The Master Cleanser
Fads come and go - but this one just keeps on coming. Stanley Burrough's "Master Cleanser" (aka Lemonade Diet) continues to garner attention from all over the place.
Recently Beyoncé Knowles admitted to using a "Maple Syrup detox" (which led to a huge surge in popularity). Now the diet has even attracted the attention of the NY Times.
The Internet teems with testimonials to the cleanse, also known as the lemonade diet, claiming that it fights disease, clears the mind as well as acne, and increases energy. Bloggers chronicle their daily fasting. Master cleanse video diaries can be found on YouTube, and a cottage industry has developed with various companies peddling cleansing kits including all ingredients for the beverage except lemons.
The Master Cleanse appeared in a booklet by Stanley Burroughs in 1976. The booklet was called The Master Cleanser. The cleansing detox diet has always been popular due to word of mouth - but in 2004 was picked up and marketed by Peter Glickman.
The rules are simple.
Each day of the fast, drink 6-12 glasses of the following mix:
- 2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. ½ lemon).
- 2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) organic Grade B maple syrup, not maple-flavored sugar syrup.
- 1/10 Teaspoon or more cayenne pepper.
- 1 Cup (8 fluid ounces) purified or spring water.
Fast or Slow?
I believe that fasts can have their place - but I suspect that many people who attempt to follow such a regime are looking for a lasting weight loss solution. It is highly unlikely that they will find it.
Detox diets are in a "grey area". Many argue that the body detoxifies itself (that's why we have a liver) -- and that there is no need for such a regime. Others swear by such a cleansing ritual - claiming it leaves them healthier and more energized.
Others just give up after spending half their time on the toilet.
I see still others who (particularly during the Christmas season) will over-indulge in rich foods and alcohol - and then reach for a detox. That doesn't make sense to me. Is it not possible to exercise a bit of self-control instead?
If you are contemplating a fast such as the Master Cleanse - what are your reasons for doing so? Are they realistic? What are you hoping to achieve?
NOTE: You can get the full details of the Master Cleanse here.
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I'm currently on Day 3.5 of this cleanse after trying it out a few days last week and then leaving town. I'm having a really hard time finding a way to fit this into my schedule as I have a number of trips planned, not only last weekend, but this coming weekend as well as the one after. I know it's my own discipline that's at fault here, but it's pretty difficult to stand in a bar holding a water bottle full of reddish "lemonade" and not ask for a shot of vodka to go in it. :-)
Anyway, at Day 3.5 I feel great. No headaches or tummyaches. I haven't been using the senna tea, but I actually don't mind the taste of the sea salt wash. It's been giving me a reason to wake up early (5:30!), which is never bad. I find my ability to concentrate is considerably better than usual.
I continue to see accounts of none but positive experiences from those who actually HAVE tried the cleanse, and I fully intend to stick with it at least through the end of the week. Hopefully when things calm down at the end of the month, I'll be able to devote myself more completely to the program.
ReplyIm starting today,54,hypothyroid,bp low 111/68, wt 225,5"6, 41" waist, I eat mostly healthy, raw fruit veg,fish,nuts,no meat no sugar,no white flour for months now,only healthy oils,use stevia in my one cup of coffee,drink only water and tea, Not much exercise, I do streaching yoga 30 min am, sometimes 30 min on treadmill, MY scale I think is wrong weight much more on others, Anyway I have been trying for months now,And only show a 5 lb loss, Although dieted for a week or so before getting on the scale,so I may have lost more, SO discouraging,I want to get below 200, Its been decades WISH ME LUCK,
ReplyI am excited for you! I hope the cleanse works for you as well as it has for me in the past. I feel so much healthier and more energized after each cleanse. Now that I am learning portion control all excess weight stays off. Hypnosis has helped dramatically with portion control and strenuous activity. Good luck to you and be happy!
ReplyWould Organic Grade A Maple Syrup work? Because I can't for the life of me find Grade B anywhere.
ReplyGrade A would definately work. That's what I used the first half of my cleanse, but then I switched to Grade B. I didn't see or feel the difference, but then, what the hell do I know???
ReplyI'm starting the Master Cleanse mainly because my digestive system is all out of whack...but I can't say the weight loss isn't an attractive benefit. I've read a lot of accounts of people losing 10-15 lbs, but how much of that is fat, how much stays off, and were you very overweight to begin with?
