It is spring, and we are all shedding a couple layers of clothing and spending more time outside in the warm sun. Summer is right around the corner, and brings leg baring shorts, sleeveless shirts, and bathing suits. Like many of us,, you probably got a little comfy this winter season and put on a bit of winter weight. Now you want to look your best, and it is time to make some changes. A great way to kick start any lifestyle change is through a cleanse, and the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse is a great start. Out with the old and in with the new!
What is the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse?
A popular fasting diet with some Hollywood starlets, this cleanse has been used as a method regain their toned figures, slim down, and detox the body. Outside of Hollywood, it has been a part of a detoxing strategy to address poor diet, addictions, poor concentration, and more. Similar to other popular juice fasts, the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse is typically a short-term detoxifying diet.
The Cayenne Pepper Diet is a liquid mono diet (that is, one mixture only) designed to augment the body’s cleansing and detoxifying processes, and nourish the body with the nutrients it needs to function.
Made out of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne pepper, it is a simple mixture to make. The diet is usually done for cycles lasting between 5 and 10 days. Some people only need to cleanse for 5 days, others may feel the need to cleanse for 10 days. Drinking 6-12 glasses of the cayenne pepper lemonade each day helps your body in the detoxification process.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a super food, like avocados, olives, and blueberries. It is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, capsaicin, and antioxidants. It is a fruit (the pepper from the plant) that is dried and ground into a fine red powder. Although it is technically a fruit, cayenne is often referred to as an herb. Called the “Master Herb” by many herbalists, it is vital in many aspects of health and wellness. Used in many dishes in many cultures, cayenne pepper also has medicinal properties that are essential to weight management. But what makes cayenne pepper so special? Below you can find cayenne pepper cleanse benefits:
Capsaicin: the Cayenne Pepper Diet Secret Weapon
The most critical component in cayenne pepper, capsaicin is what gives the pepper its signature taste. Capsaicin is important because it has been shown to increase energy expenditure and suppress the appetite. This capsaicinoid gives off a heat so powerful that handling ground cayenne requires gloves during production. The ‘hotness’ of the cayenne pepper is measured in Scoville units, and it ranges from 40,000 to 100,000 IU’s. While cayenne pepper is not the hottest pepper on the planet (that would be the Trinidad moruga scorpion pepper), it definitely packs a punch!
What Does Cayenne Pepper Do In A Cleanse?
Cayenne pepper, as a whole, has many properties that help promote health and wellness. It is a stimulant that increases the metabolism, which is important for weight loss and weight management. It also dilates the body’s blood vessels which increases circulation. Circulation is vital when detoxing or cleansing because it helps the body regulate its body temperature and deliver nutrients more efficiently. Perhaps most importantly, Cayenne Pepper, like fresh lemon juice, helps to break up the mucous in our bodies. Mucus traps harmful bacteria that enters the body and transports it outside. This is what causes us to get stuffed up, congested, sneeze, and cough. Breaking up and eliminating this mucous is one of the major benefits of The Master Cleanse. This ultimately boosts your immune system.
Lemon
You know what they say, when life gives you lemons… make lemonade. Adding lemon to drinking water has many positive effects on the body. It aids in digestion, boosting the immune system, and even clearing skin, Looking at these benefits, it is pretty obvious why this fruit is in the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse. Lemons are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants and when juiced and mixed with water, they are known to help hydrate the lymphatic system, boost your energy levels, and aid in weight loss. Importantly, lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings, so they are the ideal match for cayenne pepper.
As we have learned, cayenne pepper in itself is a powerful detoxifying stimulant that helps the body get rid of its toxins from the inside out. By mixing cayenne with lemon water, it amplifies the characteristics of both ingredients and makes a truly effective cleanse.
Some people use cayenne pepper and lemon juice and see the same results, but we recommend lemon water for optimal benefits.
Maple Syrup
The maple syrup in this recipe acts as a natural sweetener for the cayenne and lemon cleanse and adds some depth to the lemonade. It also serves as a means of providing calories as well as essential vitamins and minerals to the drink.
Benefits of the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse
The idea behind this liquid detox is to give the digestive system a bit of a break while expelling all the unnecessary toxins that have built up in the body. By boosting the metabolism, it is the perfect aid in a weight management regime. The best part about this diet is that all the ingredients are natural, everyday foods. Taking them as cleansing or weight management agents is not harmful to your body, if done correctly.
