1. Posted by Wakynao on Fri, Apr 24, 2009, 2:06 pm PDT

Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: Prepare yourselves for howls of outrage in defense of this bogus "cleanse" from the alternative "medicine" crowd. Anyone who thinks eating 1300 calories/day of mostly sugar is a candidate for Most Gullible. Oh, and the Master Cleanse Defense Squad will be followed in short order by the Multi-Level Marketing Scammers Brigade - Maonavie and the like. Just my predictions, and Joy Bauer is spot on. Shortcuts don't work.

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2. Posted by amanda_vp94 on Fri, Apr 24, 2009, 7:03 pm PDT

My sister did this diet and she ended up very sick afterwords. She said her and her husband were sitting at dinner(about a week after she finished this diet) and said she about blacked out. This diet is not safe! There is no way going a whole week and a half without food is healthy. If people want to lose weight they should strongly consider a veggie diet to flush their system out. It is a whole lot safer than the Master Cleanse.

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3. Posted by cafereva on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, 12:35 pm PDT

Thanks for this information! I knew this plan had to be bogus... my sister did it for two days and felt sooooo horrible. Love the "real food" menu plan.

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4. Posted by mr_rutner on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, 2:12 pm PDT

I'll do anything you tell me to do, Sarah Fuss. I'm in love with you.

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5. Posted by klassicfemme2 on Wed, Apr 29, 2009, 10:55 am PDT

all u ney-sayers - I have used this 'master cleanse' regularly for over 20 years - with no ill effects - in fact, was told by doctors that I'd have to take thyroid meds + others for the rest of my life... did this instead and am medication free!! Even lowered cholesterol on this and don't have to take cholesterol meds or blood pressure meds the docs were saying I'd have to take. The key is it MUST BE DONE RIGHT --- mixing this with any other theory is what DOES NOT WORK - having a negative outlook on anything will produce a negative result, as well. Shame to non-believers - but I do not have the time to educate u all! I will simply pity your short-sightedness!

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6. Posted by helgawimmer@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 1:06 pm PDT

YOU'RE A QUACK, YOUR BODY ONLY BEGINS DEDICATED ELIMINATION OF TOXINS WHEN YOU STOP FEEDING IT SOLID FOOD WHICH FORCES DIGESTION & PREVENTS ELIMINATION. GO BACK TO SCHOOL & LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT NUTRITION, THE BODY & THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO......

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7. Posted by Lees W on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 1:08 pm PDT

The old calorie in / calorie out school of thought is imprecise and outdated. The regulation and absorption of carbohydrates is the most important thing to consider when trying to lose weight. After that, consider chemically altered food additives. High Fructose Corn Syrup has been proven to confuse metabolic signals that tell the brain whether we are full or not. This cleanse thing won't work. Nor will telling people to eat 1300 calories. Are you serious?

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8. Posted by jaydognguyen on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 1:10 pm PDT

There is no easy way in losing wieght. If your truly committed you need to eat healthy and excorise. Thats all there is too it. Its not about lose wieght its about getting healther, stronger, and losing body fat.

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9. Posted by djtharoman on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 1:31 pm PDT

ugh, that woman who wrote the article is a tight, closed-minded monster. there are no across the board right or wrong solutions to anything, but this cleans really gives your body a much-needed break from digesting. once it has this break from constantly churning and processing your food, is gets a chance to really do it's magic (clear debris, rebuild, expel, etc). give it a try..

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10. Posted by mccracken1972 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:00 pm PDT

I've done the MC three times, never got sick, always felt much better afterward, dropped my BP, got rid of dizziness due to aspartame exposure and lost weight. It has to be done correctly. People who complain of getting sick are not doing it right. Fasting has been done for centuries until the Pharma industry convinced us that their drugs could cure everything.

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11. Posted by Frank O on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:14 pm PDT

Here's a crazy diet idea: eat less and exercise more. There are no short cuts.

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12. Posted by htrwomack on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:15 pm PDT

I am so tired of people who have never tried the Master Cleanse judging it. I have done the cleanse several times and have gotten excellent results. Not only does it help with weight loss, it helps with digestive problems like acid reflux and IBS, clears your skin, helps remove body odors due to toxins, etc. 2 Tbs of Organic Maple Syrup in 6 glasses of cleanse is not the same as 1,300 calories from food. Giving the body a rest from food periodically helps with nutrient absoration, organ function, and discipline. How about this, get through 10 days of the Cleanse and then report back to us.

