The Master Cleanser
Posted on Feb 16th, 2006
by 
Yuri
Yuri
I finally started the Master cleanser detox diet, I heard so much good things about it and seeing how others benefit from it, I, too wanted to experience it and also challenge myself.Two of my ex co-workers tried it and one reported that her skin was softer, her sense of smell got better, and her taste buds were enhanced. She did it for 7 days. My other co-worker did not make it very far, she didn't even lasted a day. She told us that it was due to stomach pains and headaches.
I am not doing the full cleansing with laxative tea at night and salt water flush in the morning because of constant washroom needs during the process. With a full time job, that itself will be a challenge.It is just 2tbsp of lemon juice, 2 tbsp of maple syrup and a tenth of a tsp of cayenne pepper with a much water to dilute it as you like (about a cup). I think the water content makes a big difference with stomach pains..perhaps, there is too little water in the mix and the greater amount of acid in the lemon juice effects the stomach.
My Day 1
-I only needed 5 cups of lemonade a day. ( maple syrup 1 tbsp = 40 calories
so total = 400 calories) !!
-Blowing my nose often (runny nose)
-No headaches
-No stomach pains
-At noon, I had symptoms of nausea
-gucky mouth
-my body felt warmness and lightness
-energetic
My Day 2
- 3 cups of lemonade during the day and 1 cup green tea and 1 cup of lemonade at night. (total 400 calories)
-Light headedness / dizzy in the morning
-No headaches
-No stomach pains
-Around 11:30 am, watery eyes
-gucky mouth but less than day 1
-my body felt warmness and lightness
-energetic
My Day 3
-a bit of runny nose and watery eyes at noon
-but otherwise it was a great day
-energetic no pains or hunger.
My Day 4
-1 cup of lemonade and 1 cup of green tea in the morning and took a zinc lozenge
-Extremely thirsty and hot in the morning, drank 3 cups of lemonade during the day. (Total 400 calories)
-11:30 am felt very dizzy, weak
-last night, lack of sleep from 10 - 1am then 4 - 6am.
Ahhh..I had to stop on day 4...the dizziness was a sign I had to eat something so I went to Safeway to get some banana and veggie turkey slice. I felt much much better after eating the banana. Perhaps low in potassium? The lack of sleep? Or taking the zinc lozenge had an effect on my body? Anyhow, I know myself and know how much I can handle. Even though I didn't make a week, the experience was interesting one. It was an eye opener.
I had the chance to experience the most minimum of food source in three days and a half. It is amazing how much calories our body needs for the most minimum requirement of living yet how much calories the average person can accumulate in a day with 3 meals. If for meat -eaters, I can't imagine the amount of extra calories that is assumed and the effects it has on the body. This experience proves to me that we Do Not Really Need as Much Food as we think we do. Perhaps, we are consuming too much food. Our eyes are more hungry than our stomach. Our mind creates such wants and rationalize our needs for going for the fast food. the desserts, more sugar and instant convenience in food, so we snack and eat more often as needed. Each time we eat, our stomach expands a little more and then we eat a little more on, a circular cycle of tug a war between desires and necessity.
Perhaps a good portion of the problem of obesity, disease and aging are mind made meaning the mind creates a type of picture which then effects all parts of our body especially our stomach. It then is train to growl even if we are not really hungry. Over eating is a common thing for most of us. You probably know that fact. But this cleansing diet allowed me to see and feel that We Age More When We Eat Too Much! During this short time of my cleansing experience, I experienced the actual cleansing of my body..the type of cleansing that allow the body to truly rest for awhile and allow more time for other things than food, testing the remarkable body of life and its capabilities to cope with any kind of environment. There was a sense of zest in the mind and body. Both light, alert and energetic. Eating is like exercise for the body. If we are composed of cells and cells need energy to fuel then if there is more food intake, there is a need to use more energy and more energy means making the body work harder and speeding the aging process. No wonder Monks and Nuns look so vibrant and glowing. They only eat one solid meal a day and usual before 12 noon and the rest of the night is in liquid form if they have any.
