Nowadays, green juice and juice cleanses are all the rage. Juice has various therapeutic effects and gives the digestive system a break while providing us with tons of nutrients. Not only does it cleanse the body and get rid of toxins, it also promotes weight loss.
There are various types of juice cleanses, including the famous Master Cleanse, or “lemonade diet,” which has been tried and tested by millions of people since the 1940s. It features three quality ingredients : cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon. This lemonade-inspired juice cleanse also goes by several other names, including the Lemon Detox Diet, the Maple Syrup Diet and the Cayenne Pepper Diet.
When I was young, I remember my parents doing this cleanse at least once a year for a few days at a time, especially my dad. The cleanse involves drinking large amounts of the same beverage throughout the day and avoiding solid foods. Unlike cleanses that include various juices, this one centres around a single recipe. To this day, my father continues to do this cleanse at least once a year and reports nothing but positive effects. He feels lighter and less bloated, his digestion improves and he has less inflammation.
Here’s my slightly modified version of the original recipe. I suggest giving this healthy “juice” a try and incorporating it into your diet before doing a full cleanse. Personally, I drink it in small quantities rather than doing a full detox. That way, I drink more water and still benefit from the ingredients’ anti-inflammatory and nourishing effects. The maple syrup also gives the mixture a great taste!
Here is my version of this maple lemonade:
- 250 mL (1 cup) filtered water
- 30 mL (2 tbsp.) pure maple syrup
- 30 mL (2 tbsp.) fresh lemon juice
- 1 mL (1/16 tsp.) cayenne pepper
- 30 mL (2 tbsp.) whole chia seeds
Mix all ingredients in a bottle and let sit in the fridge for 15 minutes before drinking to let the chia seeds expand.
Quick tip
Replace the filtered water with pure maple water to boost your mineral intake and experience a diuretic effect!
