The lemonade diet is a detoxification program written by the late Stanley Burroughs. The diet - called the “The Master Cleanser” was written in the 1940s and continues to be popular to this day. The current version was published in 1976 and is simply a 50 page booklet outlining the diet.
This dietary regime is strictly a cleansing diet. Weight loss will occur, but it is not to be equated with fat loss. Much of the weight that is lost will be from fluid and water retention. Indeed, the book states that at least 1/2 the weight will come back on after completing the diet. Many people incorrectly use this for fast weight loss. This is not what the diet is intended for.
Detox diets such as the lemonade diet are not for the faint-hearted. They are difficult to follow - typically because we are so addicted to food. People experience varying degrees of success as their body begins to flush itself of toxins - but the first few days are hardest. Some only use the lemonade diet for 4-5 days, while others take it out to 2 weeks.
People report an enormous number of health benefits - relief of arthritic symptoms, infections, pain, gout, and many more.
A typical herbal detox will do the following:
The only other foods consumed is a laxative tea (”Smooth Move”) twice a day, and a saline (sea salt) wash. The laxative may be required due to the lack of fiber in the diet that may lead to constipation.
This must be done gently, by easing your way back into solid food. Vegetable soup is a good starter, and fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be started until the second day out of the juice fast.
Before doing the lemonade diet, Stanley Burroughs book (see below) is a must-read.
Try some of these light recipes when coming off the program.
The Master Cleanser - by Stanley Burroughs.
I have started the detox today. I feel bloated and unhealthy. Iv’e been on a food binge latley and want to clear my system and start again. I also have some pain which I’m told this detox will help.I’m not in it to lose weight but it would be a nice side effect. This morning I weighed in at 95 kilo.I am told the hunger pangs go away from about day three. Is this correct? Wish me luck!When finished do you start eating with fruit and juice and for how long??
I am going to start my first cleanse. Have you heard about Simply Slender Master Cleanse? Sounds pretty good and the sales lady said she felt better using this than the original version and she has done both. Has anyone else out there actually tried it?
hey Shurron, me too! I’m on my 8th day - what a challenge!
I have lost 10 lbs so far, but it has not been easy. I was hoping I could do longer than the 10 days but at this time, I can’t wait to finish the 10 days… I feel weak and thinking on foods makes me crazy…I’ve been sleeping a lot.
When I finish the 10 days, I’ll be doing the orange juice the first day. And according to the instructions on the book,I wont be able to eat regular food until the forth day… I’m curious to know how others do when they finish… do you go and eat anything?
I am on my 8th day, it’s been a challenge but great. I have not weigh myself yet but hope to do it on my 10th day. It’s amazing that the lemon diet truly takes the hunger away. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD. God BLess!!!!!!!
Oh Boy….my best friend and i r going to start the master cleanse tomorrow….it worked for my sister let’s hope it works for us…will keep u posted.
I am wanting to try this diet for 2 reasons. I hade a friend that tried it and it helped her loose waight and she had a miled case of psorioses and it was barly noticabule after the two weeks. I have an extream case of Psorioses and I was wondering if it was the Detox that helped my friend or if it was somthing else and she just did not tell me. I just need some insight. brandyhewkin@gmail.com. Just need some ansewers.
Hey, I’m now at the end of day 5th and so happy that half time is done. The first day wasn’t too bad, the second and the third were unbearable at times but have to be strong. Think you are helping your body to be cleaner and it’s something you do to be healthier while you are also going to look better. I have lost 7 lbs so far - yeesss!!! I’m planning to do the ten days, but if I feel I can go longer I will… would love to last for 20 days. In the mornings I feel more energetic and don’t feel hungry, but around 5 PM I start to feel bad … and feel weak and go to bed early. If I can only do the ten days, I’ll be happy and will eat lots of salads, veggies and green smoothies and then next month I’ll try to do the master cleanse for another 10-20 days. Will keep you updated!
To Shawna, The reason you are aching is that wahtever medications you ever took for pain or antibiotics is now been cleansed out of your system so you will feel achy for a LITTLE but then it will go away. I also had that with my ankles and i read the book again and that is the explanation and YES I still take my birth control. Also, you HAVE To do the salt water flush and the Smooth Move tea everyday. During the day your system is shuttling all the toxins into the digestive tract. If you do not flush them out, they seep back into yur system and becomes a bigger problem later on. Going to the bathroom so often is just because of all the liquid you are drinking. Make sure to drik a lot of water.
For everyone else who is feeling light headed, drik clear broth to help releive the feelings
This is the ONLY thing that seems to work for me and my weight loss. Because of my love of food, thought i would not be able to do WRONG!!! I am always tired no matter how much I sleep and I am a firm beleiver in detox and tried just about every tea there is. My energy levels have sored and my husband LOVES me on it as I have more energy for him. One of the things about this diet however, you have to store it in a GLASS container-the plastic and the lemon enzymes that you need to not mix and lessens the effect. WARNING HOWEVER-YOU MUST TRANSITION OFF CORRECTLY. my second time trying it I didn’t and my stomach feels like there is a constant empty gap, i am constantly burping and it does not releive the tension.It is mind over matter and it does work-did not realise how much necessary nutrients maple syrup and lemons have to survive you on this diet. DO NOT ecercise on it-the whole point is to heal your organs from toxic damage. If you exercise you are only beating up what you are trying to fix PLUS it makes you hungry and make it harder to stay on GOOD Luck all!!!
did it for 20 days first time, lost 13 pounds the first ten days, then 2 pounds the next. came back. OK though because my allergies, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and coughing all totally cleared up for 6 months or so. second time did it for 10 days, felt great, allergy symptoms much improved again. will be doing it again with my 15 year old daughter to help her with her complexion. You are never hungry. Lots of energy. I have never done the salt water flush nor the tea thing. just lots of water.
