Adding anything else to the MC

[Peter]

From a recent question:

My girlfriend is planning to do the cleanse in January, she has read the book, but is planning on also taking diet supplements with ephedra in it (it is back on the market now.)

She thinks the ephedra will help her cut her cravings, and give her more energy, and make the cleanse easier, and the results better.

I told her not to to that, I don't think she will listen to me. Can you post something on it, or give me some words of wisdom to tell her, that she may listen to?


You're a good friend, XXXXXXXX. :)

After coaching more than 500 people on the Master Cleanse in just the last 2 years, I can tell you with great certainty that adding anything to the Master Cleanse (other than items prescribed by licensed health care professionals) is A) unnecessary and B) reduces the gains.

The reason is to be found in studies on fasting. The Master Cleanse is a form of juice fasting and one of the most powerful forms of that. I would estimate it to be nearly as powerful as water fasting, but without the need for bed rest and less detox symptoms because water fasting typically doesn't include any additional elminination actions such as colonics or salt water flushes.

The truth, which is covered up by advertising of manufacturers, is that the body has its own reset button: fasting. Adding anything to the Master Cleanse just makes it less effective in letting the body heal itself.

I hope this helps and I hope your friend appreciates having such a good friend as you, ;)

Peter 8)

[jobgem]

Hello there, Well I am planning and preparing for my 2006 cleanse and have had the chance to speak with quite a few others who will be doing similar cleanses/fasts....but now I have questions:
What is this Ultimate cleanse I am now hearing of? People say it is the master cleanse added psyllium and bentonite clay.
Some people are saying it is good to do the 7 day New Body cleanse just before starting the Master Cleanse.
PLEASE help...what is your take on these options...and ehat exactly are these people talking about?

[lanlizer]

Peter-I'm starting on Monday the MC (1st time) with a question.
I take each morning/bedtime (on empty stomach) 2 oz of essiac. Will
this be a problem?
Thanks in advance.

[Guest]

We learn much more than we realize as children. Green Eggs and Ham comes to mind.

Ask her, "Did you try it yet?"

Meaning, at least give the cleanse a change before giving into supplements.

I am on day 8 of the cleanse. I cannot remember when I last felt this good.

A week ago Monday a co-worker started the cleanse. I asked him about it, went out the same day, bought everything I needed and started it the next day. No thought, no preparation for it, just do it.

I am a very large male person that loves food. 6'4" 300+ pounds. I eat more meat than anything else in my diet.

I suffer from bi-polar disorder, sleep apnea, and I think I may have narcalepsy.

Well, maybe had would be a better description. I quit taking all medications when I started this, I have not had a sinlge cycle of depression or mania. I wake up once or twice in the night instead of 5-8 times.

I never found any "diet" so easy as this one. I believe this will also give me more will power once back to regular foods to obstain from the ones that I do not do so well with, refined carbs.

Good luck to everyone!

[Andrea22]

This question is going to sound crazy--- but what would happen if I had a glass of wine on day 6 of the fast? I am going to a social event tomorrow that I planned (I'm in college) and it would just seem really weird and out of character for me to not have one single glass of wine (its a wine & cheese party sponsored by my sorority)... After all it is a liquid, would my system flip? I know its not the ideal detox... but in theory, assuming that I really want to just have one single glass, would that make me sick?

Andrea

[Andrea22]

Update, I didn't take a single sip of wine and I'm on day 7... oh the will power:)

[patriotgirl]

Way ta go Andrea22!! I'm glad for you.

Keep going you are almost there! Supposedly day 7 is a heavy detox day so you are really doin' fine.

Keep squeezing lemons!!!

[galahan]

That guy's girlfriend certianly did *not* understand the MC. It's pretty obvious that she's doing it for weight loss, and hence the ephedra seems like a "natural" choice.

I'm quite surprised at the fact she had actually read the book, and still suggested putting a chemical fat burner into her system during the MC.

If you're doing the MC for the right reasons, you won't feel the need to add anything or to cheat. If you've truely understood your motivations and goals; your commitment to your health will always take precendence over quick fixes, shortcuts and self-deceit.

[tonks78]

Hello!

I am planning to do the fast this week, as I've voted, "When I finish my housework." I take several vitamins a day, including Coenzyme Q10, glucosomine, milk thistle, and of course my multivitamine. So you're basically telling us not to take vitamins when we do the fast? And water...how much and what kind? Artesian? Faucet? Spring or otherwise? Or do we just do the juice?

Thanks!
Tonks

[Dreams]

Hi Tonks!

Welcome to the Forum and the MC!

This little thread is not very active so I just want to take a minute and attempt an answer for you.

The water needs to be from a non-flouridated source or bottled water. I always prefer spring water from some spring somewhere as opposed to bottled water from some municipal water supply. I know. I know. The drinking water is filtered and filtered again and all, but I use the spring water.

As far as how much, the way I understand the MC is that you should be drinking an amount equal to 1 oz for every 2 lbs of your body weight. So at 150 lbs, for instance, you would drink 75 oz a day. I personally never get in that much water in addition to my Lemonade, but I try real hard. I know the more water, the better the cleanse.

And the jury is in on the Vitamin and Supplement thing!

Absolutely nothing is to be taken except for the Lemonade, Water, The Laxative Tea, and an occasional Organic Peppermint Tea. Nothing less. and NOTHING MORE. There is one exception for those on life sustaining maintenance medications though. It is allowed that those be continued. It would be best not to do that in regard to deep tissue cleansing, but it is advised that individuals taking those life sustaining meds continue to do so.

Have you got the book(s)? Priceless in regard to really understanding the cleanse and how it works. It is an awesome journey! Best of Luck to You, Tonks!
~ Dreams ~

[Guest]

Hello everyone. I'll be beginning my Master Cleanse in a few days. This will be my first cleanse. I'm starting to feel a little nervous - I know that's normal. This really is a big move for anyone who takes it. This will be a whole new terrotory for me. I am confident though that I will feel so much better after the cleanse. VETERANS - RAVE ABOUT YOUR CLEANSES!! TELL ME THE GOOD STORIES - I would very much like to hear them! Knowing the cleanse really really gives people a strong sense of well-being would be nice to know. I want to know those true stories!
Also, I'm asking for any general pointers anyone would give a new cleanser like myself. I'm planning 11 days. ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IS BENTONITE - THE CLAY. HAS ANYONE USED BENTONITE AND/OR OTHER HERBS TO SCRUB THE DIGESTIVE TRACK WHILE ON THE MASTER CLEANSE? WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS? WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD?
Its so great to have this forum and this community. I really feel safer knowing you all are out there. I'm 28, and I've been rough on my body. I smoked cigarettes for 14 years (been smoke-free 3 weeks now!) and I also used intravenous drugs last year for about 6 months. Very scary time for me. I've dealt with depression since my early teens, and began using drugs at age 14. Add all this to the poor diet of the average person, and I'm ripe for such a cleanse. I have a suspicion that my depression was/is probably largely a result of toxins. So, that explains some of why I'm doing this. I thought that would be good to share. If anyone can relate to my story, reply! If you've found relief for depression with the cleanse, reply!
I look forward to the cleanse, and the support and companionship this forum may provide. thanks.

[pooboo]

Jared 1977,

Kudos to you for doing the cleanse, by now you are probably in the middle of it?? Im only on day 6, so the worst part is over, and the clarity will hopefully come soon. Right now, Im feeling serine, calm, and relaxed.

I am also doing the cleanse for many reasons , including never taking care of my body, but specifically depression from a breakup two weeks ago. I felt as if my ground was ripped from underneath me. Im 29 and honestly found my soul mate. (we were together for 2 years) Ive never been so depressed, went on a week long drinking binge, and just felt hopeless, similar to mourning a death of a loved one. When my coworker mentioned she would be doing the cleanse, I thought, what the hell. I have nothing more to lose, Ive lost the person that made me tick already.

So now im in day 6, and since I started, Ive reflected on "him" many times. But not with the same desperation. This cleanse has made me think about ME. I dont think Ive ever truly done that before with such vigor. Im so in tune with my body right now. My desire to escape (which is what I think Ive been doing since middle school, and then that escaladed into drugs and drinking in high school and college). As I get older, I am finding my artwork to be my escape (which is a huge accomplishment I feel) , but those old party habits are still around because of my addictive personality and social environments. I dont take care of myself.

Your about the same age as I, and Im sure your feeling those "oh my god im almost 30" thoughts. Which also make you think about your life, and even your death, and what you want to accomplish between now and then. This cleanse is the thing that will help me (and you) REBOOT our systems in a way, a means of starting over.

I hope you were able to start the cleanse, and are feeling the benefits. They truly are amazing.

Glitter and puffpaint,
sara

[Happily_Determined]

Hello!

Question...
Anyone ever heard of taking two tablespoons of cold pressed olive oil each day during the MC?

[patriotgirl]

Happily_Determined:
To answer that question, "No." If you take away or add anything to the cleanse it will decrease the benefits of it. Stick 100% to the Stanley Burroughs cleanse. Dont deviate from it. You dont need to. I've done this fast 5 times. This is my sixth cleanse (I'm on day 1). No olive oil. Why would you need it, anyway? Just curious?
~Patriotgirl~

[Happily_Determined]

The olive oil is supposed to be like a tonic for your liver, and its supposed to aid the cleansing process..

But you're right. Following it to a "T" is better!

Thanks!
Good luck on your cleansing!

[Guest]

My daughter and I are on our 3rd day of the MC and are wondering if we will be able to loose weight if we drink more than 6 10oz glasses of the lemonaide drink. (Due to consuming more maple syrup.

thanks,

scooter

[Guest]

What about a MAP protein? Would it be o.k. to add this to the mixture? I have done the cleanse twice now and been successful but I lose so much muscle mass....

[patriotgirl]

If its truly muscle mass you are losing, just detox by eating only raw foods for 2 wks. I mean 100% raw organic--no cheating. No dairy or any animal products. You will be amazed at how much detoxing goes on. I'm doing it right now and this is day 5 for me.

[Guest]

Interesting - thanks. So just fruits and veggies...what about raw nuts? And are you on a set menu or do you eat as much as you want/need? Could you give me an example of your daily comsumption?

[LWW]

Hi everyone!

I was also wondering.. is it ok to drink hot water with a bit of lemon juice and the rine of the lemon. ive done that all the time to help debloat cause im severely bloated. It doesnt seem to deviate from the diet. Also in burroughs book he said that to help with eliminations we could use the pulp and part of the rine in our lemonade..it quoted on the next page when it refer to regarding with honey. Hope everyone is doiong fine.. THanks bye !

[Guest]

Last time I did the master cleanse I incorporated a teaspoon of raw sesame oil in the morning and in the evening. My herbalist recommended this me as he does this himself. He has done cleanse about 8 times and found the oil to be beneficial.

My personal reason for the oil is that I felt like I was getting extremely dry for the first part of it. The oil helped dramatically. I didn't find that it halted the cleansing process. I found it to be soothing and lubricating to my entire digestive tract. I have a lot of digestive issues including internal scarring from hernia operations when I was very young among other things, so I do feel it was a tonic for me in my case.

Ask yourself what you need. Your intuitive body will tell you if the oil is something you need to add or not.

I don't try to get too religious about anything. There's not a lot of flexibility in the frame of mind if you know what I mean. Keep it open, keep it real. If the straight and narrow path is called for, then by all means stick to it.

Happy cleansing

[Guest]

Hot water and lemon sounds fine.

Has anyone tried a product called colosan as an alternative to the senna tea at night? I used it last time and it sped up my cleansing process! The colosan can actually help to dislodge mucoid plaque and turn it into liquid and gas! (you definitely don't want to be around anyone the first few days you use it.--the smelll was unbelievable because it was penetrating several decades worth of gunk! Eeww!)

Anyway, I highly recommend it. I used it about 4 or 5 times while on the last cleanse. The rest of the time I did the smooth move tea and salt water flush occasionally.

[Guest]

I am on day 5 and have been drinking mint de-caffeinated tea in addition to the lemonade. Is this okay? Also, I can drink water by itself right? Thanks!

[andreak77]

Yes, you need to also drink water. I think the tea is okay as well.

[stiletto]

Is seltzer ok on the cleanse? I know you can have water and air, but what about together? I drink it a lot and it fills me up so much - I think it might be ok. What do you think?
Doreen

[RockOn]

What about chewing gum? *Can we do that if it's sugarfree or something? *I have attention on the fact that my breath may stink of fermented lemons and whatever gross toxins lurking in my system. *Does anyone suggest anything?

