The Master Cleanse, also known as the lemonade diet, is a detox diet that clams benefits such as stopping cravings, eliminating fat, PH balance, positive mental attitude, increasing will power and detoxifying your body. But what is it? Does it really work and is it good for you?
The Master Cleanse’s Three Phases
Ease-In-Starting the Master Cleanse
- Day 1: Remove processed foods and meat from the diet
- Day 2: Juice all foods
- Day 3: Drink 2 liters of hand juiced orange juice that is mixed with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
The Lemonade Diet (follow for the next 3-14 days)
- Step 1: prepare 2, 1-liter containers of lemonade (which includes lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper) and 1 liter of water
- Step 2: Drink the 3 liters of liquid throughout the day
- Step 3: Flush your system with the Salt Water Flush. The step should be done at night. It is recommended to drink the 1 liter salt water solution all at once. You are not to go to the bathroom after drinking the salt water solution until you can no longer hold out. Once you start going to the bathroom, stay near the toilet. You are going to have 3-7 bowel movements or more. Don’t leave the bathroom until you can go at least 15 minutes without a bowel movement.
- The diet recommends that you do the lemonade diet phase for 3 day to 10 days, but not more than 2 weeks.
Ease-Out-Stopping the Master Cleanse
- Day 1: Drink 3 liters of orange Juice with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- Day 2: Fruit and Veggie Juice
- Day 3: Fruits and Veggies
- Day 4: Regular diet
Does a Cleanse Work?
Currently there is no research data in medical literature to back up the benefit claims. However, there is research that has shown that extremely low-calorie diets cause the body to conserve energy and lower the body’s basal metabolic rate. Also much of the weight that is lost during cleansing or detox diet is from fluid loss. Once a normal diet is resumed, the dieter rapidly regains the lost weight.
It is important to remember that this diet is lacking in essential nutrients and may lead to a nutrition deficiency. The daily laxative regime can cause dehydration, deplete electrolytes and impair normal bowel function.
Medical professionals do not recommend doing a detox or cleansing diet. It is important to inform you doctor if you are following this type of diet.
Reference:
- The master cleanse
- Harvard Women's Health Watch. 2008 May; 15(9): 1-3
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