Ingredients for Cleansing Lemon Diet

The "master cleanse," or lemon cleanse diet is an all-liquid diet. The diet involves drinking almost nothing but specially prepared lemonade for 10 days to take advantage of lemons' natural enzymes and cleanse the body of toxins. The diet is dangerous if done incorrectly. Do not attempt it if you have any pre-existing health conditions. As with all extreme diets, you should consult a doctor before starting.

Lemon Juice

• You will need 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Use a juicer on half of a single organic lemon. Premixing the lemonade or using store bought lemonade will not be effective. Fresh ripe lemon juice has high levels of magnesium, calcium and potassium. These enzymes break apart if the lemon juice is not fresh.

Maple Syrup

• You also need 2 tbsp. of maple syrup, preferably Grade B maple syrup, the darker, stronger-flavored variety. Maple syrup contains minerals and electrolytes. It also has soluble and insoluble fiber and fatty acids. All of these are things your body needs to keep functioning.

Cayenne Pepper

• Cayenne is full of capsaicin, the ingredient in cayenne peppers that makes them so hot. Capsaicin raises the metabolism, increases circulation and acts as a purifier that helps with digestion. Use 1/10th tsp. of ground cayenne pepper.

Water

• Dissolve all the ingredients in 8 oz. of water. Make sure the water is not fluoridated. It should be purified or natural spring water.