Unpopular ... but true

[RawTruth]

Okay, folks -- I just want to say that I think Master Cleanse is not something I understand.*

It is based on pseudo-science, it makes no nutritional or metabolic sense, and it's not raw.

Further, it's not as popular as it seems here; thousands of people visit this forum and just a relative few post about and/or try the Master Cleanse.

Eating raw fruits and vegetables ... even juices are more effective in the long-run, more healthy, and give the body what it needs to create whereas the ingredients in MC do not do this.

Yes, I know the book(let) and the author claim differently.

I fully realize that this post could possibly spark a firestorm, but I am concerned that newbies to raw and those others who are just learning about healthy eating will read the posts here and think that the MC is an authentic healthy option that's a part of being raw. That's why I've written this.

(And -- a high number of views on a thread doesn't necessarily mean that the content is valuable anymore than than thinking that the huge number of people who slow down to stare at a car wreck is somehow altruistic.)

*Edited to change my previous rude wording. :)

[Revvell]

So, what brought this on? lmao

Yanno what? I agree. IF one wants to fast ~ and knowing about raw food I can't imagine why, unless one is sick ~ the MC is not the way to go. Lemon juice and tree sap?

So ms. RT, IF one were ill, would you recommend fasting at all? The addition of raw juices, 100 percent raw or...???

Inquiring mind(s) want to know. :)

Revvell

[bubbles]

I've always had a "secret problem" about MC...but thought that somehow it was untouchable...
thanks for your truth.
Shay

[akh78749]

I don't have much experience with the MC myself. But I have a friend that shrunk a tumor in his wrist that was the size of a baseball down to the size of a pea by doing the MC for a month. His doctors wanted to amputate his hand before the tumor shrunk. So he swears by it. He still doesn't have complete normal functioning of his wrist, but he got to keep his hand.

[rawfigure]

shhhhhh. :cool: ..I agree with you on this one.

Yes some experience great progress on the MC but maybe they would have on a fruit , veggie raw food diet too..... :confused:

[cassidy]

I felt really fantastic doing the MC. I had mental clarity, felt very relaxed and enjoyed it very much. I also have a girlfriend who just finished it and liked it as well. Something about the combo makes it work for cravings, hunger, and all and all it is a much better fast than just plane water. Now, I don't have any miracle stories about it... but all I can say is I liked it very much and wouldn't mind doing it again. It is also what introduced me to raw foods, so I am definatly thankful for that. I am not arguing with you... It really doesn't offer a lot of nurtients... but most fasts don't.

[mindelicious]

Why not form a raw MC?? I am doing a fruit juice/smoothie fast right now and for three days in the middle of my seven day fast I am going to have water with fresh squeezed lemons, liquified date paste, and hot peppers pulverized to pulp. I have done the master cleanse before but did not do it for long because of lack of BM. So I feel if I slip into and out with fruit juice/smoothies this will keep it moving. Yet I wanted it to be all raw, and there is plenty of vit/min in dates to act as the same as the maple syrup. I do think all out fasting is excessive if you are on an raw diet but I feel I have to give my disgestive system a break.

[RawTruth]

So ms. RT, IF one were ill, would you recommend fasting at all? The addition of raw juices, 100 percent raw or...???Yep, I do recommend juice fasting when there is a health crisis. Green juices especially sprouts -- Hippocrates style. Tons of research and guidance on the benefits of that, for sure.

(And -- why the rant? Just seeing one more MC post was like that last drop in the bucket that caused it to overflow, that last brick in the wall and I had to break out -- yanno? :D)

[rawpriestess]

I totally agree, the MC is not for me. hummm that rhymes.


anyway, I have heard it time and time again, it's not what you eat that makes you healthy, it's what YOU DON"T EAT that makes you healthy,

so maybe all of these people who claim all of these miraculous cures (that I'm sure really did happen) actually cure themselves, because they stopped eating/drinking something else? not BECAUSE of the MC per se'

just my thoughts.

[ShantiDass]

MC made me too sick to continue. I'm insulin resistant and my BS went crazy and I turned white, nauseated, sweated profusely and became very faint at work. I work in a medical clinic so there were others around me but I thought I was going to hit the floor. I decided to stop.