[isa64]

From a recent question:

My girlfriend is planning to do the cleanse in January, she has read the book, but is planning on also taking diet supplements with ephedra in it (it is back on the market now.)

She thinks the ephedra will help her cut her cravings, and give her more energy, and make the cleanse easier, and the results better.

I told her not to to that, I don't think she will listen to me. Can you post something on it, or give me some words of wisdom to tell her, that she may listen to?


You're a good friend, XXXXXXXX. :)

After coaching more than 500 people on the Master Cleanse in just the last 2 years, I can tell you with great certainty that adding anything to the Master Cleanse (other than items prescribed by licensed health care professionals) is A) unnecessary and B) reduces the gains.

The reason is to be found in studies on fasting. The Master Cleanse is a form of juice fasting and one of the most powerful forms of that. I would estimate it to be nearly as powerful as water fasting, but without the need for bed rest and less detox symptoms because water fasting typically doesn't include any additional elminination actions such as colonics or salt water flushes.

The truth, which is covered up by advertising of manufacturers, is that the body has its own reset button: fasting. Adding anything to the Master Cleanse just makes it less effective in letting the body heal itself.

I hope this helps and I hope your friend appreciates having such a good friend as you, ;)

Peter 8)

[lambert]

Has anyone tried a product called colosan as an alternative to the senna tea at night? I used it last time and it sped up my cleansing process! The colosan can actually help to dislodge mucoid plaque and turn it into liquid and gas! (you definitely don't want to be around anyone the first few days you use it.--the smelll was unbelievable because it was penetrating several decades worth of gunk! Eeww!)

Anyway, I highly recommend it. I used it about 4 or 5 times while on the last cleanse. The rest of the time I did the smooth move tea and salt water flush occasionally.

Cool, I'm glad to see this. I haven't looked too much into what colosan is but it looks like a nascent oxygen product. I was considering doing this instead of the senna tea also. I actually went a day with out the tea and found the swf more controllable with what appeared to be same results. I have never liked senna tea.

My next cleanse was to add a oxygen product (I've used mag07 from aerobic life and probably what I'll try here).

From what I've read, the mc is great for releasing toxins and mucus but another step in cleansing the colon is also needed. An oxygen product looks to do well here. I believe oxypowder is a common colon cleansing product. I'll have to look more into what colosan is.

[groundbrown]

So I can drink just water with the diet? I just want to make sure I'm on day 9 and want some plain water

[bayareababe]

hi brown!
YES! by all means drink water! Our bodies need water on this cleanse! Make sure though it is purified or filtered. I drank one glass lemondrink then one glass water. it helped keep me full and rinsed my mouth of any lemon acid. You can also drink water after your SWF to help things along :)
be well

babe 8)
MC completed 8/18/06

[ElisabethB]

I have a question concerning psyllium husk und bentonite clay ... I heard a lot of people are taking this in the last days of the MC,

Do you recommend this Peter?? or are you against all deviations from Stanley Burrows book??

Thanks,

[Res]

I'm not sure if Peter is going to see this or not. He's quite busy at the moment but I can tell you that Peter will tell you to "do it by the book". ;)

~Res

[acrochet]

I tried this - Day 4 for me but I can't get rid of the constant pain associated with hunger - dizzy, chills, irritability, stomach pains. So I ate vegetbale soup and some almonds. I can't believe that everyone else is not feeling hubgry and I'm the only one? My brother and sister are doing it with no hunger at all. I tried Spirulina and flax seed oil but that didn't work either. One site mentioned adding amino acid but I don't know which one to add without impacting the cleanse.
Can anyone help?:eek: (thank you very much)

[Res]

The symptoms you're experiencing are "normal". Click on this link and you'll see that what you're experiencing is part of the cleanse The Healing Crisis (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1626) .

You have to be in the right mindset for this to work. Maybe it's just not your time. Grab Burroughs book and read it all the way through.

Today is Day 9 and I'm feeling hungry - but if I down a glass of lemonade I'm fine. It's not like eating a sandwich fine, but I'm determined and I know what to expect so I press through.

Next time will be different and you'll get through it. Remember it's "DETOX" and it ain't purdy. ;)

Love,
~Res

[sopheetsa]

I've got to echo what Res said above, acrochet: "do it by the book". Your dizziness and irritability are probably detox reactions. Chills may be due to lowered metabolism. It takes a while for your body to convert to a "fasting" or "fat-burning" metabolism, on the order of 3 days. Once that happens it should help with the hunger. As for the detox symptoms--Peterhttp://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif likes to say these go away "with the next day's eliminations"-- so make sure you're doing the lax tea at night and the SWF in the morning! By adding stuff to the cleanse what you're doing is stopping your body from shutting down digestion, and converting to fat-burning. This actually KEEPS YOU HUNGRY!

Of course, I am not a doctor, and if you feel really uncomfortable, you might want to check this out with a professional...:)


Best of luck on your healing journey!http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Res]

Of course, I am not a doctor, But do you play one on TV? ;)

[fairone]

I read somewhere (thought it was this site!) that Hoodia is recommended to curb the cravings. Did I just imagine this?

[mtmouse]

I just did a search for hoodia and yours is the only post that came up. So I don't think you heard it here!

The only things allowed on the MC are lax tea, lemons/limes, MS/molasses/ sorghum/cane juice, cayenne, salt, and mint tea.

[bayareababe]

Hi Elisabeth.. people who know me in here, know i say.. if it aint broke, dont fix it. That means the MC formula is that way for a reason and should be done that way for OPTIMUM results. The P and B need to be broken down and digested therefore not a part of the MC diet. So those saying they took P and B during the MC aren't really doing the MC.

Acrochet..... you are experiencing severe detox symptoms. Everyone is different. I got hungry, but I knew it would pass, and when i was really hungry i drank more water, upt my MS, and it seemed to help. For me, I got through it, not easily but i knew it would pass. Peter does say some people do experience some hunger and it passes. It is how we deal with it that matters. I used to let food rule me, now it doesn't.

Be well all

take care

babe8)
2xMCer

AND i'm back :) got he doctor ok to do another MC. I start the tea tonight. Seems I am having some edema and the doc said i could do this again. I actually missed the MC :D how silly!!! So day one tomorrow :D

[starglazer]

Ok, Can anyone tell me if I can not do the SWF in the morning can I still do it in the evening? say 6 or 7 o'clock. I know that I have to drink the tea in both the morning and nite if I can't do the SWF in the morning but does that mean I don't do the SWF at all?

Thanks,

Starglazer

[peanutterb]

starglazer
the swf can only be done in the morning on an empty stomach. if you do the tea in the morning, do not do the swf. it's one or the other in the morning. in the night it's tea only.

[bayareababe]

there is another site that has MC in its name that gives out all kinds of wrong, bogus information and i feel potentially harmful to MC cleansers. I used to go in there before I found this wonderful site, and found it full of ego heads, mis-information and bad sense. SO beware.

ElisabethB...On the "other site" they are big fans of the P B shake. This is done AFTER the MC, but not needed at all since the cleansing is so complete. This site has lots of folks with great experience and support and Peter has done studies and research where the other site has done none. I am always amazed at the " This is how my recipe is" mentality there. Like I say... if it aint broke, don't fix it!

The numbers show here, how many people come to this site, and the MCers doing it.

be well

babe8)
MC3 day 1- always learning, always growing

[fancy1]

Here is a reply that I got from Peter when I asked the P&B question

A P & B shake is a pysillum, bentonite clay and water mixture.

Psyllium husk comes from the crushed seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, an herb native to parts of Asia (India and Iran, for example), Mediterranean regions of Europe, and North Africa. Similar to oats and wheat, psyllium is rich in soluble fiber. It bulks up and forms a gel when mixed with water.

Bentonite is a volcanic clay that swells to about 15 times its original volume when placed in water. Like a highly porous sponge, it absorbs and binds toxins through electrical attraction.

Many other colon cleanses use P & B shakes to mechanically push waste out of the colon. I haven't yet done any P & B shake cleanses, so I can't compare them myself.

The Master Cleanse takes a different approach and dissolves the waste. That's one of the reasons you're only getting liquid eliminations. As for adding P & B shakes to the Master Cleanse, I don't recommend it because it isn't any part of Burroughs' instructions. I always recommend people follow Burroughs' instructions exactly because they result in great benefits for the vast majority of people. I can't say what will happen with alterations, such as adding P & B shakes. After all, one of the purposes of not eating is to give the digestive system a rest so the body can devote its energy to eliminating waste.

I hope this helps,
Peter

[bayareababe]

woo hoo Peter.. as always you Rock!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

babe8)
MC3 day 14

[jenamoe]

I have a question I really need answered. I have been on the MC for 6 days and I had a break and ate some popcorn. Now my kidneys are killing me. What and why is this happening? :eek:

[melissa7b]

One great way to keep things simple is to just "follow the directions".

If you are the type of person who has to side track from the directions then here is another helpful reminder, "If you have to question it, then don't do it".

And if your still having problems, then maybe you just havn't completely made up your mind yet, and should wait to do the cleanse till you do make up your mind.

:)

[bayareababe]

I have a question I really need answered. I have been on the MC for 6 days and I had a break and ate some popcorn. Now my kidneys are killing me. What and why is this happening? :eek:

well................. popcorn is probably one of the hardest foods to digest and it takes GREAT effort to process it and turn it into liquid. I am not sure it is your kidneys, maybe, but its your gut in general. You need to more importantly ask why you ate popcorn on day 6! Your whole digestive system has been processing nothing but liquids for 6 days and you shock it with food. If you are going to continue the MC, then add a few extra days on your MC and also look to the reason you picked up the popcorn in the first place. Remember if you get the HALTS ( hungry, angry, lonely or tired), your defenses weakened. Ask yourself, was I any of these at the time?

good luck

[OpenArmy]

What about Vodka? Can I add Vodka to my lemonade. I think that may make the days go by quicker. And since this is a cleanse I will make sure to use at LEAST triple distilled vodka. Does anyone think that would be ok?

This is a joke. I really do know alcohol would defeat the purpose of the MC.

But it would be fun!

J

[htmetz]

I am getting ready to do my first MC in a few days and have been shopping for the necessary supplies. An occasional mint tea is mentioned as acceptable. At the health food store I only found a pure Spearmint tea and a Spearmint and Peppermint blend (both by Mint Brook Meadow). Are these OK to use on the MC?

Luke

[Res]

Luke: Absolutely! :)

Love,
~Res

[kshungi]

would it be ok to take a liquid iron supplement? i'm doing a fast for atleast 3 weeks but my iron needs to be improved.

[htmetz]

Res,

Thanks for the confirmation. I am looking forward to my first MC - after a certain amount of holiday indiscretion, it will undoubtedly be very helpful.

Luke :)

[susiliv]

My boyfriend wants to tweak the program a little by adding:

Thisilyn which prevents free radical damange to liver cells
BCAA Ethyl Ester which prevents muscle loss
Cinnergen a liquid whole food nutritional supplement recognized for its excellent kidney-cleansing properties, etc.
Liv52 the only medically tested liver detox system

I advised him not to do it but he insists that this detox program as is will eat away at your muscle and will overload the liver and kidneys with too many toxins all at once so they need help flushing out the toxins safely.

For the experts here, what do you think? Since this is all herbal and there's nothing to digest, is it harmful or helpful to take these?

[bayareababe]

My boyfriend wants to tweak the program a little by adding:

Thisilyn which prevents free radical damange to liver cells
BCAA Ethyl Ester which prevents muscle loss
Cinnergen a liquid whole food nutritional supplement recognized for its excellent kidney-cleansing properties, etc.
Liv52 the only medically tested liver detox system

I advised him not to do it but he insists that this detox program as is will eat away at your muscle and will overload the liver and kidneys with too many toxins all at once so they need help flushing out the toxins safely.

For the experts here, what do you think? Since this is all herbal and there's nothing to digest, is it harmful or helpful to take these?

my thoughts, if it's not broke don't fix it. I have done this 3 times, now on my fourth, with NONE of issues he is addressing. I feel he will be hindering the MC, not helping it. Technically then, he is not on the Master Cleanse but his own personal detox program. Has he read the books?