Replythat is the most disgusting thing I ever heard of - the human body was not designed to eat meat, let alone only meat...
ReplyI'm on day 6 and personally, I've never felt better. I started this because I close friend had done it, and I didn't even realize anyone else had done it before, "the fad", the "beyonce" attention... none of this was known to me - so it was just that I wanted to detox my body - from 30 years of abuse of food, alcohol, smokes, etc...
I cannot believe that someone would eat pounds of meat as a diet... that is just unthinkable, gross, and unhealthy.
This Cleanse is what it says it is ...and it is NOT a diet so anyone simply looking to drop some pounds should give it some thought.
good luck to those that try, and yessss the salt water flush is a big YUCK!!!
ReplyThis is my third time doing the cleanse. Each time, the first three days of detoxing gets easier. Still have the headaches, but they are less severe. I will say there are many amazing benefits. Besides the 8-10 pounds I lose, I feel amazing, my skin glows from inside out, my attitude in general, is much more positive. I have much less anger, also (Live in LA, comes with the thomas guide,lol!) I am a person without a lot of discipline, so for me being able to do this is HUGE. I will say that around day 6, I do feel like my brain gets a bit slow. I have read about people modernizing the CLEANSE with a few things like wheatgrass, which has protein, as well as fish oil with their omegas. I may consider this. Good luck to you CLEANSERS! And as for you naysayers, give it a shot then come back and speak with conviction and personal experience, whichever your viewpoint is!
ReplyHi All, just happened upon this site. I have done the MC 4 times and it is amazing. I was not overweight to begin with, but ate a SAD diet. Standard American Diet of processed foods and meat. After doing these, I can NOT stand the smell of carnage, it makes me sick walking by a meat counter! I eat a much healthier diet now. No more edema, high blood pressure or constipation. By the way, my doctor gave his ok for me to do this. Yes, there are physician out there that endorce this short term.
Also for those who poo this, there is 15 pounds of waste in your colons, rotting, Nice to get it out :)
There is a great site. www.therawfoodsite.com that has a lot of the right information and chat board.
Anna, I would not add anything to the MC. It is fine the way it is. You really do not want to add anything else to it. No protein, etc, since the organs are taking a break and slowing down digestion.
Hope to see you on the board.
Oh btw, the recipe on this site omitted the 1/10 tsp of cayenne, the salt water flush and the lax tea part.
And one does the salt water flush on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (2 tsp uniodized sea salt dissloved in 4 cups spring or filtered water, followed by a lax tea in the evenings) Smooth move, yogi get regular, asian dieters tea, or senna leaf bulk.
All I can say is read the books, both Burroughs and Peters, be informed, give it a try.
Remember, when you point fingers at someone, three point back at you.
Replyyes, grade A is fine as along as it is oraganic.
ReplyI am writing to share my Master Cleanse testimony. I just finished the last day of my Master Cleanse detox yesterday.....(10 days). I feel wonderful. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. I never felt hungry or deprived during the process. However, I had to get pass my psychological need to eat if I saw food and I did. You have to mentally prepare for this process. I am overweight with high blood pressure. I take medication for my high blood pressure. To make a long story short....My beginning weight before the detox was 222lbs. I got on the scale yesterday and I weighed 196.5 lbs. I could not believe it. My blood pressure was 124/74. I could not believe it. It amazes me that people will spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on synthetic diet bills, processed diet foods, etc. but are skeptical to detox the digestive system using a natural, inexpensive method....lemons,pure maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. I do not want to go back to the way i used to feel/live.....making poor food choices and needing a tylenol pm to go to sleep and a red bull and several cups of coffee during the day to be half-way productive at work and at home. I have cleaned out my digestive system and plan to keep it that way. I WILL maintain and continue my weight loss and healthful lifesytle.
ReplyDid You take your high blood medication while on the diet?
ReplyI'm a personal trainer and I have no problem with this fast whatsoever. I was first exposed to it by a client. He was on day 5 when we met for a session....he told me the basics of it and I thought to myself "this guy is going to be DROP DEAD after this workout." Didn't happen!! In fact his energy levels (which I could observe) and his other claimed benefits are what convinced me to give it a try. My one fear was that I didn't want to lose any weight or muscle. The solution as I found out was to double the amount of maple syrup per serving (but don't alter any other ingredients). I set myself up so that I was still getting around 2500 calories a day. I can't believe how great this worked...I went on training 4 or 5 clients a day as I'd taken care of my energy needs and then enjoyed all the benefits that many of the other posters have mentioned. View it as a cleanse, set up your calories accordingly and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.
