Welcome! This is where you find the famous master cleanse FAQ – 36 common questions and answers to your most burning questions about he master cleanse diet. But first, people want to know if Master Cleanse is safe and if it has enough calories and nutrition (more below). And, one thing you should know is that it’s a good idea to consult with your physician prior to performing a cleanse.

Is the Master Cleansing Diet Safe?

Is it safe? Yes, if you do it properly. Just follow the instructions on this site and you’ll be fine. The lemon juice and maple syrup used in making the Master Cleanse elixir gives you the essential nutrients that your body needs to get you through the day. This is an extremely low calorie diet that helps your body burn off the excess calories and give you extra energy…which leads to weight loss.

While doing the cleanse your metabolic rate slows down and you may feel a little cold at times. There is Cayenne pepper in there to help speed your metabolism up which burns more calories as well. It is highly recommended that you stick to the directions and do not stray from your Master Cleanse diet. You should not cheat and eat foods that are outside of the diet. You can find some alternatives to some of the ingredients involved with the diet. They are listed on this site.

What About Prescription Drugs and the Master Cleanse?

Some people wonder if their prescriptions drugs will interfere with their cleanse. The best advice for this is to consult with your physician prior to doing the cleanse. We do not recommend taking any kind of drugs during the cleanse because your system is going to be really extra sensitive. Your body will not have any way of diluting or absorbing the drugs and you may experience stomach pains. Your prescription drugs may be a bit difficult for your body to deal with. One person took heart pressure medicine and did the cleanse. After a few day he took his normal dosage and actually passed out. His body had corrected itself so much that his meds had an adverse affect. The result was that he claimed he didn’t even need those meds after he did the cleanse.

Should I Talk to My Doctor Prior to Doing a Cleanse?

Yes, it’s a good idea. It’s especially important if you are going through any kind of health issues or taking medications.

Should Women Do the Master Cleanse While Menstruating?

Again, everybody’s body is different and will respond in its own unique way to the Master Cleanse. If you are someone who has complications during your menstrual cycle or if you’re anemic, then talk to your physician before you try it.

Can I Work Out While I’M Doing the Master Cleanse?

Absolutely! I found that I had a lot of energy, especially around the third day of my cleanse. I rode my bike and worked out to help burn off a bit of that energy. Just listen to your own body, it really will lead you. Just respond to what it tells you.

Can the Kids Join in on the Master Cleanse?

No. You should not let kids do this. They are still in the development stages of their lives. This is something for adults only.

How Can I Endure the Full Cleansing Diet Even When I Feel Awful?

You may get to the point where you ask yourself “how am I going to persevere when I feel so terrible?”. It’s a legitimate question. What you have to do is take it on minute at a time. It depends on how your body handles it and your past diet. That’s what determines the amount of toxins you have in your body. The toxins accumulate over many years. Once you start your Master Cleanse you will see your body beginning to purge the toxins out. Experiencing this process can be painful. Some people are more toxic than other people and they might take a longer time to get those toxins purged.

On the first day of my cleanse it was not so bad. However, the next two day were pretty rough. I felt like quitting but I thought about my wife and how serious it was and how she already did it, so I hung in there. I remembered her going through the rough spots and after I made it through the second day I felt better. There are highs and lows as you go through the process. I was inspired by my wife, even though there were times I wanted to give up.

It helps if you can find something that gives you a little inspiration, something that keeps telling you that this is a temporary thing and it is loaded with benefits if you just get through it. Every day of the cleanse you gain in mental strength. You soon realize that the Master Cleanse actually reboots your system back to its optimum health along with your mental state.

If I Have Vices Like Smoking or Drinking Alcohol Will It Matter?

Me and my wife love our coffee but don’t think it’s a good idea while doing a Master Cleanse. If you need a caffeine fix it’s better to get it from something like peppermint tea. Look at it this way – if you are unable to pull yourself away from these vices you are only cheating yourself. You need to be strong during your 10 days of cleansing and afterwards you probably won’t even want those things any more.

Can I Do the Master Cleanse Diet for 5 Days Instead of 10?