[peanutterb]

My boyfriend wants to tweak the program a little by adding:

Thisilyn which prevents free radical damange to liver cells
BCAA Ethyl Ester which prevents muscle loss
Cinnergen a liquid whole food nutritional supplement recognized for its excellent kidney-cleansing properties, etc.
Liv52 the only medically tested liver detox system

I advised him not to do it but he insists that this detox program as is will eat away at your muscle and will overload the liver and kidneys with too many toxins all at once so they need help flushing out the toxins safely.

For the experts here, what do you think? Since this is all herbal and there's nothing to digest, is it harmful or helpful to take these?

susiluv, i moved your post here since this thread already existed about the same topic.

The general consensus is to not add anything to the MC.

Everything in the cleanse has been designed for a special purpose and work together in a special way. To get the best results, it is suggested to do the cleanse by the book. As bayareababe says if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

No supplements, vitamins, minerals, oils or fiber are necessary while on the Master Cleanse. No diet pills, hoodia or appetite suppressants are allowed either. No breath mints, gum or breath freshing strips. If it’s not salt, lax tea, lemon/lime, cayenne, maple syrup or water, it is not allowed on the cleanse.

[Res]

Angel:

You're actually asking a non-MC question so be prepared for a lot of opinions. :)

I think your plan sounds great! Only time will tell if it will keep the weight off. Many of us have either tried this or thought about doing it. If you think of it, pop in now and then after you're done cleansing and let us know the results. :)

Love,
~Res

[peanutterb]

Angel, check out this thread - that has info on metabolism and keeping weight off after a cleanse. http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=619

I was 167 in 2004 and with working out and lifting weights, counting calories and after my first MC in march 2004 I was down to 145. I've done two other MCs and have gotten as low as 135 but my clothing size has dropped from 14 to between 8 and 10 and that's great for me so I'm not too worried about the scale.

so my point of saying all that, is that you can lose the weight, but it takes work. You just need to watch what you eat and exercise - the basic idea of burning more than you consume. you can find calculators online that tell you how many calories you need to take in before getting into starvation mode in order to lose weight. I'm a success story and proof that you can do it.

I'm a little concerned about your diet right now because though it may be working, it's not realistic in the long run. I always tell people who do the cleanse that the cleanse isn't a magic pill and it can't solve all your problems but it's important to learn how to eat after because while you can lose weight on the cleanse, you can put it all back on and more if you don't eat healthily after the cleanse.

One of the best things in the cleanse is that you have the time away from eating to reevaluate the way you eat and why you eat that way. You achieve such a feeling of health and well being that you want to do better, want to eat better, want to maintain that level of lightness and health after the cleanse. So I think you can benefit from a longer cleanse (14 or more days) because you will lose more weight and have time to think about and plan a post-cleanse meal plan - like continuing with a raw eating plan that will keep you healthy and detoxing and since after a cleanse your appetite is smaller, you'll keep losing weight.

Burroughs suggests a diet of lemonade from breakfast and/or lunch and a salad/ light meal for dinner for those wanting to lose more weight in between cleanses. One thing I like that you're doing is not eating anything too heavy on those days you do eat food. However, I'm always concerned about going through cycles of fasting and feating, especially since fasting slows down digestion and your metabolism and can cause your body to hold on to calories and will cause you to gain instead of lose weight.

Ultimately, you will and should do what's best for you. This is just my opinion.

[9eve]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00014DTH6.01-A3EVWIEDD3GII2.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

is this ok? it's peppermint tea but i'm not sure if there is suppose to be a specific kind. and if so, how much of these can we have per day?

[mtmouse]

9eve.

Yes, that would be fine. It's supposed to be "occasional", so approximately once a day or less. Use it as a special treat.

[elysium]

I'm starting the MC tomorrow (01/23) and just drank a glass of water and cup of ginger tea because I haven't gotten the laxative tea yet....will get it tomorrow. I was wondering if ginger root in water would be considered a good enough laxative tea for the duration of the cleanse. I'm so excited and nervous about starting this process. Need to get rid of sugar cravings and looking forward to other body changes. Thanks for your response:)

[HealthyMe]

I'm a first timer and I've read repeatedly that only mint tea can be ingested along with the lemonade during the cleanse, but I'm wondering if other herbal teas are OK (decaf green tea or lemon tea)? I'm on day 5 and stay cold. The tea helps to warm me up and makes sure I'm getting enough water. Thanks for any input. This board is great!!!

[bayareababe]

I'm starting the MC tomorrow (01/23) and just drank a glass of water and cup of ginger tea because I haven't gotten the laxative tea yet....will get it tomorrow. I was wondering if ginger root in water would be considered a good enough laxative tea for the duration of the cleanse. I'm so excited and nervous about starting this process. Need to get rid of sugar cravings and looking forward to other body changes. Thanks for your response:)

nope, no ginger root sorry, just the teas listed for the MC.

[bayareababe]

I'm a first timer and I've read repeatedly that only mint tea can be ingested along with the lemonade during the cleanse, but I'm wondering if other herbal teas are OK (decaf green tea or lemon tea)? I'm on day 5 and stay cold. The tea helps to warm me up and makes sure I'm getting enough water. Thanks for any input. This board is great!!!

hi, you could drink warm water, an occassional mint tea and warm up your lemon drink, just a tad. Over heating it will cause enzymes to die. Hot baths, water bottles, layer, layer , layer :)

[Banana]

Having some problems posting my own questions, however i am wondering about a couple thing n' would like for someone to HELP pls.

1. I understand i am not able to eat anything while on the master cleanse so therefore have a stinky breath throughout the day. What can i do? Can i suck on a mint and throw it out after?

2. i'm on day 3 today and its not as bad as i imagined it to be however since i started i have only been going to the washroom 2-3 times right after the salt water flush and letting out watery stuff, almost like when i pee. Is that normal? Am i ever gonna be eliminating solid stuff?

I've tried to post a couple questions in the past but got no reply. PLs response.

[tanisburnett10]

what about making the Lemon aid and adding ice and blending it up, like a slurpee?

[thesavage]

Hi Banana.
1. no mints. keep a toothbrush with you and brush brush brush. Actually, swishing your mouth with saltwater (don't swallow unless you are doing the SWF) will kill stinky germs too. But keep brushing. It helps a LOT

2. That is affectionately known as butt-pee. Welcome. Perhaps you will eliminate solid. Perhaps not. Sometimes people START eliminating solid stuff after 20 days! Don't judge your progress by that. But you probably will start seeing some crazy things eventually. Normal butt-pees include: just plain watery stuff, foamy, oily, yellow, neon yellow, solid stuff, stringy, whatever. Just keep at it and enjoy the fascination at what comes out of you!

[bayareababe]

Having some problems posting my own questions, however i am wondering about a couple thing n' would like for someone to HELP pls.

1. I understand i am not able to eat anything while on the master cleanse so therefore have a stinky breath throughout the day. What can i do? Can i suck on a mint and throw it out after?

2. i'm on day 3 today and its not as bad as i imagined it to be however since i started i have only been going to the washroom 2-3 times right after the salt water flush and letting out watery stuff, almost like when i pee. Is that normal? Am i ever gonna be eliminating solid stuff?

I've tried to post a couple questions in the past but got no reply. PLs response.

Hi banana, here is where the mint tea comes in for helping with odors. it has natural chlorrophyl so i helps with breath and body odors. The MC dissolves fecal matter, so your eliminations will be more liquidy. After drinking the SWF and going, many do not go the rest of the day and that is normal too. Relax, you are doing great!

[smcgill99]

Hi all!!:D
I tried to post this in the SWF thread but don't see my post there.:confused:
I read on here you can use soy sauce with the SWF for taste. I want to try tomorrow morning but i'm unsure of this because it is my first time reading about it.
Don't know if it effects the cleansing process?
Don't know what brand i can use ?
Don't know how much i can use?

Has anyone else tried this??

Can anyone answer my questions??:confused:

[Ande]

Hi there! I'm going to start my MC as soon as I get my kit in (which I'm anxiously awaiting!).

One question that I didn't see addressed anywhere:

Can I drink well water while on the cleanse?

[mtmouse]

Hi there! I'm going to start my MC as soon as I get my kit in (which I'm anxiously awaiting!).

One question that I didn't see addressed anywhere:

Can I drink well water while on the cleanse?

Definitely! What's especially important is that the water is not treated with chlorine or fluorine. I presume your well water is not.

[pearlap73]

so i have read the various answers about p&b shakes and how you should keep it separate from the cleanse, because of the solid waste build up.

does bentonite on its own cause the same thing?? i have been taking it, and have been having only liquid BMs with some waste in them.

please advise.

I would stay away from the bentonite clay, personally. I am a "by the book, don't add anything" master cleanser. None of what I say is gospel, it's just the way I do the MC.

I have heard of cleanses that utilize the P&B shakes (like arise and shine), and I might try that one some time. But, I think taking the bentonite during the MC is counterproductive.

Just my two cents! ;)

[bayareababe]

Hi all!!:D
I tried to post this in the SWF thread but don't see my post there.:confused:
I read on here you can use soy sauce with the SWF for taste. I want to try tomorrow morning but i'm unsure of this because it is my first time reading about it.
Don't know if it effects the cleansing process?
Don't know what brand i can use ?
Don't know how much i can use?

Has anyone else tried this??

Can anyone answer my questions??:confused:

no, no soy sauce!!! got to laugh a little at that..sorry :p

[Rachellyn28]

So I'm not cleansing anymore, and I've practically sworn off the SWF for my next cleanse (it did awful things to me) but was wondering anyway....can you add some cayenne? I think that would go a long way into making it "soup like."

[peanutterb]

hmmm no one's ever asked that but i'm pretty sure the answer is no.
you want the salt solution to flush thru your body. adding cayenne changes the solution and it probably won't flush.

[bayareababe]

the reason for the ratio of the SWF and water is so that is the same specific gravity as blood. Adding cayenne to it, would upset that I think, so that the salt may get aborbed and also the water, which is opposite of what the SWF is to do. Not many of us like the SWF but it works fine the way it is. Maybe try celtic sea salt if you haven't. It definately gives it a different, milder taste and works great!

waves to peanut:D

[Moira]

Hi:
I started the Cleanse on Monday, and again on Tuesday. Monday was starvation that drove me to eat a salad at supper time, Tuesday a pounding headache. By Wednesday I had officially started the Cleanse. I did a 2 month Cleanse before Xmas with Dr. Natura products. I have had 2 suppers since Monday.
So, now I am officially on the Master Cleanse, and some sites mention taking Bentonite - 1/4 tsp. No where does it say what time of day I should take it. I am currently doing the Laxative Tea Morning and Evening (I can't stomach Salt Water - too much like a Fleet oral Enema). Any suggestions?
Moira

[Ginger]

Hi Moira - the Bentonite is not part of the MC. If you really CAN'T handle the SWF you can use the lax tea am and pm. But the SWF is definately preferred.

[sleepyhead]

Hi:
I started the Cleanse on Monday, and again on Tuesday. Monday was starvation that drove me to eat a salad at supper time, Tuesday a pounding headache. By Wednesday I had officially started the Cleanse. I did a 2 month Cleanse before Xmas with Dr. Natura products. I have had 2 suppers since Monday.
So, now I am officially on the Master Cleanse, and some sites mention taking Bentonite - 1/4 tsp. No where does it say what time of day I should take it. I am currently doing the Laxative Tea Morning and Evening (I can't stomach Salt Water - too much like a Fleet oral Enema). Any suggestions?
Moira

Those "other" Master Cleanse sites are just plain evil! :D Seriously, they give out all kinds of miscorrect harmful information. I found that site first, then this one. What a difference! This is the real one. Much more information, helpful and knowledge here.

[Lindsey]

Hi!
I am planning on starting the MC but first a few questions.....

Will i be able to continue with my normal work out regimen??? (fairly strenuous)

Do you only have BMs in the morning normally or is this something i will be dealing with at work ALL DAY?

I hear your skin clears up, should i discontinue my face creams from the dermatologist? Will they contribute as toxins in my body??

I am planning on returing to a fairly healthy diet, i am already vegan but not very healthy about it. I plan on eating mostly fruits and veggies and nuts after, but i know that i will want to go out for cocktails on the weekends. How bad is alcohol? Is there a certain kind that is best, such as wine perhaps??? Should I drink salt water the next day to cleanse???

[peanutterb]

Hi Lindsey and welcome.
Please read the General Help for Newbies thread. All your questions are addressed there.

[want2binbed]

Hi-

This is my first cleanse and I am on day 2. I feel fine just really tired but I really think that is because my toddler has been keeping me up lately! What is the rules on using Meyer Lemons?