ReplyI did the master cleanse for 40 days. I must say that it was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life! Just the fact of not being able to drive to my favorite resturaunt and get whatever I wanted killed me. I never felt hunger pains but I did have intense cravings. The first week was the hardest for me but after that I just accepted that this is what i have to do. Since starting the cleanse I have dropped 70 pounds. I look and feel better and now I eat better. i still eat meat but lean meats and I also eat plenty od seafood. It's been 3 months and i ahve continued to ose weight with excercise. I am happy I did this cleanse and will consider doing it agin towards the holidays.
ReplyHey! How did you get passed the crazy cravings? I have been trying to do 10 days already and Not one full day have I done 100%. I'm trying so hard. But, I am going to start tomorrow over. I tried working out around the time I normaly break down, and watching a movie. Extra. I'm wearing a rubber band tommorow hoping the pain snaps me out of it. I need this I am 308lbs. The end of 2006 I was 395lbs. But, I feel like I'm going no were fast now.
ReplyPlease if anyone can help I would love you for it!
Do you have to take a laxative in order to get some bowel movement or will the ingredients of the detox mixture work on your insides and give you a natural relief? My biggest fear is constipation...not a good feeling. I just started my detox today and I'm doing it for 40 days. I'm drinking a tea by Twinings called Cleanse made up from various herbs but I'm thinking of purchasing some Senakot tablets made from Senna which I'm sure will send me (I can't find tea made from it). Does anyone have any advice?
ReplyYOU HAVE TO DRINK A LAXITIVE TEA AND DO A SALT WATER FLUSH
ReplyMistake, I'm doing it for 14 days!!! Also, to those that have done it, is the cayenne pepper really prominent in your mixture? That just kills the whole taste for me. I'm measuring it by guessing considering I know what 1/8th of a teaspoon it but that stuff is HOT. I'm hoping I get used to it. Anyway, looking forward to a response to the laxative question.
ReplyMany thanks.
Well, I'm no doctor, but since you're not eating anything, I wouldn't think you'd have to move your bowels.
Reply
what the heck is a 1/10th teasppon of ceyanne pepper?
Reply1/10th a teaspoon is significant enough for a person intolerant to spicy foods but that's irrelevant to my post I wasn't seeking a response for that. Once again, I ask for those that HAVE done it, if you can please respond to the question on bowel movement because I'm quite sure since this is a detox, persons on it must excrete.
ReplyThe tea is definitely a must. The one that I use is Smooth Move, though the program just calls for a laxative tea in general. It is to be taken every evening before you go to bed and you follow it with a salt water flush on an empty stomach the following morning (2tsp sea salt diluted with 1l of water). I hope that answers your question.
ReplyThe tea you have to use is called "smooth move" made by Traditional Medicinals. You can find it at www.drugstore.com
Hope that helps
ReplyThanks Veronica, I don't live in the U.S. but I'll see what I can do to find that.
Replyhey my name is alicia , i did a water fast for 30 days with two tspn of vinegar in every liter. i lost 28 pounds in on month. i messed up twice before i did it right, but it was well worth it. little head pain, and mild dizzyness once or twice. ive kept it off by starting a low carb diet, and cutting soda, and drinkin a large cup of water w vinegar after every meal, because of this im still losing weight
Replyim going on this diet hopefull in a couple of months i figured that if ur on the toilet half the time i might aswell start it when ive got time of uni, wont mean i hvae to miss any lesson
ReplyMy twins are 8 months old, soon to be 9 months on May 14th.
I've been on the master cleans for 6 days now and feel great. I mix a daily batch of the master cleans ingredients times 6. I drink "Smooth Move" tea at night right before I go to bed and a cup 1st thing in the morning.
I drink my lemonade starting at 9am and continue to drink a cup every other hour until my supply is gone which equals (end-of-day).
Results so far:
1) I've lost 10lbs so far.
2) I have loads of energy day to day.
3) I sleep more soundly at night
4) I do notice that I’ve been a bit irritable lately since being on the diet. My BF has taken notice. I usually tune out things that irk me but lately I've been short tempered about them.
