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While looking for easy lemon recipes on-line yesterday, I came across the recipe for a lemon detox drink containing cayenne pepper, water, lemon juice and maple syrup – the ingredients contained in the famous Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet Drink.
After a lifetime of dietary struggle, I’ve decided that the best approach for me is more of a middle path of moderation, rather than extreme diets.
I love to cook and bake and eat so the minute I begin to contemplate giving up food, even for a few days, I feel my stress levels increase.
So, while looking for delicious ways – lemon cookies, lemon bars, fresh lemonade, lemon cake, lemon poppy seed muffins – to use up this years crop of lemons falling from the trees, why was I drawn to a recipe containing cayenne pepper, water, lemon and maple syrup?
Is my body craving a cleanse? Does it need a break?
When I start my day with a cup of warm water and lemon, a trick I learned from the delightful book, French Women Don’t Get Fat
Lemons, a rich source of vitamins and minerals, with reported powerful cleansing ability, are plentiful, as we move into Spring, the time of year we seem most inclined to want to fast and cleanse.
Would my body benefit from a ten day break from food, where it’s only nourishment comes from cayenne pepper, water, lemon, maple syrup? Maybe.
My brother has done the Master Cleanse and has only good things to say.
He lost weight, and felt healthier and more energized. And he’s not the only one.
Lots and lots of people swear by this cleanse that has been around for decades. So, maybe I will give it a try this Spring – at least for a day or two.
It’s really very simple as detoxes and cleanses go. You don’t need a blender (affiliate link) or juicer (affiliate link) and there are no long lists of special pills and powders required.
You drink at least 60 ounces of cayenne pepper water lemon maple syrup drink or “lemonade” a day along with as much water as you want.
Here’s the recipe for the magical elixir. Even if you aren’t ready to commit to a ten day cleanse, it seems like a nice healthy drink with which to start the day!
Cayenne Pepper Water Lemon Maple Syrup Drink Recipe
Here’s the recipe for Master Cleanse Lemonade. I’ve provided the amounts for both a single serving and daily supply. Be sure to use fresh, real ingredients – fresh lemon juice and real grade B maple syrup – not pancake syrup.
Single Serving
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 a large lemon)
- 2 tablespoons of Grade B real maple syrup
- 1/10 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 10 ounces of filtered water
Daily Serving (60 ounces)
- 3/4 cup of fresh lemon juice (about 3-4 large lemons)
- 3/4 cup of Grade B real maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 60 ounces of filtered water
Combine the ingredients in a glass or pitcher and mix until well combined.
For more about The Master Cleanse
You may need this wonderful Lemon Squeezer if you decide to give the Master Cleanse Diet a go or if you are a huge fan of fresh squeezed lemons, like me.
More Homemade Lemonade Recipes
Homemade Lemonade made with fresh lemons and a simple sugar syrup
Homemade Lemonade with sugar, water and fresh lemons
Hi everyone I did the diet about 10 years ago, for 10 days
1 galón on water
6 oz of maple syrup
6 oz of lemon juice
3 tea spoons of váyanse pepper
Detox te only at night
For 3 day in the morning .5 tea spoon of salt in a glass of water
And to help I used sugar free gum
I lost 15-20 pounds and 2-3 sizes I’ve keeps the weight off.
I’ve recommend the 10 day to everyone it’s a good break to your system.
Fasting has been part of cultures throughout history.
Best of luck ITS NO EASY BUT WORTH EVERY MOMENT (you’re just reset your system)
Please send me complete instructions and recipes!
Please send me the complete instructions and recipe!
I cannot believe that you wouldn’t eat anything at all for 10 days? That is VERY UNHEALTHY. Even Dr’s will tell you you have to eat. I can’t believe that someone would starve themselves for 10 days. Not Good. Hope you got your Dr’s approval for this.
I did this cleanse 35 year’s ago. It’s very hard not to eat anything. And possibly not that good for you. So I cheated, and still lost weight and felt better, lighter, healthier. I love my coffee, so I would eventually have a coffee and eat a salad at some point during the day. I was young and very healthy at the time, so no side effects. Some people get headaches.
It is NOT unhealthy to give up food for a period of time. Research has shown fasting can beat ANY diseases in the body. I think it’s an awesome cleanse and it works WONDERS. If you can’t give up food, then don’t. But don’t disrespect people that CAN do it.
Religions have fasts that people go long times without eating. It’s very healthy if you keep hydrated and take vitamins.
Reply to ERIN , fasting is the absolute most healthy thing for you to help your body heal and cleanse! Doctors gave NO nutritional training , just pharmaceutical!!!
i have a friend that does this recipe for 10 days and losses between 15/20 pounds,does it only every 6 months an does the 5th and 10th day the water/seasalt not ionize, but no food during this 10 days, istarted today, will let you know what happened, is it ok to prepare the gallon mix the nite before, and i ,am taking the smooth move tea too
Hi,
Does this diet mean you cant eat anything,
just drink this as a meal substitute or
do you eat normal but drink this.
xx Bianca
Hi Bianca, Most people drink only this for a period of time, but you can start your day with it
or try it as meal substitute. It’s really up to you and what you are trying to accomplish. Hope this
helps.
I have a couple of questions? I got the fresh lemons and cayenne pepper and couldn’t fine grade b maple syrup so I got organic maple syrup. is that ok to use? also the cayenne pepper is really hot to drink. could I take 2 cayenne capsules when I drink the lemonade and syrup water detox? hope to hear back. thanks, Elizabeth massie
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, the organic maple syrup will be fine. I just liked to use Grade B because I think it has a slightly deeper maple flavor and is less expensive. I’ve never tried cayenne capsules, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Best of Luck!
How many servings per day and for how long? Heard it was good for losing weight?
Just noticed mistakes in the 60 oz recipe:
“abt a 1/2 lemon” is the same amt as in the 10 oz version–
Should be 3/4 cup is = 3 large lemons
and
“3/4 Tablespoon maple syrup”
Should be 3/4 CUP of maple syrup in the 60 oz recipe
Just thought I’d let you know…
Thanks, Kathy. I have made the changes and appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
whether this recipe is makes for great cleansing or not, it most certainly helps for fighting a sore throat – gargling with a bit of cayenne pepper, or even sipping a broth with a bit of cayenne pepper mixed in greatly reduces the pain associated with sore throats. not sure why, but have tried it myself and have found it to work wonderfully. substitute honey for maple syrup in the above recipe and you’ve made a warm, comforting, antibacterial hug for your sore throat!
p.s. love your site!