My mother does great on it and loves it. EXCEPT - she got off of it about 2 weeks ago and felt good but had been craving some cooked food. (she wasn't raw) She lost a few pounds but not much. She has been raw with me for several days and feels great, has a lot of energy and lost more weight than she did on the MC for 2 weeks. She's now so into being raw that she bought a Vita Mix at Costco last night and is making me crazy with all the darn smoothies she is making!

[janicejourney]

"Okay, folks -- I just want to say that I think the Master Cleanse is stupid."



Why the judgmental stance? You do realize this statement is unnecessarily rude? I think if you want to call something "stupid," you would back it up with some research or something. A statement of truth gets one further then insulting people… Just my two cents. Judgment really turns me off.

[codajess]

I did it back at the end of 2004 for 7 days. The weight loss was nice. For the past few years it's been almost impossible for me to lose weight. I was doing it in hopes of transitioning to vegan after that. I didn't, but eh. It was a nice experience, I suppose. I could take it or leave it.

[codajess]

I don't have much experience with the MC myself. But I have a friend that shrunk a tumor in his wrist that was the size of a baseball down to the size of a pea by doing the MC for a month. His doctors wanted to amputate his hand before the tumor shrunk. So he swears by it. He still doesn't have complete normal functioning of his wrist, but he got to keep his hand.

By the way, congrats on the weight loss! I started raw may 7. Today's June 1, and I think im the same weight. :rolleyes: For the past few years it's been almost impossible for me to lose weight. I thought raw might do it. I fasted a few days recently... temporary weight loss. Gained it right back. *sigh*

[Lay-Lay]

I am unfamiliar with this mentioned MC, but if its not raw as said why would you want to do it?

I myself try to fast once a season for 3-7 days. Sometimes I do water and other times juice. If I am sick I will do a longer fast.

[Brianna]

Yep, I do recommend juice fasting when there is a health crisis. Green juices especially sprouts -- Hippocrates style. Tons of research and guidance on the benefits of that, for sure.

(And -- why the rant? Just seeing one more MC post was like that last drop in the bucket that caused it to overflow, that last brick in the wall and I had to break out -- yanno? :D)
I work at Hippocrates and those green juices with the sprouts have made a huge difference in my life. I was drinking green juices before, but the sprouts make such a huge difference. And the wheatgrass juice too.

[NFrawRUNNER]

Okay, folks -- I just want to say that I think the Master Cleanse is stupid.

It is based on pseudo-science, it makes no nutritional or metabolic sense, and it's not raw.

Further, it's not as popular as it seems here; thousands of people visit this forum and just a relative few post about and/or try the Master Cleanse.

Eating raw fruits and vegetables ... even juices are more effective in the long-run, more healthy, and give the body what it needs to create whereas the ingredients in MC do not do this.

Yes, I know the book(let) and the author claim differently.

I fully realize that this post could possibly spark a firestorm, but I am concerned that newbies to raw and those others who are just learning about healthy eating will read the posts here and think that the MC is an authentic healthy option that's a part of being raw. That's why I've written this.

(And -- a high number of views on a thread doesn't necessarily mean that the content is valuable anymore than than thinking that the huge number of people who slow down to stare at a car wreck is somehow altruistic.)


Can i just LOL :D :D When I read the thread title I thought "oh no, not another MC fast challenge" So when I clicked on it I started laughing! I have been raw since last August and the only thing I STINK at is MC or any kind of fasting/cleansing! I always feel "guilty" but realize that is just stupid. I eat only raw (- a few slipups ;) ) and just decided this WEEK that I am not going to worry about NEEDING to do one unless I have a health issue as you mentioned....I am a VERY BUSY working mom to 5 + workout twice a day...I just CAN'T do it and I will not feel guilty anymore so I say AMEN!!! :D I think you have put into words what so many of us have thought!!! I feel comfortable enough raw to make this decision but realize some people need it to jumpstart their motivation or to feel better....but if it doesn't don't do it!!!! ;)

[Conscious Midwife]

I don't have much experience with the MC myself. But I have a friend that shrunk a tumor in his wrist that was the size of a baseball down to the size of a pea by doing the MC for a month. His doctors wanted to amputate his hand before the tumor shrunk. So he swears by it. He still doesn't have complete normal functioning of his wrist, but he got to keep his hand.

Was probably a cyst or pocket of uric acid build up. SO the MC elevated some symptoms but if he doesn't have full function then i guess he wasn't "healed" by the MC. My guess is that a raw diet or juice fast would have yielded similiar benefits.