Some people want to know if they can do half of the days, which is 5, and still get some benefits. The answer is YES! However, your body will not get the maximum benefits like it would if you went the whole ten days. Be tough, hang in there, and reap the rewards!

Can We Do the Cleanse Longer Than 10 Days?

The answer is yes. You have to let your body guide you. Some people go 15 days, others 20, and some 25 or 30. It really is up to each individual person. We feel that the 10 day system works for us. Just listen to your own body and make that decision yourself.

How Will I Know When I’M Finished?

If you completed a full 10 days then CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU! You’ll see some signs that will immediately tell you it was a success, like more energy, a pink tongue, a craving for health foods, and ailments have vanished. You always have the option of doing it again, but you should give your body enough time to recuperate before tackling it again.

How Often Should Someone Do the Cleanse?

Me and my wife do the cleanse once a year. We know of other people who prefer twice a year and there are even those who do it quarterly. Some people who do it one time a year exceed the recommended 10 days and go as long as 30 days. That’s very extreme and we just say that it’s up to you. Everybody has to listen to their own bodies and do the cleanse accordingly.

How Much Weight Will I Be Able to Lose?

Everybody is different, that’s why the master cleanse results can vary from person to person. Each body is going to react differently from another.

Me and my wife lost quite a bit of weight when we went through the cleanse.

Once we finished we found that we were only craving foods that were natural and healthy which helped to continue our new weight. We did eventually gain back a little weight, but it was not fat.

Will the Weight I Lose Come Back?

That depends on you and your body type. If you dropped a significant amount of weight you will be able to keep it off by eating healthy and exercising. However much weight you gain back will most often be water gain. It’s not much and people who have gone through the cleanse are still quite slim and have lost their desire to eat processed foods.

Will the Cleanse Affect My Metabolism?

The answer is YES. It will slow down while your are doing the Master Cleanse and your hands may feel cold or you might feel cold yourself. This is normal however, and the Cayenne pepper will counteract the slowing down of you metabolism while it boosts it back up and burns the calories that are available. The Cayenne targets stored fat calories and when it burns them you lose weight.

Will a Master Cleanse Help With Diabetes?

We cannot stand by this but there have been reports of people being cured of diabetes after a Master Cleanse. The main thing if you have diabetes is to consult with your physician first, before you to through the cleanse. A Master Cleanse greatly affects how the sugars in your body are processed. You need to have your doctor nearby in case any adverse reactions happen while you cleanse.

Will This Cleanse Cure Headaches?

This is hard to say. Everybody reacts differently and is affected in their own unique way. As far as OUR experience is concerned, the answer is YES. We used to suffer from migraines, but they stopped after we did the Master Cleanse. We also know other people who experienced the same thing, and even got relief from things like arthritis and other ailments.

What Should My Bowel Movements Look Like During the Cleanse?

This topic is a bit gross but very necessary. You can find clues that let you know if your Master Cleanse is going right. When you first get started you might notice small chunky things in your stool. Don’t worry, that’s normal. As time goes on and you continue your cleanse your stool will take on a lighter color and there will be less body to it. This is actually an indicator that your intestines are being cleaned out.

A clean colon is paramount to good health. Some people know that and some don’t. A lot of people just don’t eat right. Diets that are high in processed and refined foods are much more likely to have their intestinal walls ‘cake up’ and block the absorption of necessary nutrients.

Your intestinal walls can cake up and foul materials will be poisoining your system. A lot of ailments are the result of this buildup in the intestines. You can minimize your risk for ailments by ridding yourself of these buildups with the Master Cleanse.

Does the Kind of Laxative I Use Matter?

Yes it does. You should really use the laxative that the Master Cleanse suggests. It will give you the most benefits. Some of the alternative laxatives can cause some adverse reactions.

Is There a Kit I Can Buy That Has Everything I Need?

Yes. Actually there are a lot of them. Just make sure the one you get is organic, it will be much better for your body. You can find many good and complete kits on amazon, make sure to read the reviews before you buy your master cleanse kit.

Does It Matter About My Kit Being Organic or Non-Organic?