Hi, I am 20years old and really looking forward to losing weight on the master cleanse. I am 180pounds or so and desperately wanting to lose 40-50pounds on the master cleanse. i tried it before and lasted only 7days. I plan to go for 20days or so. hopefully some weight comes off. any suggestions or thoughts? HELP!
well i started yesterday but i changed the syrup to honey and i make it hot and i use fresh lemon slices and i droped 5 pounds overnight so far i know its just water weight but hey its a start and i feel great.. got a little light headed but, i am not hungry going to try and stick this out for as long as i can…and that cayanne gives it a great kick…when its warm…
I’m serching for a good clense and this is one of the ones I’m considering giving a try. I commute by car & bus every day for about an hour each way and was wondering if anyone could share their experience. I would hate to have a serious issue with not being able to access a bathroom.
so i started the diet today! And my stomach was growling in class it was so embarrasing. I really hope that i wont be hungry like everyday.
Can someone please let me know the purpose of the sea salt wash and the laxative tea? Can i do the cleansing without those two things?
hi, i did the cleanse last week but only lasted till day 3 i really could not manage to drink the lemonade i found the taste awful i only manage 2 glass a day on day 3 i just stopped i do really want to start again not only to lose a bit of weight but also i spent 36 pounds on the stuff so i really hate the idea of wasting the money lol, so could any 1 tell me if its ok to take 2 spoons of the maple syrup have 2 spoons of lemon juice, but a bit of the cayane pepper in my mouth and then drink a cup of water or do i really have to mix it all together. thanks
I’m starting tomorrow. I want to know if you guys prepare the lemonade for the day when you get up in the morning or do you prepare one glass at a time?
I start the diet tomorrow. My current weight is 140-145 my ideal weigh is 125. Im not only doing this diet to lose weight. i really would like to clear my skin, and feel less bloated. i feel so uncomfortable everyday. I hope that this diet can help me feel better. Well i start tomorrow and will keep you all posted!
I done theis lemonade diet last year lost 38 pounds in 22 days i am starting it today. this is my first day this time. it was hard first 3 day”s got easier day 13 ,day 22 i could have easily went 30 or 40
what is the pepper for?
New Orleans
the home of great food and the kind that taste so good yet can be very harmful to the body. I am on day 4 in my cleanse and I’m feeling great!!! Every time I use the bathroom I get motivated because it assures me that the cleanse is doing it’s job and I’m losing inches everyday. Even riding my bike and exercising my abs during the cleanse. It’s motivating to me because I have strong will to live healthier. Good luck to everyone whose serious about their change.
Ok so I will start this detox process tomorrow, how do you mix the salt water flush? How much salt do you use?:-)
i have done this diet before and i would just recommend that you go buy the book then start. It cost about 6 bucks an its not a huge book only about 50 pages or so. i will say that to be sucessful in this, you really have to be mentally prepared that you are not only losing weight but you are cleaning your body. I think its great, i lost 33lbs in 3 weeks. That was a year ago, and still i hav only gained 9lbs back.
I do not recommend this diet. I tried it and failed. I was dizzy and sick.
GONNA GIVE THIS A TRY. A FRIEND HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS DROPPED 42 POUNDS BUT BETTER YET–FEEL’S GREAT- I REALIZE IT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT AFFECTS ON DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT ..WHY NOT-:)
Do NOT try this diet if you are under 18. I’m horrified that a 12 year old would be doing this. It is a diet for people who are HEALTHY, not over weight. It is not a weight-loss diet it is a cleansing diet.
DO NOT DO THIS FOR WEIGHT LOSS. ITS DANGEROUS.
i need to to do this to be healthy and to lose weight scared bout the first three days but am looking forward to all the energy i’ll have
10/06/08 will be my first day on this diet. I would love to loose atleast 20 pounds by 10/25/08. But if I loose 15, I will be happy too.See I have met this wonderful man and the pictures he has are of me when I was 10 pounds lighter. I am still very attractive but I would like to be dashing when he sees me. He knows I have gained lotsa weight and he doesn’t really care. I would like to suprise him though. So I will let you all know how this goes. Wish me luck
I am on day six and I feel ok but I have not done the sea salt flush instead I take the Psyllium Husk. I think it is working fine. I can also fell the difference in my clothes. I am going for 10 days. I have two do this. Pray for me
Hi, i am about to go on the master cleanse but am worried about when the toxins will be coming out of the body. Does it happen in the morning after the saltwater flush or at night after the laxative tea? Do you go throughout the day as I work full time and dont feel very comfortable goin in work. If anyone can shed a light on the subject i’d be very grateful.
Okayyy . I have a few questions .
I’m in high school. I have to get up at 6 A.M. and school
starts at 7:25- 2:11 P.M. Will I be able to do this ? B/c I
don’t want to have to run to the bathroom in the middle of class !
Emberasssinggg ! So should I just wait till like Christmas break
or something ? Or not do it . And do you have to take BOTH the
salt water and tea ? Or just one ? Thankss (:
Hi All, well i lost 12 pounds and feeling great. I have about 5 pounds to go so another week for me. It has been 2 weeks that i lost the 12 pounds. I feel so much lighter.
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October 27th, 2008
Yeah, im a 5′9 164 pds. I want to lose 9 pounds. I am starting this diet tomorrow. I plan to exercise while on this cleanse. Hopefully this works for me. Wish me luck. Will keep updated on my progress.