The following question was sent in by a reader concerned about the possible dangers of going on the Master Cleanse…
I really want to try the master cleanser. But I am petrified. I had one person tell me that she had heard of many people getting very sick off the master cleanse and that it is dangerous. That alone scared me. But I still very much want to try it.
I had gotten a read about the master cleanse from a health food store and it was from the book of Stanley Borroughs. It said nothing of the salt water flush or a laxative. But when the lady gave me the read she told me herself that if you start to feel cramping you should take a light laxative. So my question is… is it absolutely necessary for the salt water flush? And I very much want to get my health back in order. I’m only 20 years old and very overweight. Please give me some personal insight. Thank you very much.
First of all I want to say that you should always check with a health professional before doing the master cleanse if you have any health concerns. That said it’s likely that they won’t have a favorable opinion of the Master Cleanse, or any other natural approach to health but most doctors are good people and they do have your best interests in mind.
About the salt water flush, it is optional. It will help, but if you can do the Master Cleanse without it. I’ve written about some other techniques you can use to eliminate waster here cleanse your body
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I've done this detox about 4 times now and have realized a lot. Things to remember, if your sluggishness stays around its because you are eliminating slowly. If you are eliminating slowly, drink more water and more juice to detox faster. Everytime you pee, or pewp you are eliminating, and any liquids you put in assist in that process. The lemonade breaks up goo in your intestines, and release toxins. Also, because you are fasting you aren't getting too many calories, and are probably burning some fat just from being awake. Take into consideration that fat is the number one place the body likes to store toxins when it is in "coping" mode, where its no longer healing, and just trying to get by.
So, stick it out through the first couple days, and make sure you drink as much juice and water as possible. To be entirely honest, it can be expensive if you're a student like me, but it works so much better and faster to have it constantly going through you. Some might say its unhealthy or bad, but I drink between 15 and 25 glasses of this stuff a day while doing it now. I learned my lesson after my second cleanse where on the 5th day i quit and ate a bag of lays chips and dip, and then got chinese fast food. I felt so sick and constipated, and guilty to boot. I felt so bad I continued to eat unhealthy food and my body was in worse shape.
Look at it this way, if you jump right back into unhealthy food in the middle of the cleanse without giving yourself some time to recoup after, you're hurting your body more. You have to be committed to the exit process if you can't do the cleanse. Know this before you start. Honestly, quitting mid cleanse like this is driving a car home form the mechanic before they put the lug nuts on after changing the tire. You just dont do it.
As for health concerns and doctors "denouncing" it, the fact of the matter is that it works for some people. Maybe it doesn't for others, but it works for me. I feel great after doing it. Maybe I am swimming in endorphins and my body is fighting bad things off "psychosomatically" because I am "challenging myself" and focusing on my health. Who knows... but I don't know why any doctor would turn down such an inexpensive and natural method.
And mel's kinda right, the healthcare industry really has been changed into a business and no longer has your health as their primary concern. If you want to read about it from a doctor who doesnt support the master cleanse, or the healthcare system, read Alejandro Yunger's book called "Clean". It might be a more reasonable way to cleanse your body. It does so by balancing pH levels in your body, and using the different levels to their cleansing advantage. The master cleanse is still easier and cheaper imho.
@P doctors are against it bc it doesn't use their medicine or their drugs (like the ones with many side effects on TV but yet people are convinced its healthier than lemons and salt) the master cleanse consists at washing your intestines and YES you CAN eat fruits and veggie, its even encouraged. What ever BS you heard was probably brainwashing,
Doctors wanting everyone to reliant on their drugs and cures. I've seen the results with my own eyes its a really great fast
Day 1 was rough, Day 2 was GREAT, Day 3 I felt I needed to sleep all day, took a few naps, and today Day 4, I feel terrible. Mainly just feel the need to vomit. I haven't done the SWF this morning, I planned on skipping it because of the way I feel...I hope this moves on. I find it weird that this far in, I am finally having awful side effects.
Nothing sounds good, not even food...
Anyone else have any similar issues this far in?
Today is day 6 for me and I have never felt better. The first 3 days were a struggle to get through but now the only reason I want to eat actual food is because the thought of it sounds good but not because I'm craving it. It's helped me break my smoking habit too. I've smoked cigarettes for the last 8 years and it's amazing that I don't even have the urge any more!
I tried the Master Cleanse diet in 2007 and I am still suffering from the effects of it. I followed the directions from the book and did it for 10 days. I walked around with a large bottle of the lemonade mixture where ever I went, and it was the only thing I consumed during that time. On the diet, my hands and feet became cold. I think it was due to an electrolite imbalance and your body making sure that enough circulation went to your vital organs. After I got off the diet, my hands and feet became hot and swollen, and this has been happening for the past 4 years. Becuase of my circulation problem which I never had before trying this diet, I am suffering from muscle loss, and dry aged skin. I have gone to the doctors a few times, but they just gave me high blood pressure medicine. Now I might be facing an ongoing problem that I'll be suffering from for the rest of my life just because I wanted to lose 10 pounds. In order to cleanse your body and lose weight, all you need to do is eat right and exercise. You don't need to try a fad diet for that. Also, what type of nutrients does cayenne pepper and lemons have? Nothing. Because of this experience, I will never try a fad diet again. Please use my experience before trying this diet. It will do much more harm than good.