5) The tea does cause stomach cramps when it is doing it's job, but after using the restroom the cramps are gone and I am back to feeling great.
6) I move my bowels 4x a day.
7) At the end of the day I am still able to keep up with my twin boys and BF with ease (after working an 8hr 9am-5pm desk job).
8) I don't feel weak at all.
9) My skin has cleared up some but not all the way.
10) Clearer mind set, able to stick to goals easier than before.
Add-ons:
I will start my 2 mile a day jog today. I haven't exercised the whole program so far but I have done strenuous yard work. I'm in the process of starting a vegetable garden and the first step is turning over the soil. Back-breaking work!
I will also do the internal salt water bath tomorrow.
I'll keep you all posted on my progress for interested parties and those considering the diet.
(Please ignore my poor grammar… Trying to convey info. not write an English paper.)
ReplyI done the cleanse 2 weeks ago and I did it for 4 days only. My mind was clear, I wasn't hungry, and I lost a total of 17 pounds. I was losing like 3 lbs. a day.
Replywhy only 4 days Camsha?
I ended up loosing a total of 12lbs in 10 days.
I started at 158 and am now at 146. I'm 5'5. I am drinking fresh squeezed orange juice during the day. Fruit salad at lunch, and will have a vegetable salad for dinner (if I'm hungry)... or a fruit salad.
I feel great.
I finished the diet on Monday.
What was your starting weight if you don't mind me asking?
Replyhi. i just finished reading the MC by S. Burroughs & am getting myself mentally prepared to start the cleanse. are those unbreakable polycarbonate water jars that they sell everywhere good enough?
i just wanted to know where i can get the 10oz glass jars/bottles people are saying is the best way to store the juice.
also, just wanted to make sure - will i need about an hour after the SW flush in the morning before i can leave the vicinity of a bathroom?
thanks for the help. all your comments so far have been really helpful & encouraging :D
Replyhi Annie, this is the end of my fifth day, and as for the morning hour, the answer is most likely- Yes. It's quite possible that even with the salt water you may not pass anything for a couple days, (up to 4 ive mostly read about, and one 6) but if you do the salt water flush (and have your tea in the evening) it will eventuallly begin to pass. In the morning for myself, I go to the bathrrom once before the salt water, (from tea, sometimes earlier in the morning like 3- 6) and then ill take the salt flush and within the next hour I'll have my first flush, along with up to 5 others.. I've had to go still (a tiny bit) 4 hours after the flush, but only once so far. I've read a great deal about the master cleanse, and it so far everything is basically normal for me.
Commit to it! As time goes on, you'll want to more and more.. I actually crave the juice, i struggle with not drinking more then the recommended max!
oh and a neat idea I nolticed, to crunch my early food cravings,
was simple cut a lime (preferably, lime is a nice treat once in a while compared to lemon the whole time) in half and into wedges. Drip two spoon fulls of maple syrup over them, and sprinkle on some cayene pepper. Grab a glass of water, sit down, and suck the pulp/juice out of the lime slices.. You can dip up any syrup on the plate (as it doesnt stick to the fruit veryh well) with the wedges as you go along.
It was really nice actually, to have that a couple times one a night there.. it was like eating and totally satisfied my cravings. You can chew on the wedges a bit, but try not to eat much of it.. just some pulp, the idea is not to get the stomach to start trying to digest anything really solid..
As is now, i havnt really felt like that treat for the last few days, but idono whats going to happen in the future. I plan to go basically the 40 days.. longer if I feel I still have more to detox, and of course after reading more about people who have done the cleanse for long times.
Anyway.. ^^
ReplyIt's already been so worth it.
I feel high, and happy, and alive, more then I can really remember..
And I await eagerly for the sympoms of detox, when they form, I'm like "OH ya! That's the body at work!"
I had a yeast infection in my armpits and they are almost already gone ;)
So Cleanse on and Happy Healing!
yes it is a CLEANSING not a DIET. losing weight is a side affect and not the purpose of the master cleanser (except in extreme cases i suppose). and before bashing its benefits maybe read up on it and what it does to cleanse your body. the lemons, syrup and cayenne all serve specific purposes and your body is getting some nutrients. afterwards it it is recommended to pump up your body's intake of vitamins B12, etc. that it has been missing out on. you dont have to try this but kudos to all of you who do and i hope your results are all wonderful. it's only ten days at a minimum, so why not give it a go?
