There are many wonderful benefits to the Master Cleanse diet. However, there are some side effects that you should be aware of before you choose to start it.

While people on the Master Cleanse don't generally experience constant hunger, they do often crave the very worst possible foods. The most common cravings are generally for greasy foods such as pizza and hamburgers, and for many people sugar. It's common to see a shift in your cravings as you go deeper into the cleanse. You might find yourself wanting weird food you don't normally crave. I always seem to want whole wheat toast after the 3rd day. It's important not to give into cravings, and keep in mind that the cravings are the worst on the first and second day. Once you get past those it does get better.

Some People Feel Energized While Others Get Tired

Another side effect of the Master Cleanse is energy fluctuation. Although the Master Cleanse detoxifies your body and gives you more energy in the long run, initially people may experience tiredness and fatigue. The reason for this is that the body will divert all its energy to healing and detoxing the system. That means that people on the Master Cleanse may have less energy available for daily activities. The detoxing process also causes built up internal waste to circulate throughout your body as it's expelled. As you can imagine, this takes a toll. Due to energy fluctuations, people may also experience mood swings and general irritability.

Fluctuation in blood pressure, nausea and physical aches and pains are the most serious side effects of the Master Cleanse.

Usually, those effects only occur in rare cases where a person's body is severely toxic to begin with.

The first few days are the worst. After your body adapts you do tend to feel light and mildly euphoric. The feeling is simply wonderful.

Expect Frequent Bathroom Trips With Some Discomfort

The main purpose of the Master Cleanse is to remove toxins and waste material from the body. Many of the toxins and wastes involved are acidic. Due to the acid content in them, people on the Master Cleanse may experience some heat and discomfort during bowel movements. This does not happen in all cases. However, when it does happen, it is actually useful because it is a clear sign that toxins are being flushed out in significant amounts.

The cayenne pepper used in the lemonade can also be a problem. If you have trouble drinking cayenne powder mixed with lemonade, you can switch to cayenne capsules. If it's uncomfortable coming out, you can cut back on the cayenne pepper. You can also hop in the shower after using the bathroom instead of wiping to avoid aggravating that area.

While on the Master Cleanse, many people drink an herbal laxative tea. The idea of the tea is that it assists the cleansing process by stimulating the colon and moving waste material through the body and out faster. The obvious side effect of that is that people need to use the bathroom frequently and with little warning when on the Master Cleanse.

That is a side effect which people should be especially aware of if they are going to be out in public for long periods of time. The herbal laxative tea can also cause some stomach cramping if you drink too much, so only drink a little at first until you know how your body will respond.

Your Body Will Purge Toxins Anyway It Can As

I mentioned above going on the Master Cleanse will cause your body to force out built up waste, and it does this in many different ways. The obvious ways this detoxing happens is when you go to the bathroom, but you might also experience:

• Heavy sinus draining
• Excessive ear wax
• Sweating
• White coating on your tongue

That last one the "white coating on your tongue" is a good way to measure the effectiveness of the cleanse. When the white coating fades away and your tongue turns pink it's a sign that your body is healthy.

Some people on the Master Cleanse also have described mild swollen glands and cold-like symptoms that last for a day or two. A hot bath helps if that happens.

Heavy Coffee Drinkers Have It Worse

Anyone who is used to having a lot of caffeine in their system from things such as coffee may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches when they go on the Master Cleanse. That problem is usually most prevalent during the first few days of the Master Cleanse.

Although most of these side effects are mild and don't occur in all people, it's wise to be aware of them before starting the process.

The Good Far Outweighs The Bad

I know everyone likes to talk about all the good things that happen when you do the cleanse, and believe me there's A LOT of good things that happen when you do the cleanse. I just wanted to give you the other side of the story. I hope this doesn't scare anyone and keep them from trying the Master Cleanse because there's a lot of good things to be had by doing it. Just keep in mind that it can be difficult at times, but it's well worth it.

If you want to reduce these side effects to the bare minimum my Master Cleanse Book will show you ways to reduce or eliminate the most common side effects.

I'm a coach & advocate for quick, natural solutions to health problems. My Master Cleanse Book has been enjoyed by over 56,000 readers and was recently updated with special cleanses for beauty & weight loss. However, I am not a doctor. I care about your safety and encourage you to make sure you're in good health before following the advice on this site. You can learn more about me here.

- Raylen Sterling, author, publisher