While there are many cleansing diets designed to detoxify the body and help dieters lose weight, one of the most well known cleansing diets is Master Cleanse.
Cleansing diets are intended to help dieters lose weight and improve their general health by purging the body of of accumulated substances. Body cleansing is based on ancient Greek and Egyptian medical theories regarding autointoxication, in which the foods you eat can produce toxins over time that can have a negative impact on your health. In a cleansing diet, the dieter generally begins by fasting and then later eats a highly restricted diet, usually consisting of raw vegetables and fruit. In the 19th century, cleansing diets were popular among the medical community, but fell out of favor in the early 20th century.
Today, cleansing diets such as Master Cleanse remain highly controversial among health care professionals. There is very little scientific research to back up proponents of cleansing diets claims that the diets improve general health, or to support the theory behind detoxification. Many in the medical community argue that cleansing diets are useless and some even say that they are harmful. The argument for cleansing diets being harmful revolves around the reduction in nutrients the dieter is receiving while on the diet. Medical professionals say this deficiency can be harmful to the dieters’ health.
While little empirical data supporting the supposed health benefits of cleansing diets, according to cleansingdiet.net there are many anecdotal accounts of improved health and weight loss from people who have used a cleansing diet such as Master Cleanse.
Commonly reported benefits of a detox diet are:
- Improved gastrointestinal function. Better digestion, less constipation, indigestion and gas.
- Less allergic responses. Cleansing diet users often report fewer problems with allergies.
- Increased energy
- Easier breathing
- Weight loss. It’s estimated that folks on a cleansing diet can lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight relatively quickly.
Master Cleanse
Master Cleanse was developed by Stanley Burroughs, an alternative medicine advocate, in the early 1940s. Burroughs’ regimen was revitalized by Peter Glickman in the mid-90s.
Burroughs original claims were that the diet helps remove harmful, non-specific toxins in the body, and also allowed the dieter to lose weight and be remedied of a number of other ailments.
Dieters using Master Cleanse spend 10 days or more drinking only a mixture of fresh lemons, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup and occasional doses of laxative tea. Advocates of Master Cleanse say that the diet eliminates congestion of toxins in the body accumulated through everyday exposure to fertilizers, pesticides, prescription drugs, hormones and heavy metals.
As the ingredients of Master Cleanse have a variety of minerals present, this program is considered less potentially dangerous than other cleansing diets by the mainstream medical community. However, nutritionist still express concerns about possible headaches and other symptoms being caused by nutrition deficits resulting from the diet.
One undeniable advantage of Master Cleanse is that dieters will lose weight quickly with this diet. By taking laxatives and abstaining from food except for the lemon and maple syrup mixture, the body will rapidly lose pounds. It’s important to note that while this diet will take the weight off, the only way to keep it off is to adopt healthier eating and exercise habits after concluding a Master Cleanse program.
How the body purges waste
Master Cleanse works by aiding the body’s natural process of purging itself of waste material, according to proponents of the system.
Most of the body’s natural detoxification process is managed by the liver and kidneys. The liver processes waste by breaking down toxins and changing them. Once the toxins are converted, they’re excreted into bile or blood. Bile is processed through the intestine by way of the duodenum and are eventually expelled from the body in the form of feces. Blood waste substances travel to the kidneys, where they are processed and exit the body in the form of urine.
The kidneys process waste by filtering it from the blood and excreting it from the body in the form of urine. Each day, the average person’s kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood in order to filter out nearly two quarts of waste products and excess water.
Proponents of Master Cleanse argue that the cleansing diet helps the liver and kidneys by helping them breakdown waste in the body and more quickly eliminate this waste. Detractors of Master Cleanse say the liver and kidneys are already quite efficient at this process, and that no further help is required.
If you’re considering using the Master Cleanse diet, make sure you’re in good health first. People with heart conditions, diabetes or women who are pregnant or nursing should not use a cleansing diet. If you’re unsure whether a cleansing diet is right for you, consult with a physician.
For some, Master Cleanse and other cleansing diets can have some positive benefits. Make sure you understand all the facts about these diets and your own health situation before engaging in such a diet.