Besides, I'd get a 2nd and probably 3rd opinion before I would let someone amputate.

[Conscious Midwife]

By the way, congrats on the weight loss! I started raw may 7. Today's June 1, and I think im the same weight. :rolleyes: For the past few years it's been almost impossible for me to lose weight. I thought raw might do it. I fasted a few days recently... temporary weight loss. Gained it right back. *sigh*


Change your thinking and whatyou are saying about your bodies ability to loose weight. Focus your thought patterns, verbage and vibrations on the healthier/ slimmer you that you know you can be.

[cornvalley]

Stupidity aside for a minute, what is it that attracts people to such an approach for internal cleanliness? I think it has to do with our fundamental need to want to 'do' something to help facilitate the process. And the more intricate the preparation instructions the more it somehow seems to help validate it.
I think there is a great misunderstanding on who's 'running the show'. These substances (irritants such as cayenne) that have no power, or your body that reacts to it's qualities (irritating) as such, speeding up metabolism in order to eliminate them as soon as possible. Aiding elimination can take the form of using warmth and rest to ASSIST an already capable biological mechanism in it's never ending chore of self maintenance. Such as it is, respecting it's virtues as well as it's limitations would be the hallmark of intelligent behavior.

[codajess]

Change your thinking and whatyou are saying about your bodies ability to loose weight. Focus your thought patterns, verbage and vibrations on the healthier/ slimmer you that you know you can be.

If only it were that easy. *sigh* Been there done that. Been on low calorie (im ashamed to say i joined Jenny Craig) I've been vegetarian for years. Haven't had dairy since January. Still..nothing. Raw since beginning of May. It's only frustrating because I could be gorging myself on potato chips and fried fatty stuff and stay the same weight. Or I can be living on salads and stay the same weight. So..i'm gonna keep on truckin with the raw thing, since I havent had any problem staying on it. Ack. I digress..

I've chalked it up to karma and all the times I made fun of the chicks in HS who always complained about their weight. :D :p

[luvnraw]

Well I would say that I like it BUT I wanted to do it but be 100% raw so was doing water, fresh squeezed lemon and cayenne from glaserfarms dried at low temps.....I skipped the syrup since it wasn't raw, so technically I guess I wasn't doing the master cleanse.....so not sure if it was skipping the syrup or what but I felt very ill and weak on it but pushed through 5 days of it, then 8 days raw foods then 12 days of fasting again and now full back on raw.....next time I will just do a water fast though! :p I feel better eating just 100% raw with most of it simple stuff and gourmet as a treat!

[veggie]

I don't have much experience with the MC myself. But I have a friend that shrunk a tumor in his wrist that was the size of a baseball down to the size of a pea by doing the MC for a month. His doctors wanted to amputate his hand before the tumor shrunk. So he swears by it. He still doesn't have complete normal functioning of his wrist, but he got to keep his hand.

I think the reason why this may have worked in that way is from the fasting aspect, not necessarily from the lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne combo. He probably would have had the same results with a juice or water fast.

RT--great thread!

[jenjenn]

This is just my point of view on the subject: Please keep in mind I'm not saying any of this to argue with anyone's point,,, just offering my opinion.....I actually had never heard about the MC until I came to this sight.

Then once I figured out what it was I was intruiged to try it. I had a way better experience fasting on juices alone, but I guess I just feel that what someone said on here eariler, that since I read "that the maple syprup has all the nutrients that we need" I figure that it's somehow better than juicing fruits and veggies...

I know it probably doesn't make sense and it's sorta insane -I feel this way partlly beccause when I'm abstaining from solid food and fasting in that form, I feel like I want to be assured that my body is still getting all the nutrient's it needs and according to the master cleanse it has everything that we need I know we can get them from fruit's and veggies

however I feel I'd have to be in the kitchen for 2 hours just juicing the right amount of 20 different types of veggies or/and fruits in order to make sure I have all that my body needs while i'm abstaining from food.

anyhow I figure if I can get over being soo stuck on that point then I can totally forget about it.

I think Mindlicous has a great idea of making her own concoction

by the way how does that taste mindlicous, How do you make the liqquefied date paste, how much do you use, do you follow all the other "rules" of the mc?

