What is the Master Cleanse Diet?
The Master Cleanse Diet is a very simple modified juice fast for detoxifying the body. Author and alternative health advocate Stanley Burroughs developed the Master Cleanse in the 1940s. He did not design the Master Cleanse as a weight loss diet, but it does in fact promote weight loss.
Also called the Lemonade Diet or Maple Syrup Diet, the Master Cleanse is an entirely liquid diet. Sustenance is provided through a lemonade drink made from fresh lemon juice, rich maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. Dieters drink six to twelve glasses of this lemonade a day. They also take a laxative in the morning and in the evening. A saltwater flush is an option to one of the two daily laxatives.
Claims for the Master Cleanse include a reduction in chronic pain, an increase in energy, and a weight loss of 20 pounds in 10 days.
The idea behind the Master Cleanse is that the body accumulates toxins and waste through poor diet, inactivity, negative attitudes, and an unhealthy environment. Proponents of the diet believe these toxins and wastes can lead to serious illnesses. Fasting and detoxification remove the toxins, thereby interfering with the disease process and restoring healthy functioning.
Opponents of the Master Cleanse say that the body has its own mechanisms for detoxification, largely the liver and kidneys, and that fasting and detoxification are unnecessary and potentially dangerous.
Besides the ingredients for the lemonade there is no cost to take the Master Cleanse. You can buy a book on the Master Cleanse for less than $20.00 or a Master Cleanse kit for under $90.00, but neither is required.
How the Master Cleanse Diet Works
The Master Cleanse has three phases: the ease in phase, the lemonade phase, and the ease out phase.
Ease-In Phase: For day one of the Ease-In you limit your diet to fresh fruits and vegetables. On the second day you start getting your body ready for the liquid diet by consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices. On the third day of the Ease-In you limit your intake to orange juice, preferably fresh squeezed. You can add a little maple syrup to the orange juice if you need more calories. This is a good time to empty your cupboards of foods that might be too hard to resist during your fast.
Lemonade Phase: During the Lemonade phase of the diet you consume nothing but six to twelve glasses of the special lemonade and as much water as you want. To flush the toxins from your body you take a laxative and/or a saltwater flush (two teaspoons salt in a quart of water) in the morning and at night. Participants in the Master Cleanse typically spend three to ten days fasting and detoxifying, but thirty days is not unheard of.
Ease-Out Phase: The Ease-Out phase is the time to stop the Master Cleanse and transition back to solid food. It is basically the reverse of the Ease-In Phase. On the first day you drink fresh orange juice lightly sweetened with maple syrup. Day two is fruit juice and/or vegetable juice. On day three you eat solid fruits and vegetables. On the fourth day of the Ease-Out you return to eating a normal, healthy diet.
The general recommendation is to use the Master Cleanse at least twice a year for maximum health benefits.
The Lemonade Recipe
Combine the following ingredients for one glass of lemonade:
- 2 tablespoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice;
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup;
- 1/10 of a teaspoon of cayenne; and
- 8 10-ounce glasses of water.
Some recipes emphasize that the lemonade should be prepared fresh each time and taken right away, while others suggest making an entire day’s worth at once.
You may not be able to tolerate the full amount of cayenne pepper at first. If that is the case, start with a minimum amount of cayenne and work up to one-tenth of a teaspoon.
Benefits of the Master Cleanse Diet
The Master Cleanse is inexpensive and does not require any special foods or supplements.
Proponents claim following the Master Cleanse results in significant health benefits.
You can lose weight quickly.
Concerns about the Master Cleanse Diet
Because it is so restrictive, the Master Cleanse is a difficult diet to stick to.
Children as well as women who are pregnant or nursing should not take the Master Cleanse. The impact of the Master Cleanse Diet on prescription medications is not known.
Participants in the Master Cleanse may feel dizzy, tired, or sluggish while they are fasting. They may also experience headaches, nausea, or constipation.
The lemonade drink does not provide the recommended daily amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Being very low in calories, the Master Cleanse diet can cause the metabolism to slow down. Fasting can destroy natural intestinal bacteria that aid digestion and immunity. Fasting and detoxification can be dangerous for people with diabetes and other chronic diseases.
The Master Cleanse does not include exercise, nor does it have a plan for long-term health or weight maintenance. Dieters do not learn healthy eating habits, and are likely to return to their pre-cleanse diets whether they were healthy or not. Without changes in diet and eating habits individuals are likely to quickly gain back the weight they lost on the Master Cleanse.
Talk to Your Doctor
The Master Cleanse Diet is an extremely restrictive diet, with minimal nutrition and calories. It is not for everyone. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider before starting the Master Cleanse, especially if you take medication or have a chronic medical condition. Your doctor will tell you if the Master Cleanse is safe for you. If you do decide to take the Master Cleanse, be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions while you are on the diet.