The Master Cleanse Diet is a unique method to both cleanse the body, especially the colon, and to lose weight. Originally developed in 1941 by Stanley Burroughs to remove toxins from the body, the Master Cleanse has gained much attention recently as celebrities have embraced it for weight loss. As the Master Cleanse Diet is made known to a broader audience, more questions are raised concerning its proper implementation. These are all important questions, and among them are concerns with the use of probiotics with the Master Cleanse Diet.

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The central idea of the Master Cleanse Diet is to restore the body?s health by eliminating the accumulation of toxins within the body, especially those within the colon or large intestine. Since ancient Egypt and Greece, the concept of autointoxication ? whereby the consumption of foods produces toxins ? has been known. The body can only utilize so much of the nutrients in food. Further, most foods contain other materials not easily utilized or removed by the body. Over time there is an accumulation of material that, coupled with the natural flora ? microbes ? of the gut, produces toxins. While the body?s varied systems can remove toxins, aging, the toxins themselves, and other factors limit the processes. Alternative medicines have addressed the issue for centuries. Enter the Master Cleanse.

While originally developed to remove toxins from the body, the Master Cleanse was found to enable weight loss hence the Master Cleanse Diet. Drinking only the cleanse, a lemonade (or limeade) with maple syrup and cayenne pepper, intake of calories are much reduced. Most importantly, the removal of toxins allows the body to operate much more efficiently thereby reducing weight even more.

However, the body, especially the colon, operates symbiotically with a large number of microorganisms. Also present with these microorganisms are other microbes that are naturally present but not operating with the body, rather operating against the body if allowed to flourish. As the Master Cleanse Diet will remove not only toxins but microorganisms as well, it is important to replace certain microorganisms ? the ?probiotics?.

Probiotics (the approximate translation from Latin is ?for life?) are the beneficial microorganisms within the digestive tract. The benefits of these microorganisms may be manifold and include: the production of vitamins including A, several of the B vitamins and vitamin K; elimination of a number of harmful bacteria; and the balanced maintenance of other bacteria ? bacteria that, while needed, must be kept in check. Additional advantages of probiotics are being studied. Among the many possibilities: management of lactose intolerance, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improvement of trace mineral absorption, and the prevention of colon cancer.

So, in answer to the questions: do NOT take probiotics while implementing the Master Cleanse Diet as the microorganisms will merely be flushed away. Once the Master Cleanse Diet regimen is complete, DO take probiotics so to replace the needed microorganisms that were removed by the diet. These microorganisms are necessary to good health and practically an extension of the diet itself.