Ease-In: Starting The Master Cleanse

The Master Cleanse, also known as The Lemonade Diet, has three phases. They are Ease-In to the Master cleanse, The Lemonade Diet and Ease-Out of the Master cleanse.

Each of these three phases is equally as important to your successfully completing this sometimes challenging cleanse. Unlike the Ease-out, the Ease-in is optional. Some people choose not to ease into this somewhat extreme detox. I personally believe that it is a kind choice to allow our bodies to adjust to this cleansing process and to slowly start letting our digestive system rest before we introduce the Master Cleanse Lemonade that eventually allows for our digestive system to rest completely.

I also find (as I manage our Master Cleanse Facebook page with about 9000 members), that people who choose to ease-in are not as challenged to stick to the Lemonade diet and that is a great benefit on its own. Easing in can prepare you for the cleanse:

• Physically
• Mentally 
• Emotionally

This is especially important for the people that are about to do the Master Cleanse for the very first time.

The Ease-in portion of the Master Cleanse is important to me for several reasons.

1. It allows me to prepare my digesting system for the upcoming big changes in my diet. Eventually, as I start the actual Lemonade diet, my digestive system will be allowed to rest completely, so it makes sense to start introducing foods very easy to digest ( soups, juices, smoothies…) before I start only drinking liquids — the lemonade and additional pure water.
2. It helps me develop the habit of a more natural and healthier diet. I don’t want to adopt a rule-filled lifestyle such as vegan or vegetarian, but I do want to limit processed foods, dairy products and red meats. I know that juicing is a great way to get vital veggies.
3. Therefore, if I choose to eat this way strictly before I begin my cleanse, I am a little more likely to continue the habit in my Post-Cleanse Lifestyle.

“This simpler diet will be less stressful on the body and will help with the eventual elimination of some of your poor food choices. Eating such a diet will make it easier  for you to transition to the Master Cleanse.”

The Ease-in can be eliminated, as it is not suggested in the original text. It can also be reduced. This is just my version, take it or leave it.

How to Ease into the Lemonade diet

This is a good method to gradually prepare your body for the Master Cleanse.

• Day 1 – Regular Diet; however, you should try to eat live foods –vegetables, grains, etc.
• Day 2 – Fruits and Veggies
• Day 3 – Fruit and Veggie Juice – or Broth
  
• Day 4 – Orange Juice – 3 1-liter orange juice (with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup if you want more calories and energy)
  
• Day 5 is the Day 1 of The Lemonade diet

Ease-In Day 1 – Living Food Diet

To do the The Living Food Diet, you need only to eat live foods. Simply remove processed foods, meat and dairy from your diet. Enjoy shopping for, and eating interesting fruits and vegetables. Savor the rich flavor and textures. Be sure that you don’t go too heavy on fruits as they are high in sugar. A 60/40 balance of vegetables to fruits is a good guideline.

A pre-diet regimen is essential. As with the diet itself, the quality of the ingredients is important. Organic is good, but a lack of organic foods should not keep you from starting; if you can’t find organic, get regular produce. To be on a vegetarian diet including juicing, soups and broths for a few days prior to the Cleanse is a great way to slowly allow your digestive system to adjust to a new upcoming (and for many people a bit extreme) Lemonade diet.

Top 5 inexpensive Super Vegetables:

1. Organic Onions
2. Organic Carrots
3. Organic Brocoli
4. Organic Peppers
5. Organic Tomatoes
6. And Organic Oranges for your Orange juice to drink on the last day of Ease-in

Here are some Juicing recipes to energize you and prepare you for the Master Cleanse.

Ease-In Day 2 – Juicing, Blending, Soups and Broths

As much as you can, keep the ingredients:

• Vegetarian
• Raw
• And Organic

This step preps your body for a liquid diet and delivers macronutrients more quickly to your bloodstream.
By breaking down the foods to liquids we can more readily take in the nutrients from the food. Fruit and Vegetable Juicing is very enjoyable. There are endless combinations of tasty juicing recipes. Blending is equally enjoyable. Green smoothies are like drinking a glass of healing. If you do not have a juicer, you can make soup or broths.

Here are some great vegetable soup recipes you may enjoy while Easing into the Master Cleanse.

Ease-In Day 3 – Orange Juice

Manually or electrically juice enough oranges to make 2 liters of Orange Juice, mixed with water (to taste).

Sometimes I find it hard to get the calories I need through the day and so I add some Maple Syrup to increase my caloric intake. Again, this is just the reverse process of the Ease-out or “Breaking the Master Cleanse.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: The most important factor to keep in mind during the Ease-in stage is to drink a lot of pure water, especially when you are fruit and veggie juicing. If you do not make broth, and opt for juices instead, it is important you understand that the juice will have a great deal of fiber, and you need to make sure you have enough water in your system to keep you from becoming constipated.

Why is the Ease – in so important – video