Its impossible to talk to people who have done the Master Cleanse without hearing them talk about the effect it has on their energy.So that is the Mater Cleanse, anyway? Its a controversial program that was first developed in the 1970s by a man named Stanley Burroughs, whose only claim to eternal fame is that he published a little booklet about it The Master Cleanser that is still sold in health food stores everywhere.Although many conservative dietitians dismiss the Master Cleanse as hogwash, the fact is that its been used for decades with great results by many people, including some that I have great respect and regard for, including Elson Haas, M.D. Dont let its periodic appearance in celebrity magazines as the secret behind some stars weight loss and newfound energy blind you to its value for some people some times. Im including it in this book, not because I recommend it for everyone, but because so many people swear by it that I thought you should at least know what it is and how to do it, should you want to try it.GROUND ZERO FOR THE MASTER CLEANSEOne of the best-known proponents of the Master Cleanse is a man named Peter Glickman, who has devoted his life to teaching people how to incporate the Master Cleanse into their lives as part of a program of healing and renewal. When I interviewed him, he explained how he developed this passion.Around 2002, food had become my enemy, he explained. I was feeling exhausted. I had no energy. My wife had gotten into the whole raw vegan diet thing, and for two months I watched as she got skinnier and healthier. Her eyes sparkled. Meanwhile, I just felt more tired. Finally, I decided to give raw vegan eating a try for six months.Glickman lost 42 pounds. Not surprisingly, his energy went through the roof. When I asked him what prompted him to try the Master Cleanse, he was refreshingly frank. I just woke up one morning and felt like I needed a cleanse. Hes been a convert and a proponent ever since.RECIPE FOR REVIVING ENERGYMany people use the Master Cleanse as an energy tonic, and more than a few have used it for weight loss, though like all juice fasts, that shouldnt be the main reason you do it. The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet, is basically a fast in which you take in nothing but the following drink all day long, as wanted, for a period of time ranging from one to ten days.Heres the recipe for a single serving: or ten on just that drink is a personal matter. Since the Master Cleanse is really just a slight variation on a water fast (with lemon and maple syrup adding a few nutrients), its possible you might not feel really perky during the first day or so as your body starts dumping whatever its holding on to in the fat cells. That said, Id be lying if I told you that it doesnt work for certain folks. After just a few days on the program, some people report that they feel more energetic than they have in years. including Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists as penance or for purification. Fasting has been a tool of political prisoners and disciples of civil disobedience. From Mohandas Gandhi to guests at high-end spas, from religious awakening to simple rejuvenation, fasting has served many people and purposes throughout the ages.