Master Cleanse Secrets
The Master Cleanse, a dietary detox program developed by author and nutritionist Stanley Burroughs, is designed to rid the body of harmful toxins and waste. To do the program, you drink a mixture of lemonade, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for two weeks, using a natural laxative to aid in waste elimination. While the cleanse is fairly straightforward, there are some things you can do to increase its effects and maximize your chance of success.-
The Master Cleanse Recipe
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To do the Master Cleanse for a ten-day period, you will need approximately 40 fresh lemons, 80 ozs. of Grade B Maple syrup, 1/2 lb. sea salt, 2.5 ozs. of cayenne pepper and five gallons of water. This will make approximately 8 cups of lemonade each day. To make a cup of lemonade, mix 2 tbsp. lemon juice and maple syrup with 1/10 tsp. of cayenne and 8 oz. of water.
The Fresh Lemon Secret
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While it may be tempting to skip the fresh lemons in favor of bottled lemon juice, fresh lemons are essential to your success on the Master Cleanse. The enzymes in the lemons help break down the waste in the colon and intestines. These enzymes, present in fresh lemons, begin to deteriorate to within a few hours, and are all but destroyed by the bottling process. For this reason, it is ideal to make small batches of lemonade and consume it as quickly as possible after mixing.
Limes Are Fine, Too
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Another name for the Master Cleanse is "The Lemonade Diet." However, you can substitute or include limes in the recipe. Limes are nutritionally superior in vitamins A and C, while lemons contain more magnesium and potassium, but these nutritional differences should have little impact on your cleanse. The proportions of the recipe do not change if you are using limes, though you will need approximately twice as many limes as lemons to get the necessary 2 tbsp. of juice per glass.
Take the Heat
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Cayenne does much more than give the lemonade added flavor. Cayenne is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps reduce fluid retention and aids in the elimination of mucus. The heat your body produces after ingesting the spice also boosts your metabolism and increases the potential for weight loss. Don't be concerned that the burning associated with cayenne might damage your stomach lining. According to the George Mateljan Foundation, cayenne is actually beneficial to the stomach lining. If you find it difficult to tolerate the cayenne, try building your tolerance slowly.
The Tongue Test
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According to Stanley Burroughs, you should do the cleanse until your tongue turns a healthy, clear pink. A pink tongue indicates that your body is free of excess mucus and that the cleanse was a success. According to Burroughs, this process can take up to 40 days. However, medical professionals like Dr. Marc Lawrence, a physician and nutrition specialist, believe the Master Cleanse is potentially dangerous and can seriously hamper weight loss efforts.
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