The lemon cleanse is also referred to as the master cleanse. This type of diet and fasting program was developed in the 1940s by a self taught healer named Stanley Burroughs. He claimed that the lemon cleanse could heal all types of illnesses and diseases.
The lemon cleanse is an all liquid diet that involves drinking six to twelve glasses of a lemonade drink that contains lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. There is a specific recipe for this drink.
According to Mr. Burroughs maple syrup is used because it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. The lemons are considered one of the most efficient cleansing and healing foods in alternative medicine.
It is recommended that you stay on the lemon cleanse diet for ten days or more. Some advocates of this cleanse say the maximum time you can stay on this detoxifying diet is forty days. Any type of fasting or cleansing should be done with extreme caution because you will not be getting the normal amount of nutrition that your body is used to.
Once the lemon cleanse is over, you must follow a specific procedure for breaking this fast. The first day after the cleanse only orange juice is allowed. The second day, you drink only orange juice again, but you can include some vegetable soup. On the third day after the cleanse you can have vegetables, fruits and salads. You can then resume a normal diet after day four.
There is conflicting information on the way people feel while on the lemon cleanse. The proponents of this type of detoxifying cleanse say they have more energy and a higher level of mental clarity while on the lemon cleanse. They also claim to have a more positive spiritual and psychological experience which can benefit their overall health.
The opponents of the lemon cleanse have a different story when it comes to how someone feels on this diet. They claim that most people will experience dizziness, feel faint and suffer from extreme hunger. The people that are on the lemon cleanse will have bouts of frequent diarrhea. This is mainly because part of the lemon cleanse diet consists of drinking a salt water solution. This solution will stimulate bowel movements and cause diarrhea.
The lemon cleanse diet should be used with extreme caution because you are only taking in approximately 650 calories per day. There are not enough nutrients in this diet to support your body processes for very long.
Those people that have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, intestinal obstruction and those who have eating disorders should not follow the lemon cleanse diet. It is a good idea for anyone who is considering this type of extreme diet and internal cleanse to consult their doctor before they begin.
Resources:
Natural News: The Lemon Detox Diet
http://www.naturalnews.com/035854_lemons_detox_recipe.html
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