addition to drinking the lemonade, it's suggested you perform a salt-water flush every morning and drink laxative tea every evening -- although not too close to bedtime. The salt-water flush should be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Combine 1 quart of water and between 1 and 2 tsp. of sea salt. This will cause a bowel movement -- probably more than one -- so you will want to stay close to the bathroom.
Is Detox Necessary?
Your body has a built-in detoxification system that includes your skin, lungs, liver and kidneys. If you're in good health, there may not be any reason to follow a cleansing program, especially one as extreme as the lemonade diet. A cleanse such as this one can actually flush out good bacteria as well as bad. Your body needs probiotic, or "friendly" bacteria to aid in digestion and help keep your immune system healthy. Susan Moores, R.D. reports that there is no medical evidence that cleansing diets are beneficial.
Side-Effects and Dangers
The cleanse can be low in calories, causing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Signs of low blood sugar include headache, hunger, irritability, mood swings and anxiety. The very low calorie content can also slow your metabolism -- making it easier to gain weight when you finish the cleanse. The National Institutes of Health says that you need a minimum of 1,200 to 1,500 calories daily to keep your metabolic function normal. Not consuming enough calories will cause your body to conserve energy, slowing your metabolism.
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