Thank you!
-Tiffany

[mtmouse]

Hi there and welcome!

Any fresh lemons or limes are fine to use. Organic is preferred, but regular will do if that's what you can get.

Enjoy!

[vibos]

Question-can I use Super Colon Cleanse pills morning and night instead of the tea?

[Pinot]

My first post! This seems like such a friendly, informative site ... so glad I found it!

DH and I are preparing for our very first Master Cleanse. I'd like to do it "by the book" as closely as possible. However, I drink a cup of home-brewed Kombucha tea every day as well as a few ounces of pomegranate juice daily.

Must I discontinue them for the duration of the cleanse? I really hope not because I feel they are both beneficial to my well-being.

Thanks for any input ... I'm off to learn more about this great place.

[Ginger]

My first post! This seems like such a friendly, informative site ... so glad I found it!

DH and I are preparing for our very first Master Cleanse. I'd like to do it "by the book" as closely as possible. However, I drink a cup of home-brewed Kombucha tea every day as well as a few ounces of pomegranate juice daily.

Must I discontinue them for the duration of the cleanse? I really hope not because I feel they are both beneficial to my well-being.

Thanks for any input ... I'm off to learn more about this great place.

You do need to give it up for the cleanse. But, the benifits from the MC will make it worthwhile.

[sleepyhead]

Question-can I use Super Colon Cleanse pills morning and night instead of the tea?

no you can't, sorry. Lax tea and SWF. Capsules have gelatin.

K.I.S.S.
keep it simple sweetie

[Persephone]

If you are doing the master clease solely for weightloss, then there is no problem with using Ephedra to cut your cravings and help you stick to it. But if you are doing it for a detox, it is obviously counterproductive to be taking drugs like Ephedra while on the fast.

[charisman]

I have been working out with weights this spring in addition to jogging each morning before breakfast. I have done a couple of MC's 10 days each this year already. I'm preparing for a 40-day fast starting w/ the MC for at least the first 10 days. My concern is losing the muscle mass I have developed this spring and the ability to have the strength and energy to continue lifting and running. Any thoughts, anyone?

[nycchick]

Hi-

This is my first cleanse and I am on day 2. I feel fine just really tired but I really think that is because my toddler has been keeping me up lately! What is the rules on using Meyer Lemons?

Thank you!
-Tiffany
Oh, I wish I had found this site a little sooner. I want to do at least a 10 day MC. I have a toddler too, who runs circles around me LOL.

If anyone is starting a fast soon, I sure could use a buddy :rolleyes:

[charisman]

Hi nycchic...I'm starting a MC on Monday...gary8)

[BB17]

hi. i am starting the cleanse in 6 days i have already cut out coffee for about a week and dairy for about 2 weeks. i am not taking any other supplements however i do take an oral birth control and medicaiton for A.D.D. am i not to take these on the cleanse?

[mtmouse]

Hi there and welcome!

Do not stop prescription meds because of the cleanse.

For answers to questions like this, please read through the General Help for Newbies thread: http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1154

[natdidier]

Can you take Multi-Vitamins during the MC? I am sure you wrote about this already, but there are so many posts on here.

[mtmouse]

Please read the General Help for Newbies thread.

http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1154

It will answer almost all your questions. There's even a Table of Contents to help you pick and choose.

And no, do not take multivitamins or anything else unless it's prescribed by your doctor while on the cleanse.

[natdidier]

Mtmouse, I have been doing a big no no (chewing gum) and know I need to stop, but it is the only thing that has always stopped me from eating. I haven't experienced hunger while doing the cleanse so far (day 2) but don't want to end up cheating by eating something. I was wondering, seeing that lemons and peppermint are part of this fast, can I eat a little bit of the lemon with my juice or chew on a peppermint leaf? I want to stop chewing gum but I don't know if I can without shoving something else in my mouth!!

[mtmouse]

Mtmouse, I have been doing a big no no (chewing gum) and know I need to stop, but it is the only thing that has always stopped me from eating. I haven't experienced hunger while doing the cleanse so far (day 2) but don't want to end up cheating by eating something. I was wondering, seeing that lemons and peppermint are part of this fast, can I eat a little bit of the lemon with my juice or chew on a peppermint leaf? I want to stop chewing gum but I don't know if I can without shoving something else in my mouth!!

You already have cheated by eating something (gum counts as food)! :) We want to stop digestion, and when you put that sugar (or even just the sugary taste) in your mouth, your digestion starts up again. Ironically, that actually makes you more hungry.

So really, it's time for you to dig down and confront that fear. When you want to eat something, drink a lemonade. You can put a bit more MS in your drink, too.

But, yes, you can have lemon pulp and rind (and even peel, if they're organic) in your drink, and you can "chew" on that. You can also make a slushy by half-freezing the mix and chomping on that. Some people have even been known to freeze it completely and make a popsicle-type treat.

A mint leaf is out. But you can have "occasional" mint tea (I take that to mean once a day or less, myself).

You can also just chew plain ice. Get yourself past a few more days without the gum, and I think you'll be surprised at how well the lemonade can keep the hunger pangs down.

You really can do this, I know you can! :) And you'll be SO proud of yourself and so surprised at how good it was when you're done!

[natdidier]

Thanks for the push. I will try even harder and will try doing the slush drink as well. And it is true, after I chew gum I do feel hungry!!!! So no more of that. I have never gone through something like this before, so I will just have to try harder to stick with it.

[natdidier]

Well I haven't been chewing anymore gum but have had a tiny squeeze of lemon juice anytime I felt my mouth to be a little funky (Can't brush my teeth at the bar.. might hurt my tips!!) I did have a question though... I have been putting more and more pepper in my drinks lately (I like the kick), but was wondering, if I have the recommended tsp throughout the day, can I have a few glasses without it?? I did put some of the rind in with the pulp and juice and mixed in a blender with water, just to make it a bit different.. and it is good!!!

[mtmouse]

Natdidier,

Good for you on the gum. Extra lemon is fine.

I can't say for sure on the cayenne, but I think it may be okay from time to time. Or maybe, just to hedge your bet, you could put a small amount of the cayenne in those "special" glasses of the lemonade. :)

[sebastians_belle]

hey...
i'm flying from the UK to Canada tomorrow and i'm worried about the flight. flying doesn't scare me, but i can't sleep on flights and i get a really sore neck easily (i've had whiplash far too many times) if i stay awake, and then i can't function for a week.

do you (anyone out there!?) think it's okay for me to take an ambien to get through the flight?

any opinions would be most welcome.

thanks!

[PB_Detox]

I was wondering if anyone had had any experience replacing the lemon juice with goji berry juice and whether this would have the desired effect?

[mtmouse]

We recommend sticking with the Master Cleanse as it was written, because that's the way so many people have gotten such good results. I personally don't believe goji berries would be a good substitute for lemon or lime juice.

There will be plenty of time after the MC to eat or drink goji berries!

:)

[PB_Detox]

Thnx mtmouse! :)

[ohkarma]

I have a question:(and I can't start a new thread..)

I can't do the MC. I've tried..but I just can't. So, I know someone did a "meal replacement" sort of thing, drinking the lemonade to replace a meal or two each day, and still lost weight. Is that okay? Or... would t hat be wrong to do? Especially if you aren't doing the "cleansing" aspect of the whole thing... thanks for any help I can get.

[mtmouse]

I see no problem in drinking a lemonade in place of a meal. However, for doing other kinds of fasts, I would suggest you do a web search to see if you can find something that might better fit you.

Good luck!

[Raygh]

This is the twentieth day of my Master Cleanse fast. I have been adding spirullina for the past fourteen days. Has this taken away from the overall cleansing effects? Adding benzonite clay and psyllium fiber has also been suggested. Is the latter a good suggestion? I would like to stay on the fast as long as possible, but I am concerned about toxins remaing in my system after 30 days. I had lost 140 pounds prior to starting the fast.

[mtmouse]

We don't recommend adding anything to the MC. Even the spirulina is forcing your system to stay in digestive mode, and on the MC we want to stop digestion so the body can rest and heal.

Please read the General Help for Newbies sticky thread on adding stuff or deviating from the MC. If you follow the MC exactly, you don't need to worry about moving toxins along. They will.

Good luck, and good cleansing!

[sleepyhead]

This is the twentieth day of my Master Cleanse fast. I have been adding spirullina for the past fourteen days. Has this taken away from the overall cleansing effects? Adding benzonite clay and psyllium fiber has also been suggested. Is the latter a good suggestion? I would like to stay on the fast as long as possible, but I am concerned about toxins remaing in my system after 30 days. I had lost 140 pounds prior to starting the fast.

well.......... as bayareababe always said...... it if ain't broke don't fix it. Spirulina has to make the digestive system work, whether in capsules or not. The whole idea is to slow the metabolism down, hence the cold feeling, so that the MC can truly do it's work. So, I would highly suggest you not continue. Trust me, this is my 4th cleanse and all the toxins do get removed. No to the clay and fiber as well. Just do as written. The results are amazing!

[Wander]

hello anyone....I'm starting my first cleanse in four days and have spent the last couple of weeks reading. I'm glad I found this site! The book just arrived yesterday so I'm only about halfway through, but is it okay to wear the patch to try to quit smoking while I do this? (attempt to do this?:p ) I've been a heavy smoker for many years so I'm afraid to go cold turkey while I do my first mc!

[mahi]

HI Wander,
By now, you may have already found this by reading Stanley Burroughs book.
On page 40 He says, "use your finger to put a small amount of OIL of CLOVE on the back of your tongue and you will immediately lose your desire to smoke".
If you have'nt seen that yet, and you are using the patches, this may allow you to discontinue the patches (and adding the nicotine to your system).

[rain]

I'm at the end of day 9 of my cleanse. I just found this board a few days ago. I've been drinking psyllium and bentonite shakes for at least half of the 9 days (and, other than that, following the Master Cleanse instructions completely).

Now I read here that psyllium and bentonite should not be used in combination with the Master Cleanse.

For those people who (similar to me) like to know why not, here's a link to some information I've just found about this (it gives a number of reasons):

http://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=265179

I'd have preferred not having to drink those P&B shakes (I find them a bit yuckky)!! But I've still benefitted from my less-than-perfect cleanse, and still plan to end it after tomorrow. (The next one will be P&B free). I'm a little bloated from the psyllium, but the white coating that I've always had on my tongue is partially sloughing off. I was feeling really good up until a few days ago, when I started spending all day at this computer reading up on cleansing and raw foods...there's SO MUCH to learn!

[kajira]

my b/f and i have been on the MC before and saw benefits realitivly quick. My statement is that obiviously it is better to do the MC for the min recomended time; however, what are if there are any benefits in doing the MC for say 3 days in a row each month as opposed to 14 days straight each year.? this would be 36 days of cleansing rather than 14

Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

[mtmouse]

Kajira,

I think that trying to do that would miss the point. You'd just barely stop your body's digestive processes before starting them up again, and you wouldn't give yourself any real chance at true healing, because the digestion wouldn't be stopped for long enough time for that to happen.

To say nothing of getting all the horrible days and none of the good days! :D

I would think that if you wanted to do something like that, perhaps some kind of juice fast would be a better idea.

[Persephone]

I know that you are not supposed to take any vitamin supplements during the cleanse, could anyone explain to me why?
Because I take a vitamin supplement specially designed for acne and I find it really helpful and would like to continue taking it throughout the cleanse.
My supplement is by a naturals/vegan company and doesn't contain any salt, yeast, corn, gluten, milk derivatives, preservatives, artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. So if it is because of those things that supplements should be avoided, maybe my one is OK. Thoughts?

[suzeekay]

Ephedra is supposed to be herbal isnt it ? what about OOlong tea ?

[me_so_spoiled]

Does anyone know it it's okay to suck one lemons with salt on the cleanse?

[Res]

No, it's not ok. If you take a peek at Burroughs book the instructions and what you can and can't have are there. :)

[stumble]

I am on day 3 of the cleanse and only cheated once - with a gulp of molasses. My husband started today and has stopped taking:

Lopressor 50 mg (for blood pressure)

Plavix (to keep his blood from clotting and ruining his new Aorta valve)

Liptor (to keep his cholesterol low so he doesn't need a second bypass operation)

Amitriptyline (a dual purpose drug to alleviate the neuropathology pain in his legs and also a anti-depressant.

Vicoden 7.5 (he has severe back stenonis and this is a major pain pill for back pain.

He is 77 years old.

I guess if he's willing to give these up in exchange for a major system upgrade, than you can give up your silly little things.