The following are only a handful of the benefits of the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse:
- Boosts metabolism
- Rids the body of toxins
- Aids in weight loss
- Protects against free radicals
- Refreshes the digestive tract
- Results in better sleep
- Clarity of mind
A good majority of the problems that we have with our health are caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. All of these problems can be controlled and changed. The cleanse is only a means to an end. It is the first of a chain of healthy and positive choices that can create a healthy and positive lifestyle. By completing the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse, observing a healthful and balanced diet, exercising regularly, and working on reducing stress, you can live a healthier life. Look at this detox as the first step in a journey to a better you!
How Does Cayenne Pepper Cleanse Work?
The cayenne pepper and lemon water alone will aid in weight loss and improving your metabolism. Many of the proponents of cayenne pepper for weight loss claim that it has obesity fighting properties, including burning fat. Studies have shown that people who eat spicier foods eat fewer calories during the day. Additionally, there are hundreds of studies which show that lemon water is helpful in starting the metabolism in the morning, maintaining a healthy body fat percentage and body hydration. In summary, a significantly lower calorie intake stimulated by the healthy properties of cayenne and lemon water, will help your body lose weight.
Prepare Mentally and Physically
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Doing a cleanse is like preparing for a marathon. You have to prepare your body and your mind for the process. Know that there can be side effects and be ready to identify them. Know that you are putting your body and mind through a lot of stress. Focus on your goals for detox and keep a positive mindset. Detoxes and cleanses are not easy experiences, but you can make yours more comfortable by preparing and maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude. Understanding that it will be taxing on your body and mind, you can create for yourself a more positive experience.
Ultimately, you are trying to jumpstart your system. You have to get rid of the toxins to make room for nutrients in your body. When preparing your body, start to take highly processed foods with a heavy fat or sugar content out of your diet. This will make the cleanse more enjoyable because your body won’t be going through any heavy withdrawals. You can even prepare a week before you are planning to do the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse by eating a vegetarian diet. This will put less stress on your body when you transition into the liquid diet.
During the cleanse, it is not advised to participate in much physical activity. You will be consuming a limited amount of calories per day, so avoid working out or undergoing physical activity. Stay home and get plenty of rest while your body is repairing itself. Give yourself a cleansing holiday! It will help both your body and your mind.
The Cayenne Pepper Diet Recipe
The great part about this cleanse is that anyone can do it! There are a couple variations to this mixture, but they all have the following in common. Mix the following in an 8 oz glass:
- 2 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (about ½ a lemon)
- 2 Tablespoons of rich maple syrup (or honey)
- 1/10 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1-2 cups of pure water (Alkaline water is always best)
- Consume 6-12 glasses daily for a maximum of 10 days.
After drinking your cayenne cleanse lemonade, chase it with 1 cup of water. Always make sure you are drinking plenty of water when on the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse to stay hydrated. The body needs water just as much as the lemonade to effectively detox. (Just try not to drink more than double the amount of lemonade on any given day).
Side Effects of the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse
If you feel weak or dizzy at any given time during the cleanse, stop immediately. Slowly incorporate whole fruits and vegetables back into your diet and make sure you get plenty of protein. The Cayenne Pepper Cleanse will aid in kickstarting weight loss, but a healthy and balanced diet needs to be maintained to keep the weight off after the cleanse.
When participating in the Cayenne Pepper Diet, some are more prone to irritable behavior, headaches and problems concentrating. Do not continue with the fast if these side effects happen to you. Use your judgement to determine what your body can endure and remain healthy. Always remember that this cleanse is not for everyone.
Warnings
Not ideal for long-term cleanse cycle. This liquid cleanse is meant to be a short-term detox to help the body get rid of the excess fat and toxins. Continuous use for more than 10 days can result in critical ailments. Our bodies are dependant on food nutrients and build muscle on calories that we intake. This cleanse does not provide enough of either of those to sustain a body for an extended period.
If you are already sick, you may become even sicker. Participating in a detox or cleanse of any kind when you are sick is never a good idea. This is because your body is already in a stressed mode, trying to fight off whatever is attacking your system. You need to nourish your body and make sure it has the energy it needs to help you get better. Give yourself time to rest and recover from any illness before preparing to undertake the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse.
