Master Cleanse: Weight Loss Aid?
Although the master cleanse was specifically designed for detoxifying the body, an often reported additional benefit is weight loss. It is true that many people have gone on the master cleanse for the primary purpose of weight loss, with beneficial results. It is important to understand, however, that the master cleanse is not a long-term weight loss solution. Prolonged periods of fasting can be quite detrimental to the health of the body. Weight loss occurs during the master cleanse for the obvious reason of calorie restriction, but for other reasons as well. The increase in metabolic function will naturally burn fat. The body will perform at more optimum levels, probably not during the first few days when toxins are being dumped into your system, but typically after day 4, you will notice an increase in energy levels and stamina. Another reason for weight loss during the master cleanse has to do with the detoxification itself. Toxins are stored in body fat. As toxicity in the body increases, fat cells are increasingly saturated with the toxins. When the body eliminates toxins, fat cells are cleansed of this excess material, and they literally decrease in size.
Master Cleanse Dangers & Side Effects
The first few days of the program can be tough. Like any other fast-type diet, learning to get along without your normal amount of food is difficult. And, like any juice fast, learning to get along without solid food can be a tremendous challenge.
In addition, because this diet is a cleansing fast or detox diet, there are "detox" symptoms that may occur, including headaches, nausea and vomiting, cravings, fatigue and irritability. Most of these symptoms are short-lived. On rare occasions, they may be so severe that the dieter has to end the diet early.
Master Cleanse Medical Considerations
Because it represents a tremendous change in eating habits, persons who wish to try it would be wise to discuss it with their physician first. In particular, individuals taking long-term medication that cannot be safely discontinued for the duration of the diet need to consult with their physician. The doctor may wish to monitor the dieter to ensure that the change in dietary habits does not alter the effects of the medication.
Persons who have followed the diet have reported changes in blood-pressure, blood-sugar / insulin levels, and depression, all of which required alteration of their normal dose of medication for these conditions.
Master Cleanse Health Warnings
Persons doing the master cleanse should follow it exactly as written, and, ideally, under the supervision of their personal physician. Individuals should also be attuned to their body's signals that it is time to transition back to eating. The recommended 10 days is sufficient for most people; higher numbers of days would not be recommended unless the person were under a physician's care and had become accustomed to shorter-term fasts.
Drink at least the minimum amount of the master cleanse drink each day; Burroughs and Glickman both state that one should drink 6 to 12 glasses of the master cleanse drink per day. With 100 calories per 2 tablespoons of Grade B maple syrup, and 8 calories per 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1 calories per 1/6 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, each drink provides approximately 109 calories. Thus, it would be important to drink 11 to 12 glasses per day to ensure that at least 1200 calories were consumed.
To guard against dehydration, water should also be taken throughout the master cleanse. Many cleansers drink a glass of water between glasses of the master cleanse drink.
Persons who wish to follow this program more than once a year are advised to wait three to six months between stints; the longer the time on the diet, the longer one should wait to repeat it. Three months between 10-day stints is the minimum recommended interval.
