Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse detox diet, also known as the Lemonade Diet, was created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 and made popular by Peter Glickman through his book Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days, which promotes Burroughs' regimen to a modern audience.[1]
The diet
Although the recipe varies from source to source the ingredients are generally the same. The Master Cleanse involves eating no solid food. Instead, you drink a mixture of lemon juice, Grade B/Medium maple syrup, water and Cayenne pepper.
This mix can be taken cold, as a cordial; or hot, as a tea. The mix contains some essential vitamins and minerals.
As solid food is not eaten it is necessary to help the digestive system eliminate material and avoid constipation. This is achieved in two ways: laxative tea is taken every night, and in the morning, 32 ounces of lukewarm sea salt water serves as a top-down enema. This passes through the digestive system extremely quickly—30-60 minutes.[2]
The diet is for a recommended minimum of ten days, although it is not uncommon for people to stay on the cleanse for longer periods of time.[2]
Fasting for such long periods requires careful breaking, as intestinal cultures need to re-develop and mucus linings re-build. This usually involves drinking "full strength" juices for a day or two, while slowly adding in soups, then fruit, vegetables and nuts before resuming a regular diet. This fast break is an ideal time to add probiotics to re-establish a healthy intestinal culture. [3][2]
The Master Cleanse is said by Stanley Burroughs and later authors to eliminate toxins and congestion that have built up in the body.[3] Because it is not a complete source of macro-nutrients, it should be considered as another form of fasting, rather than a diet.
Supporters of the Master Cleanse have credited it with helping them lose weight, increase energy, and even alleviate some chronic diseases.[2]
Some in the entertainment industry have misunderstood fasting as a weight loss diet. Recently, the cleanse received media attention as a result of being embraced by some celebrities. The singer/actress Beyoncé did it for 14 days and lost 22 lb (9 kg) for her role in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls.[1] Howard Stern's cohost Robin Quivers claims to have lost 73 lb using the Master Cleanse. Similarly, Jared Leto says he lost the weight he gained to play 'Mark David Chapman' (he gained 62 lb) all from the master cleanse [1][4] Bonnie Righte aka Ginny Weasley is on currently supposedly (rumour)
Individuals who are more than 50lbs overweight at recommended to eat one low calorie meal a day. Rapid decrease of calories for heavier people will lead to faster weight loss, but after they are done the cleanse they will gain the weight back faster. It is important to incorporate a healthy meal at first to slowly ween the body into eating less.
The Different Juice Fasting Stages of Detoxification
Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2) On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.
Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7) Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.
The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.
Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15) On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body's increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body's ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body's natural healing ability was compromised.
During fasting, the body's healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.
Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30) The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.
Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast) The sticky, toxic, mucoid coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.
This article was written by, Mr. Tom McGregor, author of Eating in Freedom. [2]
Criticism
Some critics point to lack of essential nutrients in this fast, citing a deficiency of protein, vitamins, and minerals.[5]
As a result of these deficiencies, individuals on the diet may experience dizziness, delirium, and fainting in the short term, with possible damage to the body occurring in longer-term applications.[5] Dr. Joel Fuhrman attributes these effects to detoxification, which he says passes after the toxins are eliminated.[6]
Many authors assert the benefits of fasting are related to its lack of nutrients, particularly macronutrients.[6][7][8][9]
People with intestinal conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome may experience added discomfort while on the cleanse.[5]
There is a risk that the saltwater "flush" may remove both beneficial and harmful bacteria from the body[5]. A no-food diet may cause the gut to stop passing food, resulting in constipation, or may make the consumption of food immediately after the fast painful. These are the important reasons to follow the fasts' instructions correctly..
Medical authorities say that those who try the Master Cleanse to lose weight will gain it back in time.[4] Beyoncé denounced using the cleanse as a weight-loss program, stating, "I wouldn't recommend it if someone wasn't doing a movie ... there are other ways to lose weight."[1] Proponents of the cleanse do not recommend it solely for weight loss, instead focusing on its alleged detoxifying properties.[2] Dr. Sunil Patel of Halifax's QEII Health Sciences Centre has suggested that the cleanse operates as a placebo and has no other health benefits.[1]
Others have claimed that one benefit of the Master Cleanse is that it helps patients re-examine their lifestyle and embrace healthy eating.[5]
External Links
The Different Juice Fasting Stages of Detoxification [ http://www.juicefasting.org/detox.htm ]
Answering the Critics of the Master Cleanse, Peter Glickman's BB [ http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2981]
References
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- ^ a b c d Patriquin, Martin (2006-09-11). "Star loses 22 lb. on maple syrup diet!". Maclean's. 119 (36/37): 73. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e Glickman, Peter (2005). Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days. Peter Glickman, Inc. ISBN 0975572229.
- ^ a b Burroughs, Stanley (1976). The Master Cleanser. Burroughs Books. pp. 16–22. ISBN 0963926209.
- ^ a b "Experts skeptical of 'Master Cleanse' detox diet". Associated Press via CNN. 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e Clarke, Jane (2006-01-24). "The nutritionist's view:Lemon aid". The Times (London UK). p. 4. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
- ^ a b Fuhrman, MD, Joel (1998). Fasting & Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 221. ISBN 0-312-18719-X.
- ^ Cousens, MD, Gabriel (2005). Conscious Eating. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1556432852.
- ^ Anderson, ND, NMD, Richard (1998). Cleanse and Purify Thyself, Book 1.5. Triumph Business. ISBN 1880170035.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bragg, Paul (2004). The Miracle of Fasting. Health Science. ISBN 0877900396.