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13. Posted by Amber Ramos on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:19 pm PDT

This is old school thinking at it's best. Probably the same person who thinks that going out with wet hair will cause a cold. The MC has no refined sugar, that's part of the entire premise.

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14. Posted by Steve H on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:22 pm PDT

As a nutritionist for 31 years...and a doctor for 23... The MC will work with people who have a certain constitution and mind for it, yet it is a cleanse designed for people who are already doing well in life, or are at the total mercy of disease and death. Those in between often suffer greatly. The reason people binge on it is that it actually does cause the body to dislodge fecal matter that is stuck to the walls of their small (and large) intestines - matter that normally remains glued there while what you just ate slides past it (and a bit of new adds to the old), so when the MC breaks it down, the foods you once ate drop away, often leaving the smell of the foods mysteriously in the air, or on your taste buds - thus causing the craving for Mom's xxxxx. There is a really good book that explains the process, called The Arise and Shine Clean Me Out Program, yet I am not endorsing their cleanse. You have to take those steps on your own. The best way to lose weight is to under eat, walk 2 hours a day, bounce on a mini-trampoline for 10-15 minutes, and generally keep you fat self moving. It takes effort and willingness, or you can die a slow poison death. As for diets, you will lose and regain. Just under eat. Period. And look that up in Roy Wolford's book on Gerontology from UCLA. You'll also live longer, like life more, smile more, and basically be free of the fecal cow. And as for meat and veg... No virus foods: chicken, turkey, pork, shrimp. And No noxious poison weeds: Soy, Corn. NO CORN. The sickest fattest animals eat CORN. And that means no corn syrup, no fructose, no caramel coloring, NO CORN. Or Aspartame or Sucralose -- sugar processed with chlorine. There you have it. GET WELL. And be nice to each other.

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15. Posted by katatonic64 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:31 pm PDT

HTRwomack: why do you have to "try it several times"???? because you are a fatty fatty and have to keep going to extremes to lose weight? Try closing your pie hole. I am 5'10", 139-141 lbs. for the last 20 years, exercise 5 out of 7 days, have 2-3 healthy bowel movements a day, don't smell, and I'm happy with no depression or constitpation. My liver "detoxes" whatever ills I get from the environment. That's what God put it there for. It's called "Healthy, Normal Living!"" for pete's sake people get a grip.

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16. Posted by NayNay on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:34 pm PDT

Sorry but I did this for 3 weeks and the only problem I had was a headache, nothing else. I do this before I start a diet, not as a diet. I cleanse for as long as I can then I start my new diet. No red meat or pork, very little baked chicken and some fish. No Soda, No Candy, No fast foods. I dropped 67 pounds in 4 months, then got pregnant and gained 40 with the baby. Can't do it now because I'm breastfeeding but when I'm done I will do the cleanse again. Sorry but it worked for me, just had a headache once or twice a week. If I got hungry I brushed my teeth, went for a walk, or took a nice long candlelit bath. I went to the gym 4 times a week while doing the cleanse, treadmil for 1 hour then 1 aerobics class, shower, spa, went home. I didn't make the solution myself, I ordered the organic version online, I think from vitacost.com, the powder.

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17. Posted by katatonic64 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:35 pm PDT

I agree with the doc except the "fecal matter stuck to your colon walls"....what medical school allows you to spew that nonsense? A healthy colon is pink, mucus lined and cleaned naturally with good, fibrous diet. I am an ND, DC, CCN for 20 years. thank you.

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18. Posted by julie s on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:39 pm PDT

