Why should I do the Master Cleanse?
To put it bluntly, our bodies are filled with a ton of garbage that we can't digest and it just ends up sitting around, rotting inside us. A thick plaque clings to the insides of our intestines, preventing nutrients from being absorbed. Some people have a whopping 20 pounds of this dense fecal matter clinging to their insides. That matter is a breeding ground for bacteria and if you don't remove it, it starts to poison you.
This is where the detox comes in. A detoxification diet gives your body a fresh start-- a reset to your dietary hard drive. Doing this will make you healthier and will:
Lead to increased energy levels
Help you break junk food/sugar addiction
Cleanse the body of harmful toxins
Promote weight loss with a more efficient metabolism
Strengthen your immune system and protect against disease
In order to properly detoxify and "flush" the body, the Master Cleanse must be followed strictly for 3 to 10 days. (If you're more advanced, you can stay on for longer, but for those of you doing the cleanse for the first time, it is advised to only go the maximum 10 day stretch.)
I can personally attest to the benefits I have experienced. I will never know for sure if the cleanse is partly to thank for getting rid of my ovarian cyst, but I think it helped. My Athlete's Foot cleared up as well as my infected nail cuticles! I'm down more than 15 pounds and feel like I look 5 years younger. I swear, my wrinkles are disappearing!
The Master cleanse is extremely effective dealing with acne and other skin conditions.
2. What is the Master Cleanse recipe?
Single Serving:
10 oz filtered water
2 Tb Grade B Maple Syrup
2 Tb lemon juice (approx 1/2 a lemon)
1/10 tsp of cayenne pepper
Daily Serving:
60 oz filtered water
12 Tb Grade B Maple Syrup
12 Tb lemon juice (approx 3 lemons)
1/2 tsp cayenne
Lemon juice MUST BE FRESH squeezed. Do not use the bottle you can get in the grocery store that says "fresh squeezed." Buy whole lemons. I squeeze them by hand, but you can use a juicer too.
The cayenne pepper is absolutely necessary to help break up mucus and increase healthy blood flow. It's also a source of B and C vitamins.
Only use GRADE B maple syrup. No Aunt Jemima! Grade B maple syrup provides a much needed source of carbs and energy during the cleanse-- it's the only element of your daily drink that has calories. If you want to lose more weight, you can put less syrup in your lemonade, but do not eliminate it.
2 Laxatives are also used on the Master Cleanse:
Salt Water Flush (4 cups of water with 2 teaspoons of UNIODIZED sea salt dissolved.) Ideally the SWF should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Warm water is gentler on the system and helps flush mucus out of your digestive tract. The flush creates a liquid-y poop that is mostly water. It takes between 15-45 minutes once you drink it to take effect. Stay near the bathroom! If you can't tolerate it, you can opt for only using the tea, once in the morning and once before bed.
Herbal Laxative Tea: I use Smooth Move (chocolate flavor is my favorite!) Best taken before bed (I add a teaspoon of maple syrup in to sweeten it a bit). Do not over-steep the tea, or the senna leaf in the tea can cause bad cramping and uncomfortable eliminations. It usually takes 4-8 hours for the tea to take effect. Eliminations are more solid than the salt water flush poops.
3. Can I exercise on the Master Cleanse?
If you exercise regularly, you should either take some time off or cut out any vigorous exercise. Your body will be taxed when you go on the Master Cleanse. As the cleanse starts to work, your body begins eliminating waste and toxins and you'll most likely feel exhausted and depleted. Do not push your body to do anything strenuous. Many people enjoy walks and light yoga or stretching while they're cleansing. The most exercise I've done on this cleanse is daily 30 minute walks with the doggies.
4. How much weight will I lose?
Weight loss is the added bonus of the Master Cleanse. It should not be your primary goal. Beyonce famously lost 20 pounds on the cleanse before she started filming Dream Girls, but average weight loss for women is about a pound a day....so after the 10 days, a 10 pound weight loss is average. Guys tend to lose a bit more. But, remember, the weight only comes off if you have it to lose. For those people who are already thin and fit, you may not lose any weight-- or a minimal amount. Most people gain back about half the weight. The last time I had success on the Master Cleanse, I kept the weight off by jump starting a 90 minute Tracy Anderson routine 6x per week.
5. Can I take my prescription medications or vitamins while doing the Master Cleanse?
The Master cleanse works best when you let your body cleanse without any added chemicals or supplements. That said, it would be irresponsible to stop taking certain medications, so check with your doctor first. I did se