If you’re always on the lookout for new ways to improve your health, fitness and looks, then there’s a good chance that you’ve stumbled across the term ‘cayenne pepper cleanse’ at some point. If that is the case, and you are wondering what all the fuss about the cayenne pepper cleanse is, then read on, because in this article, we look at what it is, what it does, and how you can do it at home.
What Does it Do Exactly?
As the name suggests, cleanses are designed to cleanse your body, and remove all the toxins that build up over time. That is especially important these days, since we eat badly, live in polluted cities, and generally do not take great care of ourselves!
It is similar to fasting, as you limit your intake of food and water, which helps your body to flush out the toxins that have built up over time.
What Is the Goal?
There are several reasons that people decide to embark on a cayenne pepper cleanse.
Some people have bad skin, with problems like acne or dermatitis, and the cayenne pepper cleanse is known to be very good for helping to clear up bad skin in a relatively short time.
Weight loss is another big factor, and this type of cleansing can definitely kick start a weight loss program, although how long the results last depend on what type of diet you choose to follow after the cleanse is over.
It can also help you to feel generally fitter and healthier, and more mentally alert. In short, a short spell of cleansing really cleans out your body’s systems, and allows you to start again, with a clean slate.
How Does it Work?
While you are on this particular cleanse, you will need to make a batch of what is known as a ‘master cleanse.’ This liquid, which, as the name suggests, contains cayenne peppers, and which is the only thing you will ‘eat’ aside from water while on the cleanse, helps to clear out all the toxins from every day life that have accumulated over time.
Since cayenne peppers have been known to speed up the metabolism, as well as for their pain relieving properties, you should start to feel fresher and fitter within a few days.
A Word of Warning
If you do plan to embark on this type of cleanse, it is worth running it past your doctor first, particularly if you have a disorder like low blood sugar, or diabetes, where eating regularly is important to prevent spikes or drops in blood sugar.
It should also be borne in mind that a cleanse is supposed to be a short event – a few days at most, and that you should not continue this type of cleanse for too long. Finally, make sure that you drink lots of water during your cleanse, to keep hydrated, and to help your body flush out all those toxins.
More About The Cayenne Pepper Cleanse Detox Diet
Cayenne pepper cleanse – also known as master cleanse, the maple syrup cleanse or the lemonade diet – is a detoxification routine that has a lot of people talking. It combines fasting with a strict regimen of liquid recipes designed to remove toxins from the body and promote overall health. Detoxification is becoming a popular way of cleaning the constant flood of pollutants out of one’s system. The question remains, however, whether the cleansing diet works and, if so, how well?
The original conception of this diet comes from Stanley Burroughs, an early explorer of alternative health. While Burroughs was not a doctor, he did extensively research many alternative medicinal therapies, including acupuncture, reflexology and massage. He developed the cayenne pepper cleanse detoxification technique in 1941, though it would not reach most until the publication of his book The Master Cleanser in 1971. The research he conducted showed positive results and has stood the test of time to gain popularity today. The primary motivation for him using cayenne pepper was because of its ability to speed up the metabolism as well as clear out the mucus of the body – a factor he felt was important to ridding the body of toxins.
The basic premise of this cayenne pepper diet is to fast while at the same time purging the body of toxins. The amount of time one chooses to stay on the diet is up to the individual, though traditionally a ten day routine is recommended. Some have been known to continue the cleansing for up to 30 days, though at a certain point it is questionable whether the negative effects outweigh the positive ones. Also, the routine is generally done a few times a year, removing new toxins as they begin to build up again.
What makes this cleanse different from other types of fasting or cleansing is the lemonade drink known as the “master cleanse”. It is a mixture of purified water, fresh lemon juice, organic maple syrup and one-tenth of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. When on the diet, one drinks this brew from six to twelve times per day. To drink less than six glasses risks not having enough nutrition to function properly, though having more than twelve glasses does no harm.
The only break in the cycle is in the morning and at night. Upon waking, the dieter is supposed to have an eight-ounce glass of water with sea salt in it to cleanse the bowels. At night, the dieter is expected to drink some herbal laxative tea – again, to cleanse the bowels of toxins. Alternately, an herbal laxative tea may be used in the morning as well, instead of the water and sea salt mixture. All this should be accompanied with plenty of water to help remove the toxins from the body for good.
Some proponents of the cleanse have found it helpful to ease into it for a few days before going on a complete fast. Fasting can be a difficult thing to accomplish, both physically and mentally, and so slowly working towards the ten days of lemonade only can be helpful in preparing the dieter for what is yet to come. Usually, this is done by removing meat, dairy and other heavy foods from the diet first, followed by a switch to only semi-liquid foods, such as soups and juice blends, and finally to a day of only juice. This transition is done over a period of three days, allowing plenty of time for the body to adjust.
Following the ten day routine, one should ease back into eating regular food in much the same manner. The process of removal is reversed, so that the first day allows juice, the second semi-liquids, the third simple foods and finally back to one’s normal eating habits. Making sure to use this technique will help to prevent nausea and constipation due to the body trying to adjust too rapidly to solid foods.
Many are the benefits of detoxification. Being clean of bad elements can mean an increase in energy, as there is less drag on the body’s systems in general. Also, the brain will get a boost and one’s cognitive thinking may be improved. Healthier skin is one more standard result of a good detox.
One of the obvious effects of a detox fast is weight loss, though this is a temporary side effect. Once the body’s metabolism begins to adjust back to normal, weight returns fairly quick unless permanent adjustments are made to one’s diet. Some have begun to use the cayenne pepper cleanse as a method to lose weight, but this is only effective when used to jump-start another weight loss program. The pepper helps to speed up the metabolism and counter the slowing metabolism that results from fasting, but the effects only last the duration of the cleanse.
Scientific studies surrounding the effectiveness of using this diet are somewhat controversial. Many doctors disapprove of fasting in general due to the lack of vitamins, minerals, proteins and other essentials needed to maintain health. More criticism comes from the use of fasting as a weight loss technique. Since the return of lost weight is rapid and usually guaranteed, doctors recommend against using a cleanse in this manner.
Detoxification, while great for the body in the long-run, has some short-term side effects that people should be aware of before starting. Fatigue, nausea, headaches and dizziness are all common. Dehydration may occur if one does not consume water on a regular basis. Also, overly long-term fasting will inevitably lead to a loss of muscle mass and weakness of the body.
Anyone looking to try out the cayenne pepper technique should consult with a doctor beforehand. Certain health problems, such as diabetes, prevent fasting from being done safely. Other health conditions may worsen if the body is not kept on a strict, doctor-prescribed diet. Those who are older or generally unhealthy may find fasting to be too much of a strain.
Detoxification can be one of the best things that a person can do for themselves to promote health, as long as they can make it through without breaking. While it is not the best solution to weight loss, it can be excellent in developing the self-will to prepare for a lifestyle-changing diet. Recipes and ingredients for the cayenne pepper cleanse are readily available online, though those new to the idea of fasting may find it helpful to buy a kit or package that contains information about the details of the diet and can answer whatever questions they have.