if the master cleanse is done correctly, you will not feel sick. the headaches are caused by the toxins in your body. you MUST stop eating/drinking caffeine, sugar, alcohol and processed foods BEFORE you attempt the master cleanse. i have never felt better than when i was doing this cleanse. the hunger usually subsides after day 3. my mind is clear and i have a ton of energy. more than usual. i have done this a few times and feel stronger and healthier because of it. i do lose a lot of weight but that has never been my reason for doing it. and shouldn't be anyone's reason for doing it. (except nutty celebs). the weight comes right back when you start eating again. i recently finished the cleanse (for the 4th time) and have been eating ONLY whole foods (nothing processed or refined, just fruit and veggies, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes) and have kept a lot of the weight off that i had lost. THAT is the way to eat. if you have never tried this cleanse and done it correctly, how can you possibly comment on it and say it's BS? a huge transformation can happen when you reach this state. i look at food completely differently than before. one bite of an apple can become a whole new experience (after not eating for 2 weeks). i eat slower now and i only eat when i am hungry. i cherish every bite. and because i am eating lots of good fats, i am a lot less hungry throughout the day. so i am probably eating less calories than i used to, but the food is carrying me much further. i have more energy than before and i don't go into that 4 o'clock funk that usually hits. most people get really defensive when it comes to them even thinking about the possibility of changing their food. if you are open to the possibility, i highly recommend cleansing. even if that means cutting out sugar or processed foods, and replace them with whole foods, you are bound to feel a lot better and will most likely lose weight.

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19. Posted by Bogi on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 2:41 pm PDT

It's funny that so called "experts" who were brain washed in nutrition schools have absolutely no clue of the Master Cleanse and its positive effects, yet they talk against it. I did the fast, once for 30 days and for the second time for 32 days. So yes, it is possible to last on it. I wasn't lethargic at all, I actually had so much energy, that I started to exercise again, I ran 45-60 minutes almost every day, and trained for my first 10K race! It is a cleanse though, NOT a diet. And why do we need to detox? Because the average american consume so much crap, that the kidney and liver cannot take up the fight against all the toxins anymore (hence the growing number of cancer and other diseases). The same expert who denies the need of regular detoxing is actually so dumb, that (s)he recommends milk and meat in your diet. Let me ask this: when you see a cow on a meadow, do you have the urge to start to suck on its udder? If not, then milk is NOT a natural food for you. And why would it be, unless your a calf. Do you want to catch and bite into a chicken when you see one on a farm picking seeds? I guess not! At the same time, when you see a riped, red, juicey apple, don't you just wish to take a bite? Think about it, and follow your insticts when you choose your food!

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20. Posted by defiancy07 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 3:44 pm PDT

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. A master cleanse diet? Quit looking for the easy way out people, get on an f'in tread mill and get to work. Loosing weight is not easy, and any diet that promises quick results is clearly not good for you, regardless of how it makes you feel. To the person who said they have been doing this for 20 years. Well I'm sorry to hear that, maybe if you used real diet and exercise, you would have had to use this bogus crap for 20 years.

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21. Posted by defiancy07 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 3:46 pm PDT

"Giving the body a rest from food periodically helps with nutrient absoration, organ function, and discipline." Yes because our bodies are designed to go without food? Oh WAIT. No they aren't. Your body doesn't need "rest from food". This is the most ridiculous statement I have ever read.

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22. Posted by wil_milligan2 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 3:47 pm PDT

"And why do we need to detox? Because the average american consume so much crap, that the kidney and liver cannot take up the fight against all the toxins anymore (hence the growing number of cancer and other diseases)" I have an idea. Don't eat junk and you won't need to detox. BRILLIANT!

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23. Posted by amandak114 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 4:08 pm PDT

Imagine my surprise when I see this article right when I am coming off the Master Cleanse. During this cleanse, I had more sustained energy than I do in a normal day. I believe that if you go into and come out of this cleanse as recommended (with what you eat), you should really have no problems. Though I do believe in maintaining a healthy lifestyle on a daily basis, I see nothing wrong with giving the organs a rest for a few days in the Spring. That is why I did it, and I'm glad I did.

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24. Posted by famspt123 on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 4:56 pm PDT

The person who wrote the article against the Master Cleanse doesn't know anything!!!! I went on the MC after being told by my doctor I might have to have surgery if I didn't lose weight to get rid of my severe acid reflux that had caused ulcers in my esophagus. I was on the cleanse for 20 days and lost 24 lbs. The first 3 days were tough because I had to get use to not eating food and only drinking the liquid, but I gained more energy than I had in a long time and the acid reflux went away. If used as the MC instructions go it does work like it says. 1. I lost weight 2. No more acid reflux 3. Skin cleared up 4. Cleared toxins from body 5. More energy 6. Lost cravings It may not be for everyone but don't knock something until you try it and follow the directions 100% because it does work for those who have followed it right.

