Lemon: The Not-So-Secret Cleaning Agent

The lemon juice detoxification diet is becoming increasingly popular. This type of detoxification procedure will not only cleanse the system of unnecessary toxins, it can also have the effect of weight loss. This diet consists of lemon juice and cayenne pepper, both very effective aids in getting rid of toxins inside the body.

Our diets contain a number of nutrients and vitamins; however, it can also contain just as much toxins. Preservatives and chemicals found in processed foods can render foods impure. Other food groups also contain various types of toxins. If your home is not equipped with a filtration system for water, the water you drink can also contain amounts of lead and chemicals.

Fasting is one of the ways to cleanse the system. There are various ways to fast. One of the most common methods is the water diet, in which you only consume water and very small amounts of solid food per day. However, some people may find this regime harsh and hard to follow, and they tend to stop after a few days. A viable alternative is the lemon juice detoxification procedure.

In 1941, the ultimate lemonade cleanse, also called the "Master Cleanse," was introduced by Stanley Burroughs. Peter Glickman brought it back to everyone's attention more recently. The master cleanse program was made popular again by Glickman's references to it in his book about losing weight and generally feeling better about oneself in 10 days. Some components have been changed by Glickman in order for it to be more applicable and more targeted to the laypersons.

The master cleanse, or lemon juice detox, has three basic components. First, an individual should drink sea salt water when he or she wakes up in the morning. A cleansing mixture of cayenne pepper and lemon, together with a few more ingredients, then follows this. Finally, tea that has the properties of laxative will be consumed before going to sleep. The sea salt water in the morning and the laxative tea at night will aid in moving bowels.

A lot of components of the lemonade detox diet can be found at home, and it is very easy to prepare. Below is a recipe that you can use if you want to try this diet:

1. Every morning, as soon as you wake up, drink about 32 ounces of sea salt and water mixture. Remember that you should not eat for the next 7 up to 10 days so that this diet will be effective.

2. When it's time for lunch, mix a pinch of cayenne pepper into freshly squeezed lemon juice. You can also add maple syrup (Grade B) and filtered water. If you cannot resist the urge to chew on something, you can chew on ice instead.

3. When dinnertime comes, drink laxative tea or psyllium husk, a natural laxative. The tea is best consumed before turning in for the night.

On the surface, the master cleanse diet seems to be very easy to implement and follow. However, commitment is needed for this diet to serve its purpose. Remember to brace yourself because you may experience some discomfort during the first 2 days due to the fact that you have eliminated solid foods from your daily consumption. But don't worry, once you have gotten past the first 2 days, you will be able to see and feel the results almost immediately.