Master Cleanse: Maple Syrup versus Agave

[Carlsbad]

Okay, so I've searched on here a bunch to see if I can substitute agave for the maple syrup in the MC drink. I did the MC about a year ago with the syrup, but I really hate the way it tastes (which is kind of a bummer, since it's all you taste for two weeks! :p ). I know people say that the syrup has more nutrients, and that's important during the cleanse. I guess I'm just asking for more input on this. The lemonade I made this morning is 2/3 agave and 1/3 syrup (1/3 of the sweetner, not of the whole mix!). I'm still hating that maple syrup taste, so I'd rather do agave. Thoughts?

[Pansy]

All the recipes I have seen was always used with maple syrup, but hey...give it a try and see how it goes.

Happy Cleansing!

[kiropa]

I've done it that way.

[Carlsbad]

Just wanted to update--I've gone 14 days on the MC using agave (or raw honey when I ran out of agave for a couple of days). It's worked really well, and it tastes worlds better than the maple syrup. It's expensive, but worth it I think.

[Bananna]

oh the poor maple syrup underdog :P

[Alyssadyane]

I am currently using agave in my lemonade. I am on day 10, and doing great. There are a lot less calories during the day (I am getting around 240 a day, where on the maple I got around 650) - but I like the idea of agave a lot more. I don't eat maple syrup when I'm not fasting, why would I want to consume it when fasting?

[Nini]

I thought the reason maple syrup is preferred over agave is because of its nutrients. I read that somewhere...

[RawHeaven]

There are less minerals in the agave. I pulled this from Tom Woloshyn's The Complete Master Cleanse. He's completed over 1000 MC's and is Stanley Burroughs' protege. He recommends not using agave. He states you get more nutrients and minerals from the maple syrup. But then again he's not raw either so listen to your body.

I tried the agave and I had significantly less energy on long MC's with it. So I think he may be onto something with regard to the overall mineral content. For cleanses 10 days or less the agave works okay for me. But for 21, 30, 40 day MC's I use the maple syrup and I generally experience an increase in energy, aside from occasional detoxification symptoms which cause some fatigue.

[Alyssadyane]

I have done the cleanse with maple, and am currently doing it with agave. I personally greatly prefer this time with the agave. We have great energy (both the bf and I are on day 14 of 21 right now.) No headaches. No woozies. I actually felt icky more doing it with maple. So, I guess it is a personal body preference. I personally am not worried about the nutrient levels. It doesn't make sense to me to worry about that when on a fast or cleanse. The point seems to be what we are drawing out of our bodies during a cleanse, not how much nutrients we are putting in. All I know is that my blood sugar levels are much more even on agave, and that is good enough for me.

Cheers, everyone!

[kathylsun]

i liked both. agave is thicker in texture somehow, i feel anyway; but the taste is more pure. maple syrup has a nice flavor. after 5 days, i just switched from ms to agave for the heck of it and see what i liked; then, i started mixing. what the heck, i figure i can have fun while on fast too :)

good luck and enjoy!

if you're looking for a fast buddy, pls let me know.

[Stina]

Anybody have any feedback on candida and the master cleanse?

[OneBite@aTime]

Currently on day one of my 2nd MC. first time used MS, hated it, almost got sick on it. I'm using Agave this time-and I already feel better-no sick stomach!

[cherries]

One reason people might be having problems with the maple syrup is that some maple syrup contains formaldehyde, you have to be careful and get the organic stuff and maybe even check with the manufacturer. For this reason, I always use agave.

Another thing to think about, is that the master cleanse is old, I think was developed around WWII. And I don't think that agave nectar was as prevalent in the stores then, as it is now. So if Stanley Burrows (who developed the master cleanse) was alive now, he might be recommending agave.

[Alyssadyane]

Cherries, I agree with you about Stanley Burroughs. I think a new, updated Master Cleanse book needs to be written. I am on day 20 of a cleanse using agave. It has been the best cleanse ever.

[OneBite@aTime]

Alyssadyane-
Thanks for posting....I'm on day one and was wondering how it would go with Agave...hoping for my "best cleanse ever" as well!