ReplyIt works, It works, It works,I lost a total of 22 pounds,in 10 days and now looking for ways to keep it off and take off even more. If you are on medication,keep taking it and you will see your high blood pressure drop and your blood suger level go down. This has been the best weight lost program that I have every tried. Be Strong.
Replyhow many fasts have you had? and if none, how could you really consider yourself educated enough to have a vaild opinion?
Reply
to all you people who are just throwing your opinions around without researching or experiencing the MC for yourself are obviously less interested in the truth of the matter and more into hearing yourself talk. Opinions are worthless when they are not backed by experience.
ReplyI'm interested in knowing why the supporters of this thing are so fervorous in their defense. Religious even, using religious arguments sometimes. Is it the sugar high you get from all that maple syrup? What is it that is creating hormones that make you so adamant? That is my real scientific curiosity, not whether this will clean your colon or not.
ReplyIf you believe in something that has done so well for you and if it is easy out of the kindness of our hearts and the knowledge from the experience We like to share some good news. Only people who have been unsuccessful or haven't tried bash it. But is that always the case (in career success also). Your "scientific question" isn't science if you don't want to understand the health benefits. One you are clean you feel more positive Give it a try and find out your self it may unsquish your face :)
Replyi was happy to see someone doing The Master Cleanse while breastfeeding! i am currently breastfeeding my 15 months-old. i am on day 2 of The Master Cleanse & i am scared to death of loosing my milk. i feel great, i really want to do the fast for at least 10 days. i am having hard time finding people who do the MC & breastfeed.
please share your experience with The Master Cleanse & breastfeeding in more details. i am very worried about my milk. my daughter is 15 months, but most of her daily diet is still my milk. she can't get enough of it. LOL :-)
thank you! God Bless!
julia
Replypls tell me how did ur MC go with breast feeding. i am still totally puzzled if i shud start the MC. my daughter is 1 yr old and i want to start doing the |MC.
ReplyHelp me out.
I was looking for a site and I found this one. To everyone that has made a comment good or bad, thanks. I needed inspiration because I am on day three and I can't believe I made it this far. I am not hungry but I cringe when I pass a great restaurant. I am doing this because my system is so messed up. I may have a bowel movement once or twice a week and I really don't think that this is good so that is why I started this. I feel fine and I just have a question: I haven't had a great BM yet but when I do it comes out just a little liquidy is that how it comes out? Sorry for being so descriptive but I need some insight!
ReplyI just read this and in addition to fixing my system, I am doing this for a spiritual guidance. I am aware that Jesus fasted for 40days and I feel that I should atleast be able to do this for ten days. Thanks for your comment and God Bless all of you!
Reply
I just completed the master lemon clense minus the sea salt. I lost 13 pounds and I feel great, I will probably gain it back but I did this more for will power than anything else. To prove to myself that I can do it.
ReplyIt was hard but I have been off the lemonade for two days and I actually miss the taste!
Thank you for bringing the truth back into this blog. I have a friend on it, going on 6 days and he is still excreting waste from his system. There is so much build up in our digestive tracts that on a 6 day liquid diet, it's still not clean. This is not for weight-loss, this is a detox.
ReplyI am on day #8 of the cleansing process. I have felt pretty normal the entire time. I'm lucky, though, I don't drink coffee, smoke, or hardly ever drink alcohol, so I didn't get any headaches. I've been able to exercise as normal (5+ hours of classes/wk), I've been sleeping well, and honestly, I feel less irritable. I've tried doing water fasts in the past (24-36hr fast/week), and I would get really irritable doing that. I do have a question for those of you who have completed the 10 or more days of the fast. The book says to drink orange juice for 2 days to get yourself off of the fast and prepare your body to digest regular foods again. Is this the only way to make the transition? I'm allergic to large amounts of orange juice, and am a little nervous about what it might do to me. Let me know when you get the chance.
Thanks,
ReplyAng
Diet (di·et)
the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group,
eg: The native diet consists of fish and fruit.
ReplyThe word 'diet' itself has nothing to do with weight loss, only in recent times has this slang version emerged. The phrase 'lemonade diet' should not be confused with 'lemonade weight loss regimen'.
Mark, shut up.
ReplyHey there, I too don't do well with OJ. Any thoughts out there?
Reply