Doesn't that not make a lot sense? Notice that people who cut meat / or eat less meat and eat more fruits / vegetables look younger and have more energy? When we think about it, we probably age more eating meat!! Let's face it. It takes longer to digest meat and it stays in our system longer than vegetables because more energy is needed to break it apart because it is denser. The longer it takes for food to bypass through our system, the more opportunity for the food to decay and produce toxins in our gut. Gross and double yuck yuck. Eating meat is a big time Constipation and hemorrhoids problem. I caught an Opera show about Poop awhile back and the bile specialist surgeon, a professor and vice -chairman of surgery Columbia University, Mehmet C. Oz, MD, said that Food Should Not be in our Gut More Than a Week! He said that poop is healthy when it is flowing and shapely like the letter "s". And what type of food flows along our gut fastest? Fruits and vegetables. Why? More fiber, more water base. Are Meat? No. Do not take my word. Go do your own experiment.
If the benefits for fruits and veggies are so great, why not cut or reduce meat portion. The question to ask ourselves are do we want to enhance our quality of life? Do we want healthier, younger and a longer life? Most of us will definitely say YES. For people who response the opposite, that can be due to other reasons of mind work and individual preference. Isn't it better to live for quality than quantity? I was watching the Vegan Fitness Video and I love what Tonya Kay said when someone commented that eating a vegetarian / vegan diet was expensive. Her response was "It is really is not expensive" because you know what, "This is not a discount body." She hit the bull eye. The connection between body to mind to wellness are a significance one. The good thing about life in a developed country like Canada and United State is the that we have the freedom / choices for making positive changes in our lives and health destiny. So take that opportunity, its free.
Food for thought : Food is the source of life, the nourishes and heals us but like the balance of all things, if the respect of food is lost and it is not use properly than it can be toxic as well.
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mindfulness
September 2007 
I love this blog Yuri, thanks for sharing your experiences. I live in Los Angeles and go to school for Chinese medicine, so many people I know have done or are on the Master Cleanse. It’s almost as popular as fuzzy boots! (mostly not vegan) But, I am glad the experience was enlightening for you, I’ve thought about doing it just to understand it myself.
We are often unaware of our own bodies and what drives our consumption and desires become habit. It is amazing how little we need and how little we know about our own nourishment.
A friend of mine recently went on the Master Cleanse. She is actually vegan but eats a lot of fast food. Within two days of the cleanse her mind became more clear, face brighter, and voice more stable. I saw her a few days after she began eating again, right back on the fast food. She looked so much worse. Her skin had broken out, she had lost some of that mental lucidity, and her voice changed. I think the cleanse allowed her to get rid of some of those toxins from the junk she had been eating, the minute she began putting the poison back in, her body reacted.
Your welcome, I heard that the master cleanser was a popular way to cleanse our body from toxin. It really did its job. Before my cleanse, I had a bit of right shoulder sore or slight pain. It rises when stress comes up but after the three days, it is totally gone. I am glad I have encounter this diet. I will probably try this at a later time and see if I can beat my days..heheh
Perhaps my body is weak because just right after, I got a cold..yesterday was my worse but today, I am feeling much better and lighter.
Thank you for sharing your friend’s experience with the cleanse. It is comforting to know that others have try the cleanse and it is safe :)
Hi Yuri
How are you? Cool…you are detoxifying your body…hmmm…it sounds very alien to me…but I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know. I was just thinking you are already a vegan…do you really need to detoxify your body…cuz you are taking in pretty much health food….some people might benefit…but…if it does not suite you…it might harm you….cuz lemon is pretty acidic….and you don’t want your hunger to go too long,…it might cause you minor ulcer stomach irritation….try just taking your breakfast and just don’t eat in the afternoon and evening…like daily fast…added with meditation..this might even be better and more balanced.. if you are already eating organic vegetables…..I think….eat a bowl of salad and some bake bean burgers in the morning made up of black beans and oats plus fruits will clean and clear your system….human body is always excreting out the dirt naturally anyways….right? I think this diet is really for unhealthy people…..you are pretty healthy and wise in choosing your food intake.
