Tips on Lemon Honey Cleanse

A lemon honey cleanse is a variation on the traditional Master Cleanse developed by Stephen Burroughs in 1941. In the traditional Master Cleanse, users drink lemon juice mixed with grade "B" (dark) maple syrup and a pinch of cayenne powder. Lemon and honey can be used as well for similar health benefits.

Before You Start

Cleansing can be used to improve mental and physical health, and many people decide to use a cleanse when they are interested in a lifestyle change. Before any cleanse lasting more than three days, or any time there are serious health issues, consult a doctor. Get her or him involved in your decisions and allow him or her to monitor your progress. Cleansing is generally safe if done properly, but it is always a good idea to be monitored by a doctor you trust.

Ready

Before the first day of any cleanse, prepare your body: stop drinking alcohol, coffee, tea, soda---anything that is hard to digest. If you have questions about what you should or should not drink, consult your trusted doctor. Also stop eating difficult to digest foods a few days before. This includes meats and very fatty dishes and anything highly processed. Again, if you have questions about what exactly you should and should not be eating at this stage, consult that doctor.

Set

Decide generally how many days you will cleanse. Adjust your schedule. Know that you will experience not only hunger, but other side effects as well. Many people can think only of food. For others, their sense of smell is heightened. There are people who become overly emotional and teary. You will most likely be irritable at times, if for no other reason than that you are hungry. Make sure you adjust your schedule in advance to give you the flexibility to do your cleanse.

You should also be aware of the fact that you will be using the toilet at a moments' notice during any cleanse or fast, especially in the beginning. You need to make sure this will fit into your life, or adjust your life to fit your cleanse.

Go

Once you start, you may want to keep a journal of your progress. It may become difficult to keep going, and you should be ready to become flexible if you decide you want to stop. Remember that this is not a black and white situation. You can try again if you decide the timing is just not right this time. Unforeseen circumstances can occur. A child may need you, your job may get stressful, your spouse may suggest a weekend in Paris. There will be time to try again if this time doesn't work out.

Don't Stop

After you finish the cleanse, ease back into "real food" and try to accept this as the beginning of a lifestyle change for good. Take a few days before you drink alcohol or caffeine, and don't eat really heavy meals for the first couple days after your stop the cleanse. And try to eat healthier from this moment on in your life.

Cleanse Details

You will be drinking 1 to 1 and a half cups of lemon juice mixed with about 2 liters (2 quarts) water, and enough honey to make it taste good (about 3 tablespoons). Recommendations vary about exact quantities, so feel free to adjust to suit your lifestyle and needs, and to follow any recommendations from your doctor.

You will be consuming only the lemon honey drink during the next few days, so prepare yourself. Mix the cleanse in the morning. You will notice that warmer water will dissolve the honey quickly and thoroughly, so you may choose to warm the water over the stove, mix in the honey and lemon, and then chill the mixture for the day.

Two liters (or quarts) is 8 cups. You can easily spread this through the day by drinking one cup every one and a half hours from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night. If you live with others, plan ahead for what you will do during meal times. Will you excuse yourself for the few days of the cleanse, or will you sit and drink your cup of lemon honey with them? Think about this.