His only problem so far is high blood pressure.

Sandy in FL -going to the prefect BMI

[sopheetsa]

Just a quick note: Stumble (congratulations on your day 3!!!:)) About your husband: at the same time that -- I'm ALL FOR HIS GOING OFF MEDS-- (and I am not a doctor so take whatever I say with a grain of salt-- err--- for what it is worth)-- it is VERY IMPORTANT to be cautious with prescribed medications! It might be better to go off them slowly rather than cold turkey. I will say I was on prescribed antihistamines for very bad allergies, on my first cleanse--and I went cold turkey, and it worked! But this is quite a list, and when you are "detoxing" on the cleanse, there is already a heavy burden on your system from detox symptoms-- so I just hope he proceeds carefully. Stopping cold turkey on these meds might lead to an overload on his system that could be very challenging!

Here's an abridged post of Peter's on high blood pressure, including a cautionary note.

Hi lafsalot,

I'm sorry to hear that you had trouble with your blood pressure and edema. ----I want to make it clear that I cannot diagnose, treat, prescribe, nor cure as I am not a licensed health care provider. Even if I were, however, I wouldn't attempt to do those things without your complete medical history, a physical, and any recent tests.


Fasting is well documented in medical literature for lowering blood pressure. So, if it's is not coming down while on the Master Cleanse (a modified juice fast), I suggest your review the book you have (whether mine or Burroughs') to verify that you are doing the Master Cleanse correctly by the book.

You are the person that is ultimately responsible for your health even though you may seek advice or treatment from licensed health care providers. If your blood pressure is becoming dangerously high or your edema suggests a major health risk, you should seriously consider consulting your licensed health care provider, whether MD, chiropractor, nutritionist, acupuncturist, or doctor of naturopathy. Only you can decide whether that is necessary at this point.

I hope this helps,
Peter8)

[lima64]

This question is going to sound crazy--- but what would happen if I had a glass of wine on day 6 of the fast? I am going to a social event tomorrow that I planned (I'm in college) and it would just seem really weird and out of character for me to not have one single glass of wine (its a wine & cheese party sponsored by my sorority)... After all it is a liquid, would my system flip? I know its not the ideal detox... but in theory, assuming that I really want to just have one single glass, would that make me sick?

Andrea

yes, it will make you sick. yoru body will flush as if you were having an allergic reaction

[mtmouse]

Even if it doesn't make you sick, it will start up your digestion again and you'll need to consider that you're back to day 1 the next day. It wouldn't be worth it to me!

[gerryvanrooyen]

Hi Stumble, Yes, I must agree that your husband has taken on a huge task by going cold on the amount of medication and he will have to listen very carefully to his body. It will be reacting not only to the normal detox but also the rejected poisonous drugs that have been traped in the fatty cells and tissues which will enter his blood streem and lymphatic system. He should walk and if possible GENTLY use a mini rebounder (trampoline) to help his lymphatic system to move the lymph and keep it in good working condition through out the day. The lymphatic system is mainly responsible for clearing poisons from the body and is only activated by muscular action. I sincerely hope this will help in some small way. Namaste, Gerry.

[teki!!]

I had golden syrup instead of maple syrup in 2 of my lemonades today...is that bad? :l And last night i took 2 pain killers....i tried to dissolve it first in water before drinking it, is that alright?

[mtmouse]

No, painkillers are are not all right. However, it's always your choice.

Please read the General Help for Newbies thread. There's a table of contents on page 1. The questions you've been asking are answered there.

http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1154

[Res]

What is Golden Syrup? Are you in the UK? I seem to remember something like that over yonder.

This is what is officially allowed:

Maple
Pure cane juice
Blackstrap molasses
Agave nectar

Anything else is a no no. ;)

Love,
~Res

[Res]

"but what would happen if I had a glass of wine on day 6 of the fast?"

Listen to the group on this one.

My 2 cents: You're going to hate yourself temporarily if you cave... 8) not worth it.

[kleanser]

I don't know if anyone else had this experience but I found that the Maple Syrup was too sweet - sickeningly so. I switched it out for Agave Nectar. The drink tastes more like a lemonade with that zip. I use only about 1 Tbs of agave nectar and it tastes great. I'm on Day 5 right now and I've lost weight, inches, and have more energy. So if anyone finds that these drinks are too sweet at somepoint - try the Avage Nectar, it tastes almost like honey, but less robust and has many health benefits . Cheers!

[sweet pea]

Hey, has anyone tried using cane juice to replace maple syrup and water for the lemonade ingredients and was the results the same as drinking the original recipe?

[rozy]

Hi everyone

off subject... does anyone know what is the main difference between colonic and MC besides the fact that you give a big rest to your digestive system... Aren't we supposed to achieve the same goal? even after asking the question, having done the two, I am a bigger fan of the MC...
But i m curious to know if anyone can be more specific as far as pros and cons of these 2 cleansings..
Sorry if this is a totally naive question maybe i need to know more biology... but hey i just put it out there
and cant wait to hear from u ....

i am on my 3rd day... i need clarity this 2nd time aoround like an epiphany in my life ...

Best of luck!

[sweet pea]

Hi everyone

off subject... does anyone know what is the main difference between colonic and MC besides the fact that you give a big rest to your digestive system... Aren't we supposed to achieve the same goal? even after asking the question, having done the two, I am a bigger fan of the MC...
But i m curious to know if anyone can be more specific as far as pros and cons of these 2 cleansings..
Sorry if this is a totally naive question maybe i need to know more biology... but hey i just put it out there
and cant wait to hear from u ....

i am on my 3rd day... i need clarity this 2nd time aoround like an epiphany in my life ...

Best of luck!

Colonics only clean part of the colon, it can't clean the entire colon. On the MC you are completely cleansed from head to toe,inside and out. If considering a colonic make sure you go to a person who is licensed/or done several and comes highly recommended. One of the risk factors of colonics is if the person who cleaning ruptures or pokes a whole in you causing damage.

[rozy]

Thank u sweet pea, now that i think about it ,it says in the name that it only cleans the colon ....

i am getting a clearer head ha....

thanks for taking the time

[rozy]

Hi

I realized i have been drinking my green tea caffeinated.. how bad is it ?
and what about mouth wash ?
I am not drinking an ounce of water just the lemonade ....

day 5... and the beauty is i didnt give myself a deadline so i will keep going ..

cant wait to read you ..

[xtina]

Hi

I realized i have been drinking my green tea caffeinated.. how bad is it ?
and what about mouth wash ?
I am not drinking an ounce of water just the lemonade ....

day 5... and the beauty is i didnt give myself a deadline so i will keep going ..

cant wait to read you ..

Hey there

a few things...you really are not supposed to drink green tea at all..only 1 cup of peppermint tea (unsweetened) is allowed but otherwise only the mix and water

not sure about mouthwash...I suppose it is not the best idea as there is all kinds of chemicals in there and you always do end up swallowing a bit even though of course it is spit out mostly.

regarding the water: you really really should drink some water. a) It does get you in the good habbit (we all should really drink lots of water in the day cleanse or not and b) it probably reduces the amount of mix you drink

hmm sorry...more restrictions I know..but hey only 10 days of many many other non cleansing days

best,
c

[sweet pea]

Thank u sweet pea, now that i think about it ,it says in the name that it only cleans the colon ....

i am getting a clearer head ha....

thanks for taking the time

Your welcome!!! Good Luck!!:)

[sweet pea]

What is Golden Syrup? Are you in the UK? I seem to remember something like that over yonder.

This is what is officially allowed:

Maple
Pure cane juice
Blackstrap molasses
Agave nectar

Anything else is a no no. ;)

Love,
~Res

So instead of the maple syrup ( :( ) I can use the above ingredients for replace in the same amount as if I was using the maple syrup.

[reneerenee]

I know and agree with keeping to the exact perameters of the cleanse (this is my second cleanse, first was Sept. 07), but I have been taking liquid iodine supplements for my hair and don't want to stop while on the cleanse. Today is Day 4 and I have been adding the Crystal Star brand liquid Iodine to my first lemonade of the morning with no detrimental effect felt. Is there any reason this is wrong or dangerous? Thanks!

[Res]

Sweet pea: Yes. :)

reneerenee: The only time Burroughs indicates that anything else can be taken on the cleanse is when it's prescribed by a doctor and your health depends on it. He doesn't want anyone quitting their medication. That's why we stick to the parameters he outlines. :)

Love,
~Res

[vincentc]

I have a REALLY dumb question but I'm going to ask it anyway as I won't be able to hear your laughter. Is it OK to use sparkling water in the mix, as well as drinking straight during the cleanse? I'm starting my 2nd cleanse this Saturday and I also have a fridge full of Pelligrino so I thought I would check with the MC tribunal for the verdict. Yes No?

[mayablue]

I have a REALLY dumb question but I'm going to ask it anyway as I won't be able to hear your laughter. Is it OK to use sparkling water in the mix, as well as drinking straight during the cleanse? I'm starting my 2nd cleanse this Saturday and I also have a fridge full of Pelligrino so I thought I would check with the MC tribunal for the verdict. Yes No?

No, unfortunately sparkling water isn't allowed. Just purified/spring water only. Good luck to you!

[vincentc]

Thanks Maya...I will stay away from sparking during the clease.

[Res]

Vincent: What you COULD do is put a sticky on the bottle with your END date on it. ;) I love Pelligrino too. :)

Love,
~Res

[vincentc]

Thanks Res. Great idea! I'm on Day 2...a long way to go for me...

[cleanserookie]

is it ok to supplement with laxative pills if not having BM with the SWF and tea?

also, does anyone know if it's ok to "cram" all your lemonades into a short period of time? Sometimes i am in bed for long periods of time and only have about 5 hours out of bed so don't have much time in which to space the 6-12 glasses out. is cramming ok?

thank you

[mtmouse]

Hi there cleanserookie,

I'm answering all your questions here. Please just ask each question only once, in one place. We'll eventually find you!

You should not take any capsules or tablets on the MC, except those that are your prescription meds.

As for cramming, I suppose it's technically okay, but it's probably not the best. Can you put a cooler next to your bed with some extra glasses of lemonade in there? Or even just make, say, a liter at a time and have it on the bedstand. Then perhaps you could space it out more.

If you're actually sleeping all the time except for the 5 hours, then cramming is probably the best solution. In that case, it would probably be easier just to have 6 glasses per day.

Good luck to you!

[syntaxiss]

No, unfortunately sparkling water isn't allowed. Just purified/spring water only. Good luck to you!

I would be interested in a scientific and or a philosophical reason for this if possible, I am not being argumentative, only seeking clarification to strengthen my MC knowledge.

[syntaxiss]

What is Golden Syrup? Are you in the UK? I seem to remember something like that over yonder.

This is what is officially allowed:

Maple
Pure cane juice
Blackstrap molasses
Agave nectar

Anything else is a no no. ;)

Love,
~Res

As a question: Where was it originally stated that Agave Nectar is permitted? That seems a new concept to me, I do not remember ever reading about it in Stanley Burroughs book perhaps I have been missing out. Could someone shed some light on this for for me please?

[mayablue]

I would be interested in a scientific and or a philosophical reason for this if possible, I am not being argumentative, only seeking clarification to strengthen my MC knowledge.

I have heard this from most of the MODs at some point on the boards. The Master Cleanser was specific to purified/spring water. Even though the sparkling water doesn't list any calories, it is still carbonated - whether natural or not - and I think that is part of the reason.

[Res]

You didn't read it in Burroughs book because it's not there. ;)

"Several" people emailed Peter and me that they used Agave Nectar because a spouse was Diabetic and couldn't handle the Blackstrap Molasses. Have you ever tried that in the lemonade? Blech! I tried to swallow just one tbls and ended up spewing it into the sink. AND I love molasses.

THEN: I used myself as a guinea pig and substituted the Agave on 3 cleanses with the same results as using maple.

So after a lot of research it was decided that if members (and I) had success with using agave nectar and were going to do it with or without our blessing and Burroughs isn't here to ask that it seemed fine. :)

Love,
~Res

[syntaxiss]

As a question: Where was it originally stated that Agave Nectar is permitted? That seems a new concept to me, I do not remember ever reading about it in Stanley Burroughs book perhaps I have been missing out. Could someone shed some light on this for for me please?

