I’ve had a few comments about the Master Cleanse which I’ve been doing recently, so here’s a little more info on the topic. Caveat: I’m certainly no expert, this is just my opinion, consult with your doctor… yada yada yada…. please do take with a grain of salt…. lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper optional 
The Master Cleanse (Master Cleanser/Lemonade Diet) has been around for over half a century, and is a simplified form a fasting that typically lasts for 10 days. You can google it and get a ton of pros, cons and marketing spiel on it…. including popular news on how Beyonce lost 20lbs on it for her role in Dreamgirls. Enjoy. I’ve done it several times myself and have been very pleased with the results, as have numerous friends. It isn’t for everyone though, I also know of many others who’ve tried it and dropped away in anywhere from half a day to 3 days… it does take a little commitment 
Why bother?
Face it, the world we live in isn’t exactly pristine anymore…. we are continually absorbing toxins through the food we eat, water we drink and the air we breathe. Even with a relatively healthy diet, including regular physical exercise, our bodies usually can’t keep up with all the clean-up…. and who among us is that disciplined anyway? Certainly not me, though I do try. So we end up storing the toxins inside us, that if not dealt with, that can eventually lead to ill health. That was the premise that Stanley Burroughs was using when he created it, with fasting as an approach to turn the tables and even cure physical disease.
Fasting as a means of healing has been around for thousands of years…. the Master Cleanse is just an easier way to do it than a water fast…. and you will have plenty of energy to maintain your normal life throughout it.
To put it bluntly, if your engine is clogged up, the car won’t run well… or even at all. So, periodically I like to go on a cleanse to give my body a chance to do the cleanup jobs it doesn’t get the time to do otherwise. That’s the beauty of this process, the healing comes not from what you put into your body, but in actually giving your body the chance to heal itself naturally. By lowering its digestive workload with such an easy liquid diet, our body can redirect that energy into healing itself. We have been truly gifted in our lives… our bodies, minds and hearts are capable of so much more than we give them credit for!
How to do it:
The Master Cleanse is very simple….for 10 days typically, although you can extend it to 40 days… you limit your diet exclusively to the special lemonade mixture:
- 2 tablespoons of Grade B Maple Syrup*
- 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon (or lime) juice [approx 1/2 lemon]
- 1/10 teaspoon (a dash) of cayenne pepper
- 8 oz of water (medium-hot preferred)
* Grade B is the darker maple syrup, with more minerals in it…. its important not to use the usual grade A maple syrup found with pancakes, as it will not sustain you.
To help yourself into it, eat lightly the day(s) before the cleanse, mainly fruits and veg, try to hydrate well… this will make the early transition days easier. The night before you start take anherbal laxative tea, and you can continue to take it daily throughout the cleanse to help with elimination. As you may have noticed, there isn’t much fiber in the diet, so you will face constipation otherwise! It is also recommended to do a salt water flush first thing every morning, to flush your intestines and get your day off to a clean start. This consists of 2 teaspoons of a decent brand of uniodized sea salt (I use a Celtic mineral sea salt) in a quart of warm water…. this will cleanse the entire digestive tract, removing the toxins that have been released already. I’ve noticed that if you keep drinking a few mugs of hot water shortly after taking the salt water, it really does help push the process along quicker and more thoroughly.
To make it easy, I usually prepare a big batch of the mix that will last me a couple of days at a time. Pour all of the lemon juice into a large enough measured water bottle (Nalgene etc.), then put about an equal measure of maple syrup in, then add cayenne pepper. Its a mix of art and science to get the measures right, but you’ll get familiar enough with the taste to recognize a good batch. Regardless of the precision of preparation, it is definitely easier to make a bigger batch that you can take around with you during the day, and just add water whenever you want to drink a cup.
It is recommended to drink 6-12 cups a day. I find that is plenty… I usually drink 10-12 initially, that may drop by half towards the end. You shouldn’t feel hungry on the cleanse, that isn’t the point at all, Your body should get all the energy it needs. I can’t help you with your craving for pizza though!
I also recommend starting this on the weekend, take the laxative tea the night before, and use those two days to get used to the flushes, and ride any emotional roller coasters that may come up. By day 3 you’ll be ready for work
One last note… rinse your mouth with water after drinking the mix, I just drink plain water… as your teeth can get a little sensitive if you leave the sugary/acidic mix in there, its really meant for your insides! Some people even use a straw. And you’ll notice some whiteish build up on your tongue as your body releases there… quite normal, but an odd experience, so the toothbrush is your friend here. It will also help with your breath, as you will also be detoxing from your lungs, so nicer for other people that way! He he he
What to expect:
In my experience, the first few days, as you are adjusting to the new diet and all kinds of toxins are being released from within you, you can have quite an emotional reaction. This is normal, and in this case is good, as you know those are just parts of you being cleansed and the junk is on its way out. You didn’t think that all those emotions you’ve been swimming in weren’t being stored somewhere within your being, did you? Hmmm…..
So, it isn’t always easy… but it does get easier once you cross the initial hump…. then I usually find myself with an abundance of energy, with relatively clearer mind and moods too. Also, throughout the cleanse, even though you are never physically hungry you will have to confront those parts of you that crave refined sugar, caffeine, etc. and yes, they do sometimes rise up in revolt! Those were some hard-earned addictions! He he he!!! The good news is that you are being uniquely supported by the diet, so that if you face them later, you will have a much better chance staying away once you are off the cleanse.
I find that doing the cleanse represents a great opportunity to break some bad eating habits we’ve picked up over time. By cleansing your physical body of the toxic residues, you have a clean(er) slate with which to face them on the other side…. it is only your mind you’ll have to contend with, your body will already be on your side…. and you’ll already have struck some substantial victories throughout the cleanse. I’ve had friends drop drinking coffee, and even shift to a completely raw diet after this, which was part of their initial intention in doing it. That said, old habits die hard…. and it can be very easy to rebound badly…. jumping straight back into the junk as soon as you’re off it, almost as a ‘reward’ for having finished your cleanse, and dropped the extra pounds. It is up to you to take responsibility for what you are putting inside your body after the cleanse. It is a mind game we’re playing here too….
There are many ways to care for ourselves, as we are definitely very complex beings…. for me this is just one tool that I use for a more holistic approach to my overall well being. I hope that this note helps you with yours
Here’s a more extensive article on fasting and the Master Cleanse, from a decent site I’ve found on healthy living: Whole Body Detoxification