I did try taking in raw organic greens with just the juice of lemon ( I heard lemon has some natural mineral salt) serve with homemade whole wheat toast. After eating it, I feel so so alive and refreshed. Lemon juice with that sourness has a way of giving you that…I’m ready to go feel.
also….the buddhist place I told you about is called….bilingual buddhist association…I think you can find it in the web. ^ ^ The avalokiteshvara bodhisattva is coming around mid April…and people are starting to build the temple March. This is a beautiful opportunity for us to partake in this meritorious deed. ^ ^
Lee is interested too ^ ^
I am feeling better. The lemon is not acidic as I thought in the first place too because of the balance of maple syrup. I had no problem with the diet for three days with my stomach or hunger pains..I think I could of the lack of sleep that threw me off. Who knows but I did feel it did cleanse me. You can feel it inside..hollow..light..no pains and aches..the same kind of empty feeling you feel when after a retreat.
Haha, the master cleanser!! That brings back memories. My girlfriend and I had just done it last year, and had about the same experience as you describe. She made it two days, I went three…The weakness was just too much for me. I had heard that it would provide extra energy, but when I was too weak to go to my martial arts classes, I had to stop. I still crave the flavor of that lemonade, though…i actually dug that.
I think you’re dead-on with the eat-less-live-longer idea. I’ve heard that calorie restriction has Profound effects in life extension! There were some studies done with mice. When the one group of mice were forced to fast one day a week, they lived an average 1/3rd longer than the control group. I can’t remember hte details, but there was an even more pronounced effect on mice that had their calories limited every day. Fascinating stuff, huh? Thanks for sharing your experience!!
Yup… I had to try it out hearing what others have said. That is good to know that your girlfriend and you had similiar experiences..then I am not the weird one..heheh. Did you get dizzy? I found the dizziness the problem or it could be both..sometimes..when we are at extreme conditions..it is difficult to tell hunger from food or weakness or dizziness or just plain tummy pain.
Ya, the lemonade taste was pretty tasty I must admit.. Will you and your girlfriend try it again?
I am certain that meat can’t be good for our digestive systems. I also saw that Oprah episode. I am a vegetarian and have been for eleven years. I find that I do have more energy than francois. (even though he basically lives like a vegetarian, because I cook- hehehe).
I was really freaked out that meat basically has to rot before it can be digested! People also always think I am younger than I am… maybe you have the answer. I won’t get upset when they treat me like I am 17 yrs old anymore!
THat is great to hear someone else saw that epidsode of Oprah about the poop :) I found that show very helpful in terms of healthy information. The real intestine and lung was ugly but it did do its job telling us what was healthy and what was not.
It is nice to know you are the cook in the house..food is much healthier and yummy I bet :)
Thanks for sharing your experience Yuri. Its cool to hear others equating the cleansing experience to the realization that we could eat a whole lot less than we actually do. Imagine what could happen on a global level if we all just reduced one meal a day, let-alone all of them! I caught that Oprah show too….. funny topic -poop….glad she brought light to so many important eating topics though.
I too just finished cleansing for 14 days. I did the Arise & Shine Cleanse though(lots of fiber shakes and the rest live alkaline-forming juice and fruits&vegis) There is also supplimental herbal nutrition to keep vital nutrients up. I find this cleanse easier to do while working because you actually get to eat a bit of raw foods and it limits the rate by which you detox. The fiber helps to carry out all the detox waste. I too was amazed by how little I really needed to eat to stay healthy. My shopping bills are certailny going to get lower. :-)
Since the cleanse I noticed that I actually feel better when I eat less. I’ve been doing mostly fresh juice and greens since and on the occation that I eat something heavy, I get all lethargic and “heavy brained”. Have you noticed anything of the sort?
I love your posts. Keep ‘em coming.