Yes it matters. You want to have the maple syrup, lemons, and cayenne in the mix. They should not be contaminated with any form of chemicals. Using organic ingredients is the best thing for your body and the cleanse.

How Many Lemons Should I Use Each Day?

That number can vary. It depends on what lemons you use. We like to use the little ‘Meyers’ lemons and it takes about three to four a day. If you use a larger kind of lemon it might only take a couple a day. The goal is to get 12 tablespoons a day if you’re using the 60 ounce elixir recipe. A single serving only calls for 2 tablespoons.

Fresh Ingredients or Juice From Concentrate?

Stay away from anything that is processed or refined. No concentrate. Use only fresh ingredients for your cleanse. Organic is always best.

How Can I Find the Best Lemons for My Cleanse?

Having good lemons is important. You don’t want to have lemons that contains too much acidity. You also don’t want them to be any more bitter than they have to. It depends on your preference, but most people prefer a lemon that is mild and has low acidity. That’s why many people like the Meyer lemons. They have a sweet nature and carry a low acidity. Meyer lemons are hybrids and are comprised of mandarin oranges. That’s why they are so much more appealing to a lot of people.

What Grade of Maple Syrup Should I Get?

What type of maple syrup should you use for the master cleanse?

Grade A or Grade B are both sufficient for a Master Cleanse. Both work really well. The recommended grade is grade B. There are maple syrup samplers you can use to find something you like. You are going to be tasting it for 10 full days, so make sure it’s something you like.

At the below is some info regarding the grade system, color, flavor, and more. This information is aimed at helping anybody who is considering the Master Cleanse and needs to know what grade and color of maple syrup to use. Maple syrup grades.

Where Can You Get Grade a or Grade B Maple Syrup?

You can find them at most any health food stores. You can also find them on Amazon. A simple Internet search will put you on the right track.

What Alternative Do I Have to Maple Syrup?

Well, there are a few, but the Grade A and Grade B maple syrup work the best. They give you the necessary calories and nutrients you will need as you go through the cleansing process. If you really need an alternative, then cane juice and molasses are good choices.

Why Is Cayenne Pepper Used?

Cayenne is a crucial element of the Master Cleanse. It speeds your body’s metabolism up and give you the nutrients necessary for your body as it goes through the cleanse.

It suppresses your hunger as well.

How to Make a Salt-Water Flush

You want to start your day by drinking your Salt-Water Flush when you get up.

Just follow these directions –

• 1 Quart of Warm Water (luck warm)
• 2 Teaspoons of Non-Iodized Sea Salt

Drink one quart of this Salt-Water Flush in the morning.

Do I Have Any Alternatives to That Salt-Water Flush?

As of now we really don’t know of any. If you follow the suggested recipe you body is going to get a lot of great benefits and be able to flush out a lot of toxins that your body has stored up on the intestinal tract. When we did this the first time my wife really struggled to drink it down, and it actually came back up. She finally wound up taking it every other day and overcame it. Now she endures the full 10 days of Salt-Water Flushing when we perform our annual Master Cleanse.

The Master Cleanse Instructions (Recipe, Ingredients and Directions)

Here are the daily and nightly instructions for your Master Cleanse. Begin it with a Salt-Water Flush followed up by consuming your Master Cleanse concoction. Drink lots of water. At night have a laxative tea.

Here are the ingredients –

In the Morning drink:

• 1 Quart of Salt-Water Flush Laxative
• 1 Quart of Warm Water
• 2 Teaspoons of Un-Iodized Sea Salt

Through the day drink 60 ounces of a lemonade concoction. You can find the master cleanse (60 Oz) lemonade concoction recipe for a whole day below. You can drink all the water you want to help you feel full. The Cayenne pepper will help to suppress your appetite and contains a modest amount of vitamins B and C. Use more if you like.

At night drink some kind of herbal laxative tea. If it has senna leaf it should work quite well. Smooth Move is recommended.

