If you’re in need of losing up to 20 pounds quickly (like
10 - 14 days), you could try the Master Cleanse Diet, although I can’t
wholeheartedly recommend it, mainly due to the difficulty of sticking with it
and the rare, but potential problems that could arise during the cleanse.
The diet consists of drinking a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup, and distilled or purified water, as well as taking a daily herbal tea laxative and/or a salt water flush.
The diet consists of drinking a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup, and distilled or purified water, as well as taking a daily herbal tea laxative and/or a salt water flush.
The History Behind the Master Cleanse
This detox regimen was developed in 1940 by Stanley
Burroughs. He was looking for a way to cure
stomach ulcers but discovered it also had a couple of side benefits – detoxification
of cells and subsequent weight loss.
Burroughs, who lived from 1903-1991, was an avid alternative health
practitioner who, at one time, was jailed for practicing medicine without a
license.
Burroughs helped people with the cleansing
process and in the mid-1970s wrote The Master Cleanser: With Special Needs and Problems
, which helped to make the detox program popular again. The book averages 4 stars on Amazon.
, which helped to make the detox program popular again. The book averages 4 stars on Amazon.
Each Ingredient’s Role in the Cleansing Process
The lemon’s acidic nature helps your body to cleanse
itself of excess toxins that have built up in your cells. The maple syrup helps to give you nutrients during
your detox fast. As we all know, a
sluggish metabolism makes it hard to lose weight. The cayenne pepper aids in helping to speed
up your metabolism. And last but not least, the filtered water serves to
transport the other ingredients into your system.
The Master Cleanse Recipe
The recipe is pretty simple:
- 2 Tbsp. of fresh lemon juice (organic if possible. Do not use lemon concentrate, due to the preservatives it has),
- 2 Tbsp. of Grade B organic maple syrup* (not the typical kind you get in the breakfast aisle. You will probably need to look in a health food store. See an example here on Amazon. This type has more minerals and other nutrients that will help to sustain you during the cleanse),
- 1/8 tsp. of cayenne pepper (organic is preferable), and
- 10 oz. of hot water (distilled or purified preferred).
Drink this mixture 6 – 12 times per day.
If you’d like to mix up a larger batch (enough for 1
day), use this recipe:
- 12 Tbsp. organic lemon juice
- 12 Tbsp. organic Grade B maple syrup*
- ½ tsp. organic cayenne pepper
- 60 oz. of distilled or purified water
* Diabetics and even pre-diabetics will want to substitute unsulfured blackstrap molasses in place of the maple syrup, as per Stanley Burroughs' recommendation.
You will also need to take an herbal tea laxative, such as Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move Herbal Tea while on this cleanse in the evening and/or follow Stanley Burroughs recommendation of drinking 1 tsp. of unrefined, non-iodized sea salt dissolved in 25-35 oz. of distilled or purified water each morning during the cleanse (stay near the bathroom for the next 1 1/2 hrs). This will help to flush out your system. You will be losing fecal matter and excess water weight, as well as toxins by following this cleanse for up to 14 days.
Celebrities Who’ve Followed The Master Cleanse:
The cleanse calls for 4 days of clean eating (think raw foods) prior to starting the actual cleanse. If you are a coffee or caffeine partaker, please limit yourself to no more than 1/2 cup during those 4 pre-cleanse days to wean yourself off of caffeine and lessen withdrawal symptoms during the cleanse.
After the cleanse, you will need to reintroduce solid food very slowly. There is a 4-day diet discussed in the book detailing what you should eat following the cleanse. This part is very important!
I really cannot recommend this cleanse, mostly due to the difficulty of sticking with it and the possible problems that can arise if you don't follow the cleanse precisely. If you are bound and determined to do it, at least check with your health practitioner first and read The Master Cleanser. A better way to go would be to check out Dr. Karlo Mauro's website and see what he has to say about losing weight safely and sanely with his help.
You will also need to take an herbal tea laxative, such as Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move Herbal Tea while on this cleanse in the evening and/or follow Stanley Burroughs recommendation of drinking 1 tsp. of unrefined, non-iodized sea salt dissolved in 25-35 oz. of distilled or purified water each morning during the cleanse (stay near the bathroom for the next 1 1/2 hrs). This will help to flush out your system. You will be losing fecal matter and excess water weight, as well as toxins by following this cleanse for up to 14 days.
Celebrities Who’ve Followed The Master Cleanse:
- Probably the most famous celebrity to follow The Master Cleanse has been Beyonce Knowles. She was able to lose 20 lbs. in 2 weeks for her role in Dreamgirls. She did say the cleanse was tough and it made her cranky.
- Ashanti did the cleanse for 7 days while preparing for a movie role. She said she ate fruit during the cleanse when she got hungry and was able to lose 8 lbs. and keep it off.
- Actor Jared Leto gained 60 lbs. for his role as John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, in the movie Chapter 27. He turned to the cleanse to lose the excess weight.
- Radio co-host Robin Quivers followed the master cleanse protocol for 21 days for 3 different times and lost 70 lbs.
- Demi Moore was only able to do the cleanse for 4 days (that’s 1 day longer than I was able to stay on it back in the late 90s. The stuff tastes terrible, and I felt just as bad for those 3 days.)
Before and After the Cleanse
The cleanse calls for 4 days of clean eating (think raw foods) prior to starting the actual cleanse. If you are a coffee or caffeine partaker, please limit yourself to no more than 1/2 cup during those 4 pre-cleanse days to wean yourself off of caffeine and lessen withdrawal symptoms during the cleanse.
After the cleanse, you will need to reintroduce solid food very slowly. There is a 4-day diet discussed in the book detailing what you should eat following the cleanse. This part is very important!
I really cannot recommend this cleanse, mostly due to the difficulty of sticking with it and the possible problems that can arise if you don't follow the cleanse precisely. If you are bound and determined to do it, at least check with your health practitioner first and read The Master Cleanser. A better way to go would be to check out Dr. Karlo Mauro's website and see what he has to say about losing weight safely and sanely with his help.