Thank you for reading :) and sharing about your cleansing experience. That sounds like a good cleansing..perhaps, I will last a bit longer on that one :P There are so many types of detox diets out there..sometimes, we do not know which is good until one of our families or friends try it out. I love to give the Arise and Shine Cleanse a try hopefully soon. Yes, food cost definately goes down and we feel much much lighter and more alert. I do, I do!! I get sleepy and bloated when I eat heavy food especially pasta, bread.. I think the carbs make us lethargic because of the sugar?
@Yuri: We shall try this again :) This time, with, our yogo practice, I’m sure we will both finish!
@Jessica: When I tried the MC last summer and last fall for a week each, I had the same experience as your friend. After a day or two of headaches and light-headedness, others commented on how much better I looked, and I certainly noticed how much better I felt. I am sure there are are several contributing factors - some perhaps from some food allergy telling me I should never have that food, cleanse or no. Will have to look into that. The benefits extended throughout the whole period, with no pains of hunger or return of the light-headedness. This last time I did with Yuri for another 7-8 days, the ‘glow’ and such did not happen - I think this is because i spent pretty much the entire time here, in front my computer, building the ideas feature or something like that ;)
@Rob: 3 days is three times longer than others I have known have lasted ;) Caloric restriction: evidence is strong enough for me too.
@Jodi: Keep feeding FP those veggies - we need him in optimal health here!!! People always mistake Yuri for someone in her early twenties, and I remember a year or two ago she was id’d at a pub (she does not drink, just watching the hockey playoffs with me!).
@Shelly The benefits to us, the earth, the animals and in eating less but healthy are so many and varied eh? Yuri and I created a nice list of these once she should post! The Arise & Shine Cleanse? Cool! I’m planning to the MC again in the coming weeks, this time for the full 10 days and making sure I get out of the house, as well as getting lots of yoga in. However, I might just try the A&S instead, and leave the MC for another day. Hmmm. Will look into that!!
Blessings both of you which ever cleanse you choose. The main reason for doing the Arise and Shine is to remove mucoid plaque that builds up in the intestines over the years. The plaque reduces the ability to properly assimilate nutrients. The first I did was last year and I must say I passed some pretty questionable stuff….. even as a Vegan that had been pretty healthy for the 15yrs prior. One particular day I passed a polyp which scared me a bit but what would have been more scary is if it had been allowed to grow into cancer. (yes, you get pretty familiar with your poop on thise cleanse to see how much plaque you are eliminaing- weird but healthy) This year was a much easier ride. I recommend it highly and yes, I too recieved all the “glowing health” comments as a result. Let me know if I can help if you decide to go that route.
Humm. perhaps try it again when I am off from work. Then I can do the laxative tea and salt water flush..I don’t say that I am looking forward to doing that but I think it will cleanse the system much better.
I did go to the arise and cleanse diet..It is a bit pricey but I am sure it is very good. So you include fruits and veggie with the mix? I haven’t go through the entire site yet. Thanks for the info.
Yes, it is scary to have the possibility of cancer arriving at our doors. I got scared when a few years back, I found lumps in my breast. I got a ultrasound and they were malign.?
You are a brave lady Yuri. I have heard of the laxatize/salt water approach. It has excellent healing properties.
Yes the Arise & Shine may seem spendy but you are worth it. Much of the price is because of the high quality and also the amount of product. A kit includes clay, fiber, ph strips, shake blender, and assorted herbs(this is the part I feel is probably the most expensive as they are very good quality.) The herbs are a synergistic blend that loose the plaque in the intesting so it can be pulled out by the fiber/clay skakes. A full kit would be enough for two people to cleanse for a lengthy time. Possibly there are other options but I have been quite happy with the investment. And yes, you are able to eat raw, alkalizing fruits and vegetables with the cleanse. 3 meals at first and cutting back over time as long as your ph stays up.
Glad to hear you are healthy. :-)
hehe..^^ Thanks Shelly, you can comment me when I actually do it. Ryan have done it so I figure, I can do better hey and at least experience it :P