[cornvalley]

I feel like I want to be assured that my body is still getting all the nutrient's it needs

Jenjen, the most pure form of fast is the water fast, where by one can go quite long without 'taking in' nutrients. The body is very adapted to this process and organizes the utilization of existing stores without difficulty. It is a remarkable thing, when allowed to take place.
The idea that food, at the time of ingestion and break down, is rushed around the cells for use in some way is not an accurate picture. Think of every nutrient being taken to the liver for storage. Then think of a warehouse manager at the liver loading the proportions of nutrients to be let go and circulated within the rest of the body. This happens when you're fasting or feeding, the liver is always aquiring it's distributions from stores of accumulated reserves, not individual meals.

[asil]

I think fasting is very healing but I've always been a bit suspicious of the ingredients in MC. Oh well, it's got to be a great improvement over most diets. :)

[akh78749]

Was probably a cyst or pocket of uric acid build up. SO the MC elevated some symptoms but if he doesn't have full function then i guess he wasn't "healed" by the MC. My guess is that a raw diet or juice fast would have yielded similiar benefits.

Besides, I'd get a 2nd and probably 3rd opinion before I would let someone amputate.

They were labeling it a "benign tumor". He's a pretty smart guy and he wasn't just relying on one doctor's opinion. He had several. He's an avid golfer, so he wasn't about to let them take his hand off.

But, yes, he probably would have benefitted from a raw diet, but I doubt it would have shrunk the tumor as quickly as the fast did.

[lodestar]

cornvalley raises some good points...i too think raw, juicy is far superior to MC.

[cnoellea]

I don't understand the MC. I have NO luck fasting in general for more than one day, but I am a personal trainer and I think the exercisizing alone may help detox (although I've only been raw for a few weeks) I see maple syrup being made and it is a process of continual boiling, setting, and boiling. This IS a raw food website, yes? Then why is a cooked fast being so heavily promoted? That's the only bone to pick with MC

[mindelicious]

Jen
It doesn't taste exactly like the original MC. The date paste is definately not as strong as maple syrup. To make the liquified date paste I just threw 5-6 dates in the blender and pushed em down a lil bit-poured enough water over them to cover & pulverized em. If the blender is not moving enough I added more water. I kinda did the same with the hot local peppers. So when I wanted to make my juice I squeezed my lemons, added two tablespoons dates paste, and as much hot pepper juice as I could stand.
I have had pretty good results from this. I never felt light headed like i have before on cleanses & I am in a much warmer climate. The bloating I had is gone and I feel pretty good.
I am not do an all out MC cleanse though...I'm doing a rotation of two days raw MC two days fruit juices & melon smoothies...I did not want harsh detox because i have gone through that before. On the days when I was just doing the mc I would have senna tea (sun--not boiling water).
But that is about it... pretty pleased

[sport]

[QUOTE=rawpriestess]it's not what you eat that makes you healthy, it's what YOU DON"T EAT that makes you healthy,
QUOTE]
Request permission to use this in my many arguments.

[dreamrawalwz]

Someone said they had read that mapel syrup has "all the nutrients a body needs" or something similar, but when you heat it up they would all be lost right? That's just how I see it...so all those nutrients you THINK you're getting aren't really there...

[LNdolls]

Ya know, being obnoxious about someone else's choice of healing modality is pretty stupid, too.
I have done the Master Cleanse several times with fantastic results and it can be done raw - with agave instead of maple syrup.

Raw Food Talk is NOT the best forum for the Master Cleanse.
This is -
http://www.therawfoodsite.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi

And the Curezone is pretty good for support doing the MC as well.

Come on folks, lets all relax. People are going to do what they do and learn what they learn,... who are you and who am I to say what they choose is stupid??

[rawpriestess]

Sport, you may use my quote, it was not mine originally, I heard it from Paul Nisan and Matt Monarch, so it probably came from Fred Bisci originally. LOL


anyway, you may certainly use it anytime it works for you.

I love that saying.

[RawTruth]

Raw Food Talk is NOT the best forum for the Master Cleanse. . . BINGO! . .