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25. Posted by smoleklyn on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 5:06 pm PDT

the Cayenne pepper is the detoxing ingredient in the MC diet. It's called diet because that is all your supposed to take into your body for 3 weeks.- Well besides for a laxative tea before you go to bed.(it is possible to cheat a little while on this diet, but not by eating a cheeseburger or pizza.) I'd say maybe a half a grapefruit at lunch, and a few nuts and berries for dinner, or just the other half of that grapefruit. You shouldn't eat breakfast. you shouldn't eat or drink anything between the hours of 12am and 12pm. A raw food diet is the way to go to be thin and healthy. when you cook food, you destroy all of the beneficial ingredients in the food. leaving all dead calories. Fasting is good for you. the MC is a detox. the cayenne stirs up the digestive track and the laxative tea shoots it out of you in the morning. the syrup I suppose is supposed to give your brain food. lemons are the vehicle as well as bad stuff killer. Eat garlic too.

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26. Posted by markibest on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 5:18 pm PDT

Nutritionists are taught conventional wisdom and think they know the truth about everything health related. I suspect a doctor would agree since they are also taught conventional wisdom. I don't question a doctor or a nutritionist's worth but I do question that they know everything there is to know about health. We do know what is considered truth in regards to health changes all the time. With that said, I can tell you I've done this detox twice - 10 days. Lost about 7 - 8 lbs. each time (and I'm not an overweight person but definitely could use losing those pounds). It's been about 6 weeks since ending the 10 day Master Cleanse. I felt great afterwards and I still have maintained a good feeling. Both times I've done this diet I was surprised how easy it was - if you follow the directions and you are not addicted to caffeine which can become a problem. I'm sure this nutritiionist would admit that caffeine and nicotine are a problem for many people. This detox will help with those additctions. You cannot smoke, drink alcohol or coffee during this cleanse. Ten days without these substances... is a detox. So there's one thing that shouldn't be disputed. In addition, and most importantly, this diet helps with bad eating habits. After the diet, I was able to sustain a good eating habits - not eating for comfort or from bordom. There are a number of ways to assess this diet and all notions aside, it works. Don't knock it till you've tried it! I even went to the gym during the cleanse - though it's said not to work out more than 20 - 30 min and not to work out if you don't do so normally. I think people who have been unsuccessful did not follow the directions or did not get past the more difficult first 3 days.

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27. Posted by Question Girl on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 5:23 pm PDT

Try just drinking it for breakfast Thats what I did I drank it for breakfast and ate like I regularly do i got cleaned out in 4 days

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28. Posted by Mike D on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 5:34 pm PDT

ok, do not diss anything unless you try it first. that alone gives you the right to talk about whatever you want! i did the detox for about five days. i did not eat anything and i did not drink anything other then the detox and water. i have never felt better, my hair, nails and dark circles around my eyes have never looked better, and i would do it again in a heart beat. the problems i had with my stomach (acid reflex) after anything i consumed was toooo much to bare and its been a year since ive detoxed, and now i have not yet had the stomach problem again. do not let anyone fool you. the detox works and it helps your body! as anything else it depends on your body type and how well will your body react to it. it also helped my appetite, where i have drastically reduced the amount of food i am consuming, eating properly and i have lost 20 pounds since i have done the detox. GO NEERA SUPERCLEANSE!!!!!!!

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29. Posted by hot_sweety on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 5:41 pm PDT

I loved it...I totally agree wid u..but I am a vegetarian, so cannot eat fish or turkey or eggs.Can you suggest something for vegetarians?

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30. Posted by Julie P on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 6:08 pm PDT

I totally disagree with Joy Bauer - You're body DOES need help getting rid of toxins. Look at the actor (forgot his name) who ate so much sushi that the metal (toxin from the fish) was poisoning him. His kidneys & liver weren't doing a very good job of cleansing his body- obviously, since he needed serious medical attention. I've done the Master Cleanse several times. The first time I did it, I stayed on it for 17 days. I know people who have stayed on it for as long as 40 days. You'll know when your body is cleansed of toxins - watch your tongue - literally! You're tongue develops a thick, white coating as you cleanse, but at the end of the 10 days to 2 weeks (or longer depending on the individual) your tongue is clear & pink again - a sign that you've cleansed toxins from your body. I felt totally fantastic while I cleansed & was able to work out as well. I cleanse once a year, maybe twice depending on how I feel. If you're cleansing to lose weight, you certainly won't keep it off once you start eating again, I agree. But if you're cleansing simply to rid toxins I think the Master Cleanse is a great way to do it.

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