Low blood sugar and other medical problems. If you have low blood sugar or other medical problems relating to blood sugar, or insulin, consult your doctor before trying this cleanse. Remember, this is ultimately a fast. Do not partake if your body is not strong enough or well enough to do a fast!
Considering the drastic changes this cleanse entails, it is not recommended for everyone to participate. Those who should not partake include: children, teenagers, seniors, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with major medical problems.
Shopping Guide
Here’s your shopping list for a 10 day cleanse, assuming you are drinking 6 glasses per day for 10 days.
- 25-30 Lemons (You will use about ½ lemon per drink)
- 1.7 oz jar Cayenne Pepper
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Filtered Water
Tips and Tricks of the Trade For The
Cayenne Pepper Flush
Make sure you are strong enough to do this cleanse. First and foremost, you have to be honest with yourself and your body. Detoxing takes a lot out of your body. You want to make sure that your body is strong enough to undertake the harshness of detoxing. If you are a first timer, start off slowly by only detoxing for 5 days. This will help you learn what to expect and how your body reacts to the entire situation. Make sure you prep your body, so you can have a successful and refreshing cleanse.
Ease into and out of the diet. You absolutely should ease into a mono liquid diet like this one. Ease your way into the cleanse and back into eating whole foods at the end of the cleanse. This will ensure that your body is not overwhelmed; and the end result will be a happier, more refreshed body. Use this experience to create a lifestyle change. Eat plenty of whole fruits and vegetables and limit fat consumption.
Breaking the cleanse is just as important as doing the cleanse itself! On the first day after your cleanse, introduce orange juice, soups and broths. Day two should include easy to digest grains, vegetables and fruits. Be careful not to overeat! On day three, eat well portioned and balanced meals.
You can add more cayenne pepper. In essence, the hotter it is, the better it is for you. A tip is to make every third drink a little hotter, this way you not only have something to look forward to in a somewhat mundane liquid diet, it will also give you a little boost of endorphins! You can also add more maple syrup if you want a sweeter drink.
Drink lots of water. Water is absolutely vital to a successful detox. Keep yourself hydrated! Detoxing naturally takes the water out of your system and since over 50% of our bodies are water, make sure you are replenishing all that you are losing!
No caffeine or alcohol; In preparation for the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse, slowly start to reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake. This will prevent any potential withdrawals from lack of caffeine or alcohol during your cleanse. It is time to start new!
Listen to your body. If your body is telling you to stop, always listen. Since this is an all liquid diet, your body will take time to adjust. If you feel dizzy, weak or faint at any time, stop immediately!
This cleanse should be done for a short period of time; it is not meant to be a long term lifestyle change. There are serious problems that can occur if you continue this diet for longer than recommended.
Avoid yo-yo dieting. The idea behind this diet is to jump start a new lifestyle change! Yo-yo dieting occurs when you lose weight, then gain it all back over and over again. If you find yourself doing this diet frequently, and gaining the weight back, you’re not changing your eating habits. After you finish your cleanse, maintain healthy eating habits. Consume more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Make sure you decrease (or eliminate altogether) the consumption of trans fats, oily or greasy foods and processed foods. Now that your body is starting from a clean slate, treat it like the temple that it is!
The Bottom Line
Even when you’re done with the cleanse, there is a lot of work to be done. Besides getting your diet back onto solid and healthy foods, you have to plan for success. This means sticking to a smart and clean diet. Go into this experience with an open mind and a determination to finish strong. The Cayenne Pepper Cleanse has shown some pretty amazing results, Using this cleanse, Beyonce Knowles allegedly lost up to 20 pounds for her role in Dream Girls. Other people have used this cleanse as a yearly maintenance routine to make sure they are flushing out toxins that could be harmful.
Overall, the Cayenne Pepper Cleanse can be a wonderful process that can restore the body and lead to a better, detoxified life. By preparing your body, keeping a strong and positive mindset, and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet after the cleanse, you can relish in the spoils of this age old fast. Lose the weight, get rid of the toxins and increase your focus at work and at home. All this with some determination, lemonade and cayenne pepper. Good luck to you and I hope your cleanse is fruitful and healthy.