[lavendarJ]

I've done the MC enough times to know it is not for everyone. It is a harsh fast. I think that for most people, it may be a bit strict and might even be a shock to the system. The longest I did it was for almost 40 days. I wouldn't call it nonsense and the ingredients are simple enough - lemon, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup (each of with I have known to have their own respective benefits when used individually). I think that the MC is best done when a person has literally nothing to do, it is a stricter form of fasting (especially the way I did it; a lot of times I didn't have time with my schedule to even drink a MC drink and several days went by with me just eating "air"). The MC was good for detoxing, I never had any of the bad side effects that other people have mentioned in the past. I simply felt drained but it made sense why I was drained. I was challenged during my workouts and had to drop down to just working out 1 1/2 hours. I did have mental clarity and a much deeper focus. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I do it for 40 days? Probably not unless I had nothing else in the world to do. Really the fasting that works best for me is fasting by simply abstaining from all liquid and solid foods for a period of time. I lost about 40 pounds (I think 37/38). It's been a while since the fast and I think I might have gained 5/6 back while I was visiting in California. I don't think the MC is to be taken lightly though and you really have to know your body and its present state of being because the MC is a type of fast that can be shocking to the system (at least that's what I've read from the experiences of others, because I never had the headaches, rashes, aches and pains that I read about so I don't know) Anyway, there are a millions ways to cleanse and there are several ways to cleanse raw. It is as simple as combining the right fruit and veggie combinations and eating without the fuss of blending, chopping, or mixing.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I find the drink quite refreshing and now I'm craving it, thanks! ;)

Actually I like to use lime instead of lemon - gives it a lovely south of the border flavor. And make sure to use Grade B syrup - the cruder the better - gives it a more powerful rich flavor.

Yes, it is definately not raw, but the cleansing is actually an effect of the lack of food in general, much as the macrobiotic diet heals many diseases which probably is from the lack of animal products.

The sugars just keep a person's energy up and the cayenne causes the body to irritate itself to cleanse, is all.

[RawTruth]

Okay, okay, I edited my first post to more accurately reflect in writing what I was trying to get across -- that doing the MC is not something that makes sense to me. If we'd been talking face to face, you'd have seen my silly expression when I said the original statement. But ... it did come across as too rude for just reading it without knowing me. Oh, dang, I'm so misunderstood!! JUST KIDDING!!!

I stand by the sentence below, though!!

Eating raw fruits and vegetables ... even juices are more effective in the long-run, more healthy, and give the body what it needs to create well-being whereas the ingredients in MC do not do this.

[Spectatrix]

And make sure to use Grade B syrup - the cruder the better - gives it a more powerful rich flavor.
Just for your information, Grade B isn't more or less crude than Grade A. It's simply tapped and made later in the syrup season. As the weather changes, the syrup does too.

[wizz4ve]

Have you ever considered finding out just how many calories you body needs and makeing sure you take that amount in. You may not be eating enough calories and if you body feels you are not eating enough, it will just eat off your fat and cause your metabolism to slow down. That is why weight watcher's work so well, because it makes sure you eat just enough to burn calories. I was on weight watcher's a lost alot of weight but only because it meet my bodies requirement. The rules are, even if you are not hungry you still have to eat your required portion or you may not lose anything and even worse, you will possibly gain weight. I couldn't stick to that diet because it was too much going on in my life. I am trying raw, not as a diet but as a lifestyle change for my health physically and mentally.

Good luck on your weight loss!!!

[wizz4ve]

If only it were that easy. *sigh* Been there done that. Been on low calorie (im ashamed to say i joined Jenny Craig) I've been vegetarian for years. Haven't had dairy since January. Still..nothing. Raw since beginning of May. It's only frustrating because I could be gorging myself on potato chips and fried fatty stuff and stay the same weight. Or I can be living on salads and stay the same weight. So..i'm gonna keep on truckin with the raw thing, since I havent had any problem staying on it. Ack. I digress..

I've chalked it up to karma and all the times I made fun of the chicks in HS who always complained about their weight. :D :p


NOT KARMA: IT WILL WORK OUT JUST DON'T GIVE UP
Have you ever considered finding out just how many calories you body needs and makeing sure you take that amount in. You may not be eating enough calories and if you body feels you are not eating enough, it will just eat off your fat and cause your metabolism to slow down. That is why weight watcher's work so well, because it makes sure you eat just enough to burn calories. I was on weight watcher's a lost alot of weight but only because it meet my bodies requirement. The rules are, even if you are not hungry you still have to eat your required portion or you may not lose anything and even worse, you will possibly gain weight. I couldn't stick to that diet because it was too much going on in my life. I am trying raw, not as a diet but as a lifestyle change for my health physically and mentally.

Good luck on your weight loss!!!