What Is The Point Of The Cayenne Pepper In The Master Cleanse?

The Master Cleanse is a liquid-only fast that that is designed for both detoxification and weight loss. While you're cleansing you'll consume only a special "lemonade" made from purified water, organic lemons, grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Supposedly cayenne pepper stimulates your metabolism and helps to break-up mucus and other other stored toxins in your body. Although cayenne pepper is thermogenic and can increase your metabolism slightly, there is no evidence that it aids in detoxification.

Master Cleanse Basics

The Master Cleanse was developed in the 1940s by Stanley Burroughs as a way to detoxify your body and "purify the glands and cells." There are three phases to the cleanse -- a build-up to the cleanse, the cleanse itself and then a transition period back to new healthier eating habits. As you ease into the cleanse, you'll stop eating all animal products and processed foods. The cleanse consists of a morning saltwater flush, up to 12 glasses of lemonade and an evening laxative tea every day. Transitioning back to eating real food should be done slowly to avoid digestive issues as you reintroduce fiber back into your diet.

The Lemonade

The lemonade should be made from the purest ingredients available, organic if possible. Each glass of lemonade should contain 8-oz. of room temperature water, 2 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice -- approximately half a lemon, 2 tbsp. of grade B maple syrup and 1/10 tsp. of ground cayenne pepper. Each glass of lemonade contains about 100 calories and the bulk of your calories and nutrients come from maple syrup; grade B is used rather than grade A because it is less processed and contains a higher concentration of minerals. If you can not stomach the amount of cayenne pepper, Burroughs says to start off with less and increase the amount of pepper as you become accustomed to it.

Thermogenics

A thermogenic food raises your body temperature -- and therefore your metabolism. Thermogenesis helps your body burn fat faster because it speeds your metabolism and forces your body to burn more calories. Cayenne pepper is a thermogenic food. A 2011 study published in "Physiology & Behavior" found that consuming cayenne pepper increased metabolism and decreased appetite, acting as a natural appetite suppressant. This would be very useful for cleanse participants, who may experience hunger due to the modified diet. The study does note that effects diminish over time as your body adjusts to the spice level.

Detoxification

Burroughs, the original author of the "Master Cleanse" believed that illness and disease were the result of accumulated toxins in your body and following his cleanse could cure almost any disease. Lemons and cayenne pepper were thought to break up mucous and congestion, allowing the cleanse to flush these accumulated toxins from your body. However, this belief is based on outdated scientific theory; we now know that illness and disease are not caused by "negative mental attitudes, and lack of spiritual attunement" as Burroughs claims. According to Burroughs, "germs and viruses do not and cannot cause any of our diseases." The Master Cleanse should only be attempted with your doctor's permission; it is not safe for everyone.