Master Cleanse

There has been a lot of hype recently about the importance of detoxification, but many of us have no idea what this really means.  Is it just something the Hollywood stars do to stay thin?  Is it something the health freaks do that’s not applicable to the rest of us?  Or is there really something to this detox stuff?  The idea of detoxification is based on the theory that toxins build up in our bodies over time, from poor diets, a toxic environment and so on, and to give our intestines and liver a break (really a break for all of the bodily systems), you need to do a periodic bodily “cleansing.”  Some people choose to do this with a water fast, some with a vegetable juice or brown rice fast, and there are plenty of others.  One detoxification method that’s been getting a lot of attention lately is the Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemon Cleanse and the Maple Syrup Diet.  Created in 1941 and made popular by Peter Glickman through his book Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days, Burroughs states that it is a detoxification program that aids in the removal of harmful toxins from within the body, as well as a reducing diet for loss of weight, and a cure for gastro problems and all disease.

So what is the cleanse exactly?  It involves drinking only lemonade made from fresh lemon or lime juice, maple syrup, water and Cayenne pepper with no solid foods eaten for the entire cleanse period. Since it is technically not a fast, proponents say it is more gentle on the body because it contains some essential vitamins and minerals. It’s recommended to be on the cleanse for a minimum of ten days, but some people stay on the cleanse for longer periods of time, even as long as 45.  Certainly the Master Cleanse is not the only way to give your body a break from all that digesting it does and a chance to clean itself out.  There are entire books available on the various ways to cleanse which, if you are interested, are worth investigating.