The Recipe for the Lemonade Concoction is this (makes 6 servings) –

• 60 Ounces – Filtered Water
• 12 Tablespoons – Organic Maple Syrup
• 12 Tablespoons – Fresh Squeezed Lemon
• 1/2 Teaspoon – Cayenne Pepper Powder

It can be a difficult process but going through the Master Cleanse can change your life. Again, it is always best to consult with your physician before going through a cleanse.

Get the step-by-step, picture-by-picture master cleanse instructions here >>

Which Ingredients Are the Best?

This recipe is pretty simple and it is the quality of your ingredients that should take priority. There are things to consider like the acidity of your lemons and the bitterness of the taste of your concoctions.

You can find out a lot about the different types of maple syrups and what their grades means and their nutrient content. Grade A or B is highly recommended for this cleanse because they contain the bare nutrients that are necessary for a successful cleanse.

Does the Kind of Water I Use Matter? Will Tap Water Work?

It absolutely matters what kind of water you use. We like to use spring water. It has all the minerals your body needs. Some people prefer light mineral water or alkaline water. It’s best to stay away from tap water. Water that is distilled lacks the minerals you need and can actually drain the minerals you have left. Always avoid tap water, it is loaded down with chemicals and has a lot of contaminants.

What Alternative Ingredients Can I Use?

Well, there are some like –

• Lemons – If you don’t like lemons you can try limes. The closer to the original recipe the better.
• Maple Syrup – You can substitute molasses or cane juice for maple syrup. They give you the essential nutrients and calories you need. Molasses and cane juice have proven to be excellent replacements for getting through the Master Cleanse. Don’t try to use any other alternative sweeteners because they won’t contain the necessary calories and nutrients for the cleanse.
• Cayenne Pepper – Be sure you stick with cayenne because it is the best. There are some alternative peppers you can use though, that will still give you the necessary nutrients for your cleanse. You’ll have to do some research on it to see what options you have, but if you can just stay with the Cayenne.
• Salt – For the cleanse you should use either sea-salt or non-iodized salt. Iodized salt should not be used, neither should refined salt or table salts.
• Laxatives – I want to strongly emphasize that you use what is suggested, which is a Salt Water Flush and a Smooth Move (senna leaf tea). There are a couple of alternatives which are Bentonite and Psyllium. Psyllium is a hefty fiber that you grind up into a powder and mix with a drink. The Bentonite is actually a clay and it extracts the toxins from the intestines. Using a combination of both of them makes a real powerhouse of a laxative. You can also use them individually. I recommend following the Master Cleanse directions to the letter.

What Should I Expect as Far as My Body Is Concerned While I Go Through the Master Cleanse?

As I said before everybody is going to have a different experience. In general you will see your body go through waves of both pain and euphoria. The first couple of days seem to be the hardest for most people. Your body is going to expel a lot of dark materials when you have a bowel movement, and you might see your tongue turning gray or whitish. Don’t panic because that’s normal. While your body continues the cleansing process you bowel movements are going to get lighter in color. They will have less body and your tongue is going to change to a pink color which is an indicator that your have a health and renewed system.

What Should I Expect After I Finish My Master Cleanse?

Once you’ve reached the end of your 10 day cleanse you should feel totally rejuvenated. You should find yourself craving natural and health foods and be full of energy. If had any ailments before, you may see that they no longer exist. You should have lost weight and your tongue should be a nice shade of pink.

You want to let your body adapt to eating solid foods slowly. Begin by drinking tomato juice or orange juice and eating fresh vegetables. Don’t start right off by eating a full meal because your body will probably reject it. You have to ease your body back into the swing of things.

Final Words

When it comes to doing a Master Cleanse your best bet is to follow the directions exactly as they are laid out. If you do that you will get the best experience the Master Cleanse has to offer and you will come away being glad you did it. It will help you lose weight, gain more energy, and rid your body of all the toxins that are unhealthy and keep you from operating at your maximum capacity. Once you get through your first Master Cleanse you will want to make it a regular part of your life. It can be an annual or semi-annual or a quarterly event, depending on you and your body.

• The master cleanse ingredients (with pictures)
• The master cleanse instructions (and recipe)

-Christina

If you have any questions about the master cleanse diet, you can contact me here.