In seeking to answer my own question I went searching around this board and found this to be very interesting:

Agave nectar is low on the glycemic index which makes it perfect for diabetics. Here's a short blurb about it;

"Functional Properties"

Agave Nectar is the natural caloric sweetener with the lowest glycemic index. Under medical control it can be used by diabetic people (Type II, non-insulin dependant).
Due to its perfect sugars relation along with oligo-organics (characteristic of the Agave plant), Agave Nectar mixed with citric juices might be considered as a natural laxative, relieving constipation problems.
The Agave Nectar oligo-organic contents help the well functioning of gall bladder, helping to saponification of fats. Its oligo-organic contents also work against the blocking of arteries and veins due to high cholesterol levels.
Agave Nectar enhances flavors, keeping the perfect flavor for a longer period of time.


SUGARS\Glycemic Index
Organic Agave Nectar 14
Fructose 32
Lactose 65
Honey 83
High fructose corn syrup 89 [Pers. corres. w/Prof. Brand Miller]
Sucrose 92
Glucose 137
Glucose tablets 146
Maltodextrin 150
Maltose 150"

[syntaxiss]

You didn't read it in Burroughs book because it's not there. ;)

"Several" people emailed Peter and me that they used Agave Nectar because a spouse was Diabetic and couldn't handle the Blackstrap Molasses. Have you ever tried that in the lemonade? Blech! I tried to swallow just one tbls and ended up spewing it into the sink. AND I love molasses.

THEN: I used myself as a guinea pig and substituted the Agave on 3 cleanses with the same results as using maple.

So after a lot of research it was decided that if members (and I) had success with using agave nectar and were going to do it with or without our blessing and Burroughs isn't here to ask that it seemed fine. :)

Love,
~Res


I went out and got both molasses and Agave nectar yesterday, for our Lemonade "Superbowl" party tomorrow, and WOW! the Agave is yummilicious! Also, I just found this morning the above information posted about the Agave, it seemed very interesting and encouraging. It tastes great as well, much better than the molasses for me anyway. (I still love the grade B maple syrup too)

[Res]

The Maple is still my favorite too. :) The Agave is a nice change up and could really help when we get bored with the lemonade. It opens a whole new menu (sort of ;));

Lemonade normal
Lemonade agave

Limeade normal
Limeade agave

Lemon/lime normal... (you get my drift) :)

Love,
~Res

[xstayxtruex7]

I was wondering if you could chew gum while you're on the MC.

[mtmouse]

Nope, no gum on the MC!

But you can brush your teeth a lot to make them feel better, and you can drink some mint tea occasionally to help with bad breath (lots of water also helps).

:p

[everevolving]

And I beleive you can enjoy a nice cup of organic peppermint tea, too! It's a great way to zest up your tongue every once in a while.

[Littlerachel05]

I have a question about the master cleanse. Can you chew chewing gum while you are on the cleanse? I haven't read anything saying you can't. So, I thought I would ask. Thanks!

[MrsPerez]

I was wondering if it is okay to add extra cayenne.
I read in the book that the cayenne breaks the mucus and speeds the motabolism by opening viens.
Any knowlage on this?

[mtmouse]

I have a question about the master cleanse. Can you chew chewing gum while you are on the cleanse? I haven't read anything saying you can't. So, I thought I would ask. Thanks!

No gum. Sorry!

:)

[mtmouse]

I was wondering if it is okay to add extra cayenne.
I read in the book that the cayenne breaks the mucus and speeds the motabolism by opening viens.
Any knowlage on this?

Yes, you're free to add extra cayenne to your taste.

Enjoy! :p

[Big Timber]

Has anybody had any experience using a sauna during the cleanse? I'm going to start a 10 day next week, and am considering using a dry sauna for 1/2 hour each day of the cleanse.

Is this safe? Recommended?

Thanks.

[caramello]

AHHH. ok I have a bad habit. I can't stop eating ICE:) I don't know what its attributed to, and I hope I will stop once I'm done with the cleanse....but ...is it really that bad to have on the cleanse?? It is water, just frozen....I just have to have a cup of cool crunchy soothing ice, and the ice at my office is so refreshing ahhhhhh, please advise!!

[mtmouse]

Caramello,

Not to worry! Enjoy your ice. (Just watch your teeth, LOL.)

[RBenash]

The Maple is still my favorite too. :) The Agave is a nice change up and could really help when we get bored with the lemonade. It opens a whole new menu (sort of ;));

Lemonade normal
Lemonade agave

Limeade normal
Limeade agave

Lemon/lime normal... (you get my drift) :)

Love,
~Res

Yes it is a good way to get some variety. Just have to remember that the Agave is about 30% more calorie dense so some folks might want to adjust down from 2 Tbs. if that's important to them. 40 calories for a Tbs. of MS vs. 60 for AS. So 40 more calories per serving of LA when using AS. Does it really matter that much? Probably not.

[mtmouse]

Has anybody had any experience using a sauna during the cleanse? I'm going to start a 10 day next week, and am considering using a dry sauna for 1/2 hour each day of the cleanse.

Is this safe? Recommended?

Thanks.

You should be fine. Enjoy!

[Big Timber]

You should be fine. Enjoy!

Great, thanks.

[eartha65]

A girlfriend of mine actually put a couple drinks in the freezer and made a lemonade slushy. The urge to masticate is real!

[elisabeth]

I was just curious how often it is ok to do the cleanse? I know the book advises 3-4 times a year, but would it be detrimental to do it more if you can? I felt so great afterwards and it helped me get back into healthy eating habits. But a few too many vacations have hurt that slightly. Otherwise, would it be bad to do the cleanse for just a day or two to help kick-start good habits? maybe even one day a week just to cleanse a bit?

[peanutterb]

I was just curious how often it is ok to do the cleanse? I know the book advises 3-4 times a year, but would it be detrimental to do it more if you can? I felt so great afterwards and it helped me get back into healthy eating habits. But a few too many vacations have hurt that slightly. Otherwise, would it be bad to do the cleanse for just a day or two to help kick-start good habits? maybe even one day a week just to cleanse a bit?

hey elisabeth, it's best to stick to the proper directions - 3 to 4 times a year and at least 10 days per cleanse. anything deviating from that could be detrimental to your health and is not recommended. there is a more detailed explanation of this in the General Help for Newbies thread - please give it a read.

[dkotschessa]

hey elisabeth, it's best to stick to the proper directions - 3 to 4 times a year and at least 10 days per cleanse. anything deviating from that could be detrimental to your health and is not recommended. there is a more detailed explanation of this in the General Help for Newbies thread - please give it a read.

Perhaps a good idea would be to engage in more periods of all-raw diets in between cleanses, for one who isn't a raw foodie already. That kind of eating alone serves as a cleanse.

In fact that just about sounds like a plan. :)

-DaveK

[charl]

I bought your book on the MC and went straight to the shopping page, where it said to buy 40 lemons, etc, I proceeded to buy all I need then read your book in prep. As you state no one on Chemo should do the fast, and I am under tons of stress last week and this next along with all the toxic medications, I decided maybe now is not the time to start my MC. I thought what to do with all theis lemon and maple syrup. Figured I would make up the juice and drink several times a day, eat less and prepare for when I am not under so much stress and try it anyway... Any other suggestions on how to use up lemons and maple syrup? Do you think drinking the lemonade will help at all if not a complete fast? (I am not a big maple syrup fan) so taste is not so pleasing. I used to eat 100% raw until october when I was diagnosed with two forms of cancer..... then moved and could not get good organic produce and temp was much colder gave up raw foods.. MIss it terrible.....Saw the fast thought great then read the book.....

[jab]

Hello:
I wondered if anyone has tried the drink without any maple syrup.
What do you think might be the considerations if I deleted the syrup?
JaB

[jasmynediva]

some alternatives are: raw, unfiltered, uncooked/un heated honey (harvested locally if possible), agave nectar or stevia (liquid is preferrable)

[mtmouse]

Sorry, but no.

Honey is absolutely not a part of the Master Cleanse. In fact, Burroughs doesn't believe in consuming honey at any time.

Stevia (in any form) is also not acceptable.

The only sweeteners allowed on the MC are maple syrup, agave nectar, molasses, fresh sugar cane juice, or sorghum.

Please, as this thread is all about, do not change the ingredients of the cleanse. Every one has a reason and a benefit, and the formula has withstood the test of time.

[Harmony2]

Then it won't be the MC, it's will be your detox, you can use less Maple but for you to use none, you may want to research detox programs that has no Maple in them, hope this helps.
Form a faithful for life MCer...............

[Harmony2]

I have a friend that stated she was also going on the MC last year, BUT was changing a few things, I had to laugh, I said to her well then you are not going on the MC, what is this with changing it, I also stated that if she had the answers then she could and can write her own detox tried and followed detox program.
Go figure, I follow the MC, I have Stanleys book, on Curezone and other MC support groups, it works for me and I am and will continue to work it..................

[holma]

Hello BB! Well... day five for me... in the beginning i didn't think i could do it and said i'd "try five" and after reading through therawfoodsite.com im solid on going 10...maybe more, i feel great and looking forward to a pinky tounge...but i have a question :confused:

is carbonated water okay? pelegrino...perrier? it is still mineral water...just carbonated... please does anyone know if this will in any way effect the cleanse?

THANKS!!! cheerio

holma

[mtmouse]

Hi holma,

Nope to the carbonated water. Sorry! :(

Have a great cleanse!

[RunningBlind]

Does anyone else use Oxypowder instead of the Lax tea? I actually like the results better.

Oxypowder didn't even exist when the MC was made.

I'm just wondering because I do. I get massive cramps with senna tea even if I only steep it for 2 minutes.

[bel]

what is oxypowder???

[RunningBlind]

what is oxypowder???

It's a colon clenase product that basically liquifies EVERYTHING in your colon and pushes it out. Sounds like a laxative but it's different. Look at oxypowder.com if you're interested. Not as cheap as senna tea though.

[iyutepo]

Stanley Burroughs says, "Extra water may be taken as desired." This appears in the "How much does one drink?" section. Personally, I generally do NOT desire any extra water.
When I read this site, however, it is suggested/recommended that we drink a glass of water between each lemonade, and the goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces. My question is, what is the basis for all of the water drinking? This is not in Stanley Burroughs' book.

[Xilef]

On my second day on the MC I ended up being in a situation where all I had to drink was "100%" orange juice!
I had the equivalence of about 500ml, so I drank less lemonade when I got home.
This shouldn't be too much of a problem. Right? :confused:

[mtmouse]

Hi Xilef and welcome!

Yes, it is actually a problem to have OJ instead of lemonade. Technically, you should start counting tomorrow (or the day after the OJ) as day 1. It's not about how much you drank, but the fact that it was "food".

Nothing is allowed on the MC except lemons/limes, MS/agave, cayenne, salt (in the SWF), laxative tea, and *occasional" mint tea. Having anything else gets your digestion started up again and defeats the purpose of the MC. Plus, it makes it hard on you--you'll very likely feel much more hungry because of it.

Of course, whether you start counting over is up to you, but if you want the full benefit of the MC, that would be my suggestion.

In the future you need to set it up so you aren't in situations like that! :)

[healthymarcus]

I am thinking about adding coconut water instead of water throughout the day, right from the coconut:D I am interested in knowing if I could use that. I am not interested in losing weight (barely have fat on me) and I know that coconut water is extreamly good for you with much beneficial properties. Please inform if this is ok? also, I would like to know how to make a jug of the master cleanse mix so I can just make it once a day! I will also be using a local super sour mini orange grown right next to my house, so I am following some macrobiotic principles. 8) thanks for you help!

[mtmouse]

Hi healthymarcus,

If you want to do the MC, then the coconut water is not allowed. Nor are the oranges. So if you use those, you're doing your own cleanse. It might be fabulous, but it won't be the Master Cleanse.

We encourage people to do the MC as written, because we know it works.

Have a good one, whatever you choose to do. :)

[Allie22]

Greetings Everyone!

I am on Day 3 of the MC and still psyched about it. I would not have made it this far without this website and all of your questions and mutual support, this website rocks!! This is not easy, and should be called a *SLOW* instead of a *FAST*! But, like y'all, I keep wondering if I can add anything to this already-perfect cleanse just for variety or maybe even a special boost...

My question is, could I add an occasional cup of chamomile tea? Or other herbal tea (like what about any brand of *Detox* tea, there are many out there)? My guess is that milk thistle or any other herbal infusions that support liver or kidneys might over-stimulate them. I am not sleeping well (dern hotflashes) and would love a cuppa some Yogi Bedtime Tea. Any thoughts?? :p

Allie

[mtmouse]

Hi Allie,

The only teas allowed on the MC are the laxative teas and "occasional" mint tea (which probably means once a day or less).

