Mastering the Master Cleansing

A Master Cleansing is often known as the lemonade diet. Just recently it was highly touted as the diet that helped Beyoncé lose 20 pounds. Reports state that Robin Quivers recently lost over 70 pounds using the master cleanse on three occasions. It was not developed for weight loss, but rather to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins and reduce cravings.

The simple lemonade consists of fresh lemon juice, organic maple syrup, water and Cayenne pepper. No solid food is to be eaten during the cleanse and the recommendations are to remain on the cleanse for at least 10 days but it is not recommended for longer than 30 days. At least 6-12 glasses of the lemony concoction should be taken a day.

The recipe is easy:

2 TBS fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 TBS maple syrup (Grade-B )
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper
8 oz spring or purified water

In addition to the lemonade, it is suggested you drink one glass of water with a little sea salt in the morning and a laxative tea each evening. To guard against dehydration it is also prudent to drink 8-10 glasses of purified water throughout the day. Many users suggest you stay close to the bathroom the first few days as your system will begin to eliminate the wastes very quickly with little warning.

The master cleanse was originally created by the late nutritionist Stanley Burroughs in the 1940's, who wrote the book "The Master Cleanser" in 1978. The cleanse was originally intended to treat ulcers. A master cleanse gives the body a kind of tune up, giving the digestive system a vacation. Many users report better joint and muscle flexibility, a heightened level of energy and even a reduction in acne flare ups.

Nutritionists are of course in an uproar over the celebrity of the master cleanse and are concerned that there is not enough nutrition being supplied to the body, thereby users are starving themselves. It is definitely a fast you would not want to stay on for extended periods of time. As with most fasts, you will want to wean your body back onto foods by slowly reintroducing juices, soups and broths. Then eventually add small portions of solid foods at frequent times of the day to allow your digestive system to repair itself. Doctors mainly disregard this as any kind of weight loss diet as you will gain the weight back once you begin to reintroduce solid foods into your diet.

As with any fast or diet plan, it is always wise to seek your doctor's advice.