Ahhh…day 1. Let’s get some things straight here. The reason I’m going on this fast is not to lose weight. I’m not overweight but could use to lose about 5-10 lbs. to be where I think I look the best. The main reason for this fast is to clean out my system.
Having done many different experiments with diets and eating lifestyles (Atkins, Body For Life, lacto-ovo vegetarian, vegan, all raw, even the Twinkie diet [maybe I'll post something about this one another time]), I’ve come to the conclusion that a healthy system - especially a healthy digestive system - is the key to true health.
Not long ago - about a year or so - my digestive system was so bound up that I thought I caused myself to have diverticulitis. It was as if someone was stabbing me in the gut. I had these bumps along the left side of my stomach, where my descending colon is. Because of those bumps I thought it was the diverticulum that were inflamed. This was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. Now mind you, I’ve experienced some painful things like broken ribs from a car accident, multiple concussions from ice hockey and snowboarding, broken fingers and wrists, and dislocated joints. None of these came close.
Because of that experience, I’ve been very careful with the state of my digestive system. As soon as I begin to feel even a little bound up, I change my eating habits to feel clean again. I try to mostly eat fresh raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. Sometimes however I get in the habit of eating convenient processed foods which reek havoc on my digestive system. So it’s cleansing time again. Recently I’ve read Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs. This book details the Lemonade Fast. Having heard rave reviews about this fast from various forums and blogs I’ve decided to undertake my own 10-day fast and report the results.
The fast is pretty easy to follow, the recipe is as follows:
For at least 10 days, drink:
2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. ˝ lemon),
2 Tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) organic Grade B maple syrup,
1/10 Teaspoon or more cayenne pepper (hot red pepper), and
1 Cup (8 fluid ounces) purified or spring water, NOT fluoridated water.
Although weight loss will occur, the book states that it’s not a diet, but is primarily for the therapeutic benefit of removing toxins from one’s cells & vital organs - especially the digestive system.
Besides drinking the “lemonade” throughout the day, every evening one needs to drink an herbal laxative tea before going to bed to loosen up the fecal matter in the lining of the intestinal track. Upon waking, this matter needs to be flushed out with what Mr. Burroughs calls the “Salt-Water Flush”. This involves mixing two teaspoons of uniodized sea salt (it must be uniodized) with a quart of luke-warm water. According to him this mixture has the same “gravity” as one’s blood and cannot be absorbed by the body (so if you have high-blood pressure you supposedly do not need to worry about it as it will not have an effect). Instead it is flushed through the digestive system cleaning out the pathway to the toilet bowl as it flows along…interesting. The other option if one can’t handle the Salt-Water Flush (I guess it can be pretty unpleasant) is to take the herbal laxative tea morning and evening.
So today is Day 1 for me. I’ve already made a batch of the drink to take with me to work. It really does taste good, even better than regular lemonade. Plus, it has a little kick with the added cayenne pepper. I’ll begin the salt-water flush first thing tomorrow morning since I haven’t had the tea last night.
[...] It has been over a half a year since I last had a soda of any kind. I feel worlds better now and would suggest to anyone to detox after they eliminate soda from their diet. The Master Cleanse being one of the best ways. The journey to becoming soda free has been long but well worth it. Since doing this, none of my previous symptoms have returned. [...]
Left by LifeTraining - Online » Blog Archive » Why I stopped drinking coke and why you should too on September 17th, 2006
[...] I’ve been asked numerous times what the recipe is for the lemonade diet or lemonade fast. I’ve partially included it on Day 1 of my experience with the lemonade diet. However this doesn’t have all the details such as how to make the Salt Water Flush or what type of tea one should drink at night. So here goes: [...]