So no to the chamomile, no to the milk thistle, no to the "detox teas". You can have as much of those as you want when you're done with the MC. Which really isn't that long, when you think of it! :)

[Stryder]

Greetings,

I just started the cleanse today, and since the cleanse lacks essential fatty acids I was just wondering if I could supplement with Omega 3 tablets.

Thank you very much.

[mtmouse]

Nope, Stryder,

Don't do that. The cleanse works just fine as is, and you can make up the fatty acids later. Tablets have fillers, and fatty acids have fats, and neither will help your cleanse. In fact, they will make it harder and less effective, since the point of the cleanse is to shut down digestion so your body can heal. Adding stuff like that means your body still has to digest and defeats the purpose, and will even make you hungrier while cleansing.

Please just do the MC as written. It does work. Ten days out of your life (or your fatty acids) won't make any difference in the long run, but undermining your cleanse with tablets can certainly make it not work as well.

[shayatl]

Hey I just started the cleanse yesterday can I eat pepermints on the master cleanse?8)

[mtmouse]

No peppermints!

Please read the first several pages of this thread as well as the General Help for Newbies thread.

You are allowed an "occasional" cup of peppermint tea, which we take to mean once a day or less.

[Bogi]

Sorry, Shayatl, you can't. Although you can have occasionally organic pure mint tea (up to 1 cup a day).

[cikette9]

I was wondering if anyone knew if it was OK to drink any kind of herbal tea while on the cleanse. I know that organic mint tea is OK, but I also found a Yogi Tea called DETOX. It's herbal and caffiene free. Any thoughts?

[rabbit07]

I was wondering if anyone knew if it was OK to drink any kind of herbal tea while on the cleanse. I know that organic mint tea is OK, but I also found a Yogi Tea called DETOX. It's herbal and caffiene free. Any thoughts?

I would like to know too!! I have Yogi tea in my cupboard.

[mtmouse]

Sorry, no tea other than the mint.

Save your detox tea for after your cleanse. It'll be fine then!

[Loveland Lady]

Can I just drink plain water in adddition to the lemonade mixture on this or not? I've been trying to find that answer and can't find it. I'm on day 2 and am SO thirsty! Thanks!

[mtmouse]

Yes, you may, and in fact you should. We suggest you drink at least one glass of plain water for every lemonade. You can basically drink as much extra water as you desire.

[RunningBlind]

I know everyone says not to quit taking medication while on the cleanse. This isn't my first but this time I'm on Hydrocortisone which I was told to "take with food" especially "milk, crackers or cheese because it coats the stomach"(which I don't do because I don't eat that crap)

I'm wondering how I can fast or modify it so I can still take it? Would agave be a "stomach coating"? I'm going to be on this drug for at least MONTHS so I don't want to hear to wait until I'm off it because that can seriously be a long time.. Could I use ANY other juice as a supposed "coating" Maybe just use all the pulp and blend it? It would go right through me anyway right?

[billeon]

Is it okay to add ice to the beverages? I find my lemonade much more enjoyable with a bit of ice at the end to nibble on. Also is it okay to ice the lemonade, so they become freeze-pop like things with lemons, maple syrup, cayeenne pepper and water?

[rabbit07]

I know everyone says not to quit taking medication while on the cleanse. This isn't my first but this time I'm on Hydrocortisone which I was told to "take with food" especially "milk, crackers or cheese because it coats the stomach"(which I don't do because I don't eat that crap)

I'm wondering how I can fast or modify it so I can still take it? Would agave be a "stomach coating"? I'm going to be on this drug for at least MONTHS so I don't want to hear to wait until I'm off it because that can seriously be a long time.. Could I use ANY other juice as a supposed "coating" Maybe just use all the pulp and blend it? It would go right through me anyway right?

Are you have skin problems? I was also prescribed for same medicine, but I have stopped after hearing horror stories with side effects. It cures one problem but will give you ten. You can stop the medication ,while on the cleanse and restart it. It is not going to harm you, if you stop for 15 days( 10 days for cleanse + days for juices and soups)

[Mudbee]

I am on day 9 of the Master Cleanse. Although the instructions is to add nothing and eat nothing except for the lemonade, SWF and laxative /mint teas, I made the decision since day 4 to vary the approach. I am sure that my cleanse will not be 100% effective, but I will say to everyone that it still has made a huge difference for me, say, 90%. I have general anxiety disorder and a blood sugar irregularity so my doctors discouraged the program, however I took that in stride, because I needed to lose 10 lbs and clear my system (since I've had two colds in a month and I'm sure it's because I was toxic).

I'm not suggesting this to everyone, however I wanted to share what I DID do during the Cleanse. I lost 7 lbs so far, have a bit of increased energy, and amazingly, LESS anxiety than before. The cleanse sort of gave me this strange inner calm the whole way through.

Day 1-2 did the cleanse by the book.
Day 3-5 allowed myself to have 10 raw almonds for a little extra boost, as I work long hours which also demanded 100% focus. (I'm a design director)
Day 6-9 15 raw almonds, 1/2 cup of organic veggie broth every evening
Through it all, I occasionally took a multi-vitamin.

there you go, I feel great, btw I also smoke, something to occupy my boredom and cravings). Overall, I didn't do this 100% the MC way, but I'm thinner, my eyes are brighter, my skin is radiant, and I can fit into a size 4 again. I will definitely do this again, and will try to do this right the next time. I wouldn't say I fail this time, however. It was a success in my book!:)

So what I'm saying is-- the MC is amazing for your health and it works, even if you cheat a little. I'm not encouraging that people cheat, but you will need to decide whatever works for you.

[isenk]

Hi, I am on day 3 on my 3rd MC. I am doing it slightly different this time. I am not doing the swf. However I may later. I am doing the tea twice a day and taking psyllium husk twice a day. BM's have been regular and good. I feel great and have lost 6lbs already!! In the LA I add some black strap molasse with the maple syrup for extra vitamins. I feel great.

[bbl]

Mud Bee, I've been wondering about changing it a little myself. Now I am no doctor and I only have a BS in Biology but I would think that if everything is routine such as the tea and the SWF and you do something little like chew gum nothing would be wrong with that. I know most people on this board would not agree with me but if you chew gum that is not putting anything on your stomach. So even if it keeps "digestion" going it would not prevent the toxins on your intestinal wall from coming out. Essentially there is still nothing on the stomach and the tea and SWF are still getting the same stuff off of the intestinal wall as if you didn't chew gum. Even with eating something small that will not have a lot of weight in your stomach. Now I am on day6 but counting the weekend previously where I had some chicken (1 piece) the cleanse it would be day 8. My body was still affected by the cleanse even when I ate that chicken. Now I wouldn't eat anything like sugar or anything like that and I personally would not eat anything else once I started not eating anything b/c it would just lead to eating more and more for me. But I think some parts of the book are extreme and I know a lot of people on here say if it ain't broke don't fix it but for some people it is "broke" if they are having a hard time coping.

[suzzanne]

I've been not really varying the master cleanse except the last 2 days I got some limes instead of lemons. THen this morning after the swf, I tried putting my lime juice water and maple syrup in my Vita Mix (high powered blender) with about 5 ice cubes. It was a nice change from the room temp lemonade. I also HATE the spicy cayenne pepper taste, so I put my 1/10 tsp of cayenne in a shot glass and add my lemonade slushy, down it and then I can enjoy the limeade as is with the maple syrup only slushy style.

[frank370]

From a recent question:

My girlfriend is planning to do the cleanse in January, she has read the book, but is planning on also taking diet supplements with ephedra in it (it is back on the market now.)

She thinks the ephedra will help her cut her cravings, and give her more energy, and make the cleanse easier, and the results better.

I told her not to to that, I don't think she will listen to me. Can you post something on it, or give me some words of wisdom to tell her, that she may listen to?


You're a good friend, XXXXXXXX. :)

After coaching more than 500 people on the Master Cleanse in just the last 2 years, I can tell you with great certainty that adding anything to the Master Cleanse (other than items prescribed by licensed health care professionals) is A) unnecessary and B) reduces the gains.

The reason is to be found in studies on fasting. The Master Cleanse is a form of juice fasting and one of the most powerful forms of that. I would estimate it to be nearly as powerful as water fasting, but without the need for bed rest and less detox symptoms because water fasting typically doesn't include any additional elminination actions such as colonics or salt water flushes.

The truth, which is covered up by advertising of manufacturers, is that the body has its own reset button: fasting. Adding anything to the Master Cleanse just makes it less effective in letting the body heal itself.

I hope this helps and I hope your friend appreciates having such a good friend as you, ;)

Peter 8)
Can you increase the cayenne? Due to a plaque problem (cayenne is good for this) I want to increase the cayenne to 1/2 tsp. in which I am already use to. This is my first MC and I am on day 4.
Thanks in advance. Frank

[luvnlemon]

Caffeine, my question is about using caffeine to get through the cleanse. I understand this is one of the things we are trying to get away from but for those of us that still need a little is it that bad. Has anyone still had success on the cleanse while still getting some for of caffeine. Mainly for the increase in alertness, energy, etc. I'm not talking about drinking soda or other chemically filled substances, just caffeine. Thanks,

[tac1012]

Is "bagged ice" usually spring or distilled water?

[strangebee]

I'm wondering is mineral water alright? I really do not see the problem with it myself... I mean I wouldn't think the natural carbonation would make a difference. Thoughts?

[mangolove]

I've done the master cleanse about 12 times now, the longest being 34 days. The last time I did it I was sick of the lemonade by day one, so I modified it a bit. I added one TBS freshl strawberry juice to each glass of lemonade, to make it strawberry lemonade. It was delicious! I made sure that it was all liquid, no pulp, so it wouldn't engage my digestive system any more than the lemons would. I also drank the water from young coconuts daily. It was so good and refreshing! I did the SWF and the tea everyday, so I didn't change that.

I believe making those modifications helped me to keep going with the cleanse for 16 days. Overall it was a very beneficial experience for me.

peace

[NewCompleteMe]

I'm taking Homeopathy medi - Lycopodium Clav for my anxiety - will this effect me on the cleanse?

[mtmouse]

Nope! You'll be fine.

:)

[NewCompleteMe]

Nope! You'll be fine.

:)

Ok, thanks!

[babsofyours]

Is it ok to take the cayenne seperate with a shot of MS?

[mtmouse]

Is it ok to take the cayenne seperate with a shot of MS?

Technically, yes, for the cayenne.* However, you might want to read what Peter Glickman (our list owner) has to say about cayenne:

http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?p=38387&highlight=cayenne#post38387

*And everybody please note: this "shot" approach must never be used for the salt in the SWF.*

[bucpaul]

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere before but.....regarding herbal teas, I remember the last time I did the cleanse peppermint tea was highly recommended. Can anyone say if all other herbal teas are allowed as well? I don't have the book on me at the moment to reference it, but I *think* herbal teas were permitted?

While on the subject of teas, would green tea be allowed or does that have trace elements of caffeine in it?

[learnl8]

Sometimes I spoon my cleanse out of a beautiful bowl. Other times I drink it from a gorgeous wine glass or champagne flute. If I drink it hot it's in my favorite mug. However you need to. Indulge in your fantasies...

[princessme25]

the original book says not to add stuff to it. but these cravings are hard ..17days to go t-minus

[princessme25]

before i started the cleanse i was taking 2 tablespoons of acai juice conectrated from health food store and 2tbls of Goji juice (think thats what its called) is it ok to still take them? i havent yet on day 6 now just curious:D ?

[BIGLU]

Hello to everyone!
I am on day 2 and I’m having hunger cravings. I make my drinks with 16oz of water, 1 squeezed lemon , 2 tblsp of maple syrup, cy pepper and it taste sour, like lemon with water

My question is this: Can I add any other fruit juice to the regular lemonade drink? Answer yes or no
Grape juice
Grapefruit juice
Orange juice

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

[shayrae]

Hello to everyone!
My question is this: Can I add any other fruit juice to the regular lemonade drink? Answer yes or no
Grape juice
Grapefruit juice
Orange juice

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

Sorry, nothing can be added to the lemonade!!! Happy Cleansing!!!