I see very few of you are capable of following directions, and reading the proper material. If you are peeing blood, then You do need to see a doctor. Thats not from the MC. That is something else previously wrong. If you are hypoglycemic, or diabetic, then You would figure out a way to get the nutrients you need in a natural way. Like maybe upping the amount of Grade B! Maple syrup and increasing the frequency of drinking the Fresh squeezed or juiced Lemonade WITH cayenne pepper! They arent separate drinks! As for going on with your regular life, if you are SUPER ACTIVE, then you ARENT regular. Im sure you can fast from extreme sports for 10 days if you think you are feeling woosy. Drinking the salt water flush IS mentioned in the MC book. Its recomended at least once, but if you cant stomach it, then dont do it! If you are losing body fluids, then the mix of SEA SALT and WATER isnt right. You shouldnt be losing fluids except what is in the salt water because your kidneys wont filter fluids that have the same characteristics as blood! Think about it! When you have a stomach ulcer, you dont urinate blood, it comes out in your stool! The salt water flush is like drinking a quart of IV fluid, a fluid designed to mix with blood without problem to relplace fluid loss and be able to add nutrients to. Drinking it is not a way to absorb it into your system, or it will just pass right through your intestines. The headaches and bodyaches are normal for people ridding themselves of toxins or denying themselves of toxins. The longer you have them while you fast is a good indicator on how addicted your body was to those chemicals. Caffeine alone is the perfect example. A lot of people dont think they have addictions, but the hypocrits are seen every morning and all day long with their beloved coffee! Just because its legal doesnt make it healthy or even right. Tell me who doesnt start acting like a heroin addict with the DTs when they are quitting tobacco or alcohol. Toxins are toxins. This cleanse is a CLEANSE! Not a weight loss program, not a fad diet, its a detox therapy, and we all have plenty of toxins to escape from.
This separates the strong from the weak. If you are weak, then get stronger. i have a friend that was diagnosed with diabetes in the early stages. Insulin production in her glands was slowing to a stop, and all she did was change her eating habits, a detox cleanse and her glands kicked right back into gear and she pulled herself out to cure her diabetes. She is no longer diagnosed with diabetes! This is the power of Strength. People with progressed diabetes need to find a different way, but I believe that there is a way to jumpstart those insulin pumpers, and most of it I believe requires proper diet and excercise.
As for our health system, if our doctors really wanted us to be happy, they would push for legislation to outlaw grain fed cattle, because their meat is too fatty and is carcenogenic when cooked. Vaccines would dissappear and doctors would push people to live more sanitarily. Instead of trying to CURE death, doctors would teach people how to live happier while we are still alive.
Oh and one more thing, when I weighed myself last night on Day #1 I was 146.8. I won't be able to really weigh myself until Monday when I get back to my scale, but hoping for 144.
Today is Friday May 13th, Day #2 of the Master Cleanse! Day 1 was harder than today, a good sign! Yesterday I ate half a mango and a 1/2 tsp peanut butter in the morning because I was packing boxes and stuff into my car since 4am and felt a little faint. The biggest thing I miss so far-Coffee! The Cayenne Water stuff isn't so bad. I finished the night with some tea that aids in digestion. This morning I REALLY missed my coffee as I was driving 3 hours from NY to Boston. I did the Salt Water Flush before I left. STAY SOMEWHERE SAFE FOR AN HOUR! Or, until you can not have to use the bathroom for over 30 minutes it should be fine. IF you pass gas during the day, try not to! It may not be gas after a Salt Water Flush, even if it was hours ago! Anyways, I did not have any Lemon Water Mixture yet and I am so hungry. I got to Boston and immediately dumped all my boyfriend's cookies in the garbage, however I did sneak 1 small bite-my only terrible thing. I also had some sort of organic apple fruit bar...not a big one, and a 1/2 glass OJ. I am making a drink now and am off to my first test...my boyfriend's high school reunion. I am REALLY missing coffee and to just not drink any for 10 days I will be shocked and impressed!
I have had many a false starts on the Master Cleanse, and the most I've ever made it is 5 days. I was doing so well and then my grandmother passed away. Tomorrow I will start again. I too, am getting married. I am 148 lbs, but I don't look it! I have ran half marathons, work out regularly, and eat fairly healthy although working in the city I have a thing for a weekly slice of NY pizza. Everything in moderation right?! I basically want to do this cleanse to whipe out the toxins. I sort of do buy into the whole MC concept, however LISTEN to your body. COmbine elements of other cleanses if you have to like drink a full glass of fresh squeezed oj or have a grapefruit if you absolutely have to, IE feel faint/sick/light headed. HELLO! You dont' want to pass out. Then next time, adjust your maple syrup intake. I'll let you know how Day 1 goes!
I am a 35 year old man, who decided to do this cleanse with my fiance before the wedding. We are into the 4th day and I am not sure what to think about it yet. We read the info from the original creator of the MC diet, and I understand that I will feel like crap while the toxins are being removed from my body. My problem comes from a strong feeling of low blood sugar. I am what most people would call skinny but I say athletic build. I have been hypo glycemic my whole life, and have had a pretty regular eating habit of 4 to 5 light meals a day. I eat relatively healthy, ie. lots of fresh fruits every day and my required daily allowance of vegetables, drink water, exercise and stay active through work (construction) and alternative sports (biking snowboarding walking/hiking) In the info I read, it stated that I could continue to live my life the way I normally would, although I do not feel as if I have the energy to do so. As well it informed me about heart burn being one of the things this cleanse would fix, of coarse I did not expect my problem to go away instantly but it did lead me to believe that I would not have to worry about the heart burn while on the MC diet. I have started to have heart burn today on the 4th day of MC, and have had a lump sort of feeling in my throat when I swallow. Is this from the cayenne pepper or is this something wrong? Is this cleanse the best idea for someone like me or does the personal characteristics of peoples body types have any thing to do with its effects while on the cleanse? Any info would be helpful as I do want to cleanse my body but do not want to damage it.