Left by Lemonade Diet Recipe on October 21st, 2006
Hi,
My husband and I have started the lemonade diet and because we are old and both in very poor health I thought it might benefit some to hear how it will go for us. I am 53 and my husband 51. He weighs 179 and is 6ft1″ He fell off a roof in the 80’s and has multiple problems from that fall. Both hips are bone on bone and he has herniated discs in his back. His shoulder is also affected and has limited mobility. He is in constant pain of varying degrees. He has had 2 heart attacks in the past 2 years and his own father died at age 49 from his 6th heart attack. He has developed sensitivities to certain foods that make his condition worse and increases the pain. He has extensive muscle wasting and his blood pressure last night was 215/120. He has fat around his belly and the rest of him looks very skinny. Don’t write me and tell me to get that poor man to a doctor cuz he won’t go anymore. We have no insurance and he is major needle phobic and surgery phobic. I am an RN and know all to well the dangers that he is in. I am 5ft.5 and weigh 166. I also have multiple health problems. I have rheumatoid arthritis and have recovered from skin cancer. (stay out of tanning booths, I didn’t) I have had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for more years than I can count and have multiple severe food allergies. I have never smoked but my mother did like a chimney and never opened a door or window throughout my childhood so my lungs are very compromised. I think many of my problems are from breast implants and while I have saline ones they are encased in silicone. (Don’t do that either) We are both intelligent and formerly ambitious type A people who are now broken and broke from the American lifestyle. It should be interesting how we do. If we survive, probably anyone could. One my first day I think my body was in an all out pout about the matter and sort of in shock and disbelief. It was sure that I would not last the day and of course suggesting things for when that moment took place. I was very afraid to start this because all efforts at dieting have left me starving and I am a sugaraholic/carbaholic. Let me add that we both have been juicing very regularly for over 2 years now and that is why we are probably still alive. But, we eat junk too and have never been able to wean ourselves from it altogether although we have done 100% better than before. Anyway, I was very surprised that I was not really hungry. Later in the day I snuck a few almonds but I think that was because I was afraid I was hungry rather than the real thing. I thought that maybe by eating these I would then get very hungry but I didn’t. My husband, the rock was faithful without cheating. I didn’t sleep very well but I don’t anyway without pills so that was nothing new. I was not hungry in the night like I am so many times and I did not wake up hungry. Neither of us did the flush, I am trying it this morning. So far so good.
Left by kaye mcdaniel on March 12th, 2007
Kaye,
Wow, that’s quite an extensive list. I’m very excited to hear how you two progress with the fast. With all those issues, I may suggest extending the cleanse beyond the 10-day point. Please stick with it, I think you’ll both be surprised!
Stay in touch,
- Erich
Left by Erich on March 12th, 2007
what does the cayenne pepper do?
can I eat something?
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The cayenne pepper aids in the cleansing process as well as raises the metabolic rate and no you can’t eat anything during the 10 days.
- Erich
Left by kenya on March 12th, 2007
Hi Erich,
The end of day 2. I made it through with just pangs of hunger now and then. The flush was interesting. : O In my first big swig of it, it came up and went into my wind pipe. Well, then of course it went all over my computer and everywhere else I could get it. BUT, undaunted I continued on and drank it all. It worked well. We were sort of afraid to give it to my husband today since his blood pressure was so very high but we intend to do it tomorrow. He had a bad episode in the afternoon of hypoglycemia and just had to eat something. (cheese sandwich) but when he recovered he went right back on the lemonade. I failed to mention earlier what a severe case of gout he has. His feet are so painful that he often cannot stand to wear shoes. At the end of today, he said his feet were better. He said that he did not have any energy at all (that was before the sandwich) but my energy level is good. I would of course feel better because I have so many food allergies that I am better off not eating. Thanks for your suggestion to keep on with this past the 10 days, obviously we are both tough cases. Your website and support is greatly appreciated. thanks again
—————————————-
Kaye,
I’m so proud of you guys. Definitely keep it up and keep us posted!
- Erich
Left by Kaye on March 12th, 2007
On day one I didn’t really use the bathroom that much. I probably used it twice in regards to “flushing”. The two times really didn’t add up to that much. I experienced more urination than anything.
Left by Nisha on March 16th, 2007
[...] with the Master Cleanse, a 10-day fast devoted to cleaning out your system…with great results!http://www.lifetrainingonline.com/blog/lemonade-diet-day-1.htm/Green and Environmentally Correct Business PR Clients …Freeman has won awards from the Los Angeles [...]
Left by devotion and clean on June 11th, 2008