Shelly

[karen2009]

I am new to Master Cleanse. Can I substitue raw fresh cayenne peppers for cayenne pepper powders and also substitue whole fresh lemons for lemon juice? I am thinking of putting whole lemons (with all the skin and seeds if they are organic, but without the outer yellow skin if they are not organic) and fresh raw cynenne peppers in my Vita-mix and blend them with water and maple syrup. I tried it and the blended liquid tasted OK. Thanks in advacne for your reply.

[applestoapples]

This is not a reply but rather a question. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to ask a simple question on the Bulletin Board so I am using this "reply" to do so. (By the way, if I could have some advice on asking a question on the BB, I would be grateful.)

My wife and I are about to start our second Cleanse. Is there any protocol as to the maximum number of glasses of lemonade to have each day? I know that Mr. Glickman recommends six to 12 glasses, but I was not sure if the 12 is a ceiling or a suggestion. If I am feeling hungry and am not concerned about weight loss, could I have more than 12? Please advise.

[bigdaddyrossraw]

Does anybody know if problems can come from drinking more lemonade than the 6-12 glasses? I exercise regularly. I am on day three of the cleanse now and I drink alot of the lemonade-about 20 just to keep my energy levels up. I have only done that on two of the days so far. I just wanted to know if anybody knew if drinking more lemonade than the maximum amount is ok!

[KPainter]

What's the general consensus on using Stevia as a sweetner in the mint tea? It's all natural, so I was wondering. I'm not a big fan of the MS either, so I'm on the hunt for the agave. Is it an equal switch? 2 tablespoons = 2 tablespoons?

[Res]

bigdaddy: Burroughs says 6 - 12. I wish he was here so we could ask him. Are you drinking extra water in-between lemonades? Keep us posted on how you're doing. If you're not losing weight check how your clothes feel - looser?

kpainter: I'm not sure who started this - I think it was a year or two ago but neither Peter nor the Moderators support using any type of "sweetener" in the mint tea. There's nothing in either book that says it's OK so we just don't. If you do so you're pretty much on your own there.
The mint tea is actually really refreshing as is. Give it a whirl before you sweeten it. ;)

Love,
~Res

[Res]

applestoapples: Most of us follow the book/s. Burroughs isn't here so we can't really tell you it's ok to drink more, however, if you do drink more monitor yourself and see how you feel. You'll still detox even if you go over the 12 glasses of Lemonade.

I hope that helps,

~Res

[Res]

Karen: Burroughs says "AOK" to adding the entire lemon. His book says it can expedite detox. I can't imagine there being a problem using fresh cayenne if you can use the equivalent of 1/8 tsp dried.

[G-9]

What's the general consensus on using Stevia as a sweetner in the mint tea? It's all natural, so I was wondering. I'm not a big fan of the MS either, so I'm on the hunt for the agave. Is it an equal switch? 2 tablespoons = 2 tablespoons?
I have used Stevita brand "Simply-Stevia" in my tea on the cleanse and had not problem. This product is very concentrated so you do not need very much. No fillers and no calories.

In regard to the agave', I think it would be an equal switch. I have been using a blend of the maple syrup and agave', 50/50, for most of the cleansing I have done, mostly to cut down on cost. I had muscle testing done at my chiropractors office and my body actually prefers that blend over just MS. I have a friend who gets the agave' in bulk and she makes sure she gets the dark agave' that has the higher mineral content, so that is what I would suggest you look for. I looked up nutritional profiles on both syrups and felt that it would be best to blend them to get a better balance of nutrients. I also use some stevia in the mix as I am cutting back on the sweeteners to facilitate weight loss. Again, this has not caused me any problems to date. I have completed 62 days of the MC for 2008 and more than half of the time I used the blend, as well as stevia.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

[malishka]

On my first try of MC I lasted only 3 days. I was so starving. I have tried 2 times after that but not able to make it past the 2nd day. I hope that reading all the posts on this board will give me more motivation. I did use the CP capsules instead of putting them in the lemonade. It was just to hot for me. I took 2 capsules with every ltr I drank. I drank 2 ltrs a day. I did the SW in the AM and took the husks at night. I did buy the book but maybe I have the wrong one ? I paid 27.00 for it and it's called Master Clense Secrets (a guide to sucseed on master clense). It's not by SB though. I just had lazer lipo 2 weeks ago so I'm not sure if it would be safe to start this again. :confused:

[AG2009]

Congrats on that! The drinking thing is tough because ALL my friends meet for drinks. I am surprised I am not craving alcohol - guess it's the sugar in the syrup.

I have to go out to a New Year's party. I am going to sneak the lemonade in, and pretend it's tequila and I am drinking heavily on the sly so no one will ask questions! Ha.

Update, I didn't take a single sip of wine and I'm on day 7... oh the will power:)

[Res]

malishka, I'm sure you've read the posts that state the capsules are interpreted by the body as food so you shouldn't them. Cut back on the cayenne and build up to 1/8 tsp. The cayenne needs to make contact with the nerve endings in your mouth.

[KPainter]

Hope this helps answer your questions.

Thank you so much! It definitely helps. Still looking for that agave...lol

[ashtangagirl]

i am on day 4 and have been taking wormwoood to kill any parasites. while i am starving the parasites i will also get 'em w/ the wormwood. clean clean clean!!

[G-9]

Thank you so much! It definitely helps. Still looking for that agave...lol

Glad that helped. You might want to check this place out.

www.azurestandard.com

I am in a buying club that orders from here and they will ship many items. Check out the "Raw Blue Agave", I think that one would be best ( the lady I get mine from orders 5 gallon pails from another source). You can also get maple syrup and the Stevita brand stevia I mentioned from this place. They have organic lemons and limes too, but am not sure if they will ship them other than by semi to buying club sites.

Hope this is further help to you, KPainter.

[Res]

Another friendly reminder for all newbies: Stevia or anything else added to the LAX or mint tea is not in Burroughs or Peter's books. You should follow the book to the T if this is your first time. ;)

Love,
~Res

[G-9]

Thanks for that, Res. I should have added that, when I first started, I followed it by the book. I make sure I keep any modifications as minimal as possible and can only speak from my own experience and what works for me. I will be more careful in my responses to others. Thanks again for the reminder.

BTW, stevia and agave are great for between cleanses :)

[Res]

G-9: :D Agave is my favorite in between cleanses. And as dorky as this sounds I take a small bottle of it with me if I'm going out with friends. I've also used Agave in place of maple as a test. The justification for this is some people can't stand the maple flavor so the agave is a "substitute" for the maple or people would just quit the cleanse. Peter has put his stamp of approval on it. :)

I've tried different stevia's and can't quite acquire a taste for it. It's actually better for you than agave and I wish I liked the flavor but it gets me each time with an aftertaste - I'll try periodically because it's easier to carry that tiny bottle of stevia than the agave. lol

Here's to a healthy 2009!! :D

[bikerchik1333]

I need to talk to someone about taking sleeping pils on the MC.
Anyone that would be willing to talk to me. I of course want to never take them again but I have never done a cleanse about anything but food addiction. Let me know,
Thanks,
Bikerchik

[G-9]

Res: Regarding the stevia, here are a couple of suggestions. First, if you can find the Stevita brand stevia, you may want to give it a try. It is the one my chiro. carries with his products b/c of the way it is processed to avoid the aftertaste problem. That brand also is available in conveinient take along packets in boxes of 50 and they have fruit flavors to make beverages.

Also,I have also found that if I use a small amount of agave or other natural sweetener and then use stevia for the rest, the flavor of the other sweetener predominates. For example, if a pie recipe calls for a cup of sugar, I use 1/4 cup of evaporated cane juice or agave and enough stevia to compensate for the rest. My family cannot tell the difference and they do not care for just plain stevia as a sweetener. :)

[Res]

Thanks for the tip G-9! :)

[Marfel]

I have a question. . . .Can a diabetic person do this diet ? Thank You !!

[Res]

Marfel: Yes. There's an entire section in the book with instructions for diabetics. :)

[MCChick]

I'm on day 3 and feeling good, just freezing and a little headache.

On several of my previous MC cycles, I had to stop earlier than I wanted because I started seeing fungus on my toenails or other yeast symptoms. Last cleanse was 12 days but I had really wanted to make it a good, long cleanse and get the deep benefits that people talk about from the long ones, and was disappointed I had to stop. I think I have an issue with Candida Yeast with all of the sugars from the maple syrup (well actually for the last couple of cleanses I've been mostly using raw agave syrup instead, but have done both).

The product Candex which kills Candida was suggested to me. I was thinking of taking it starting maybe a week or so into the cleanse so that the yeast doesn't become a problem and I can continue for longer. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this, beyond "don't add anything to the cleanse"? Because that would just mean I have to stop the cleanse sooner, not that I could keep going without adding anything. Thanks all! This board is such a great support to me in the cleanses!!

[Res]

This is what Peter posted about the Candida. We have a thread you may want to read through for support:

October 15th, 2006, 06:57 PM
http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/image.php?u=1&dateline=1150594249 (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/member.php?u=1)Peter Glickman (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/member.php?u=1) http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/Mc/statusicon/user_offline.gif
Administrator
Join Date: May 17th, 2006
Posts: 64


http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon5.gif Candida/yeast overgrowth Poll
Many people who have never done the Master Cleanse are concerned about doing the Master Cleanse because of Candida/yeast overgrowth fears. I am only aware of a very, very few people who have had any kind of problem with Candida/yeast overgrowth after doing the Master Cleanse (and most had it before the Master Cleanse). In fact, know of many people whose problems were handled with the Master Cleanse.

I think it would be helpful however, if we had some actual numbers. So, if you've completed at least one Master Cleanse, please answer this poll.

Thanks,
Peter 8)

[MCChick]

Thanks Res. I actually had read what Peter had written about Candida, but it didn't really answer my question. I will definitely give more info when I decide what to do and see the results. If nobody else has any advice, I'm leaning towards starting the Candex around day 7.

Today is day 4. Usually a great day for me, but for some reason, a serious detox day this time. Super achy and weak. Hope that means tomorrow will be a good one!

[sadsak39]

MCCHICK- is the candex a natural product? If not, here's a thought. While I was in the middle of my last cleanse, a horrible flu went through my whole family. Although our Dr. put the rest of them on antibiotics and a number of other prescriptions, I didn't want to take it. I remembered that fresh, raw garlic could kill harmful bacteria, fungus, and viruses, so I added fresh pulverized garlic to the cleanse for one day which was all it took to end the flu. The rest of the family chose to go with the drugs and were sick from two-to-three weeks. Since yeast is a type of fungus, it may be worth a try. I used one whole clove with each drink and drank it warm. (Not hot because I didn't want to destroy any enzymes). I continued my cleanse for the full 21 days I had chosen without a hitch. I started using raw garlic years ago to help with a yeast problem and never had a problem since. Good Luck with whatever you try. I agree, the cleanse can only help if you're able to stay on it.

[Cheri001]

I am brand, brand new to this. I was/am hoping to start this coming weekend (tomorrow or Sunday in fact). Now, though, I'm not so sure, for two reasons:

I have Candida and am terrified of the fruit and mainly the maple syrup. Those are two items on my "foods to be avoided at all cost" list. I have read so much contradicting info. One being that this cleanse can actually clear up the problem (?) and others say that it will cause horrible symptoms. I have read other advice that says to follow the cleanse and start probiotics, but I'm not sure if you start from day one, or at the end.

My 2nd reservation is I have hypothyroidism. I personally feel it is due to the candida, but that's another story. My dilemma is whether or not to keep taking my medication or not. If the cleanse takes care of candida, then I guess my thyroid would probably get controlled as well...

Does anyone have any ifo for me?

Thanks. Cheri

[Res]

Keep taking the thyroid meds. You should never go off medication without your doctors approval.

[Cheri001]

Thank you for the welcome, and for the response. I will continue thyroid meds for sure (i was leaning that way anyway). Now if only I could find some info about the Candida problem. I read a response to someone else that mentioned reading Peter's advice on candida. Anyone know where I can find Peter's info, or have any suggestions of their own about the cleanse and candida? And what about probiotics?

One last thought, someone on one of these sites mentioned coconut oil being kick @#$ on those yeast bugs. Anyone know anything about that?

Probably I'll just give the MC a whirl and see how it goes.

[Res]

Yes, Peter dedicated an entire thread to candida here (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2032): Also go to www.mercola.com (http://www.mercola.com) and type in "candida". Be prepared to be told to completely give up sugar. :)

[Res]

Virgin Coconut oil is AMAZING. You can eat it, apply it to your skin and hair, cook with it. I googled and found this article about Coconut oil and candida (http://www.coconutdiet.com/candida.htm):