The Master Cleanser, also known as the Lemonade Diet or the Lemon and Cayenne Diet, is a well-known detoxification diet. Following this diet involves drinking several glasses of a homemade lemonade mixture daily. Although people do lose weight on this diet, weight loss tends to be unsustainable, and evidence is lacking as to whether detox diets such as The Master Cleanser are really beneficial. In fact, some evidence shows that detox diets can be dangerous.
History
The Master Cleanser was invented by alternative medicine guru Stanley Burroughs, who first published his book, "The Master Cleanser," in 1976. The cleanse is now promoted by Peter Glickman in his book "Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days."
About
The Master Cleanser is marketed primarily as a detoxification diet rather than a weight-loss diet but notes that the diet will result in significant weight loss. Master Cleanser blogs point out that dieters will regain approximately half of the weight lost during the cleanse after resuming normal eating.
TheMasterCleanse.org also claims that this liquid diet "rests and relieves the digestive system, allowing the body to heal and eliminate toxins."
Diet
The Master Cleanser includes three phases: the Ease-In phase, the Lemonade Diet, and an Ease-Out phase.
During the Lemonade Diet portion of The Master Cleanser, dieters drink several glasses daily of a homemade lemonade mixture. The lemonade consists of 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp. pure maple syrup, 1/10 tsp. of cayenne pepper and 8 oz. of pure water. The dieter is instructed to drink six to 12 glasses of this mixture daily, depending on his caloric needs.
Supplements
The Master Cleanser also involves daily use of laxatives and saltwater flushes---which, according to TheMasterCleanse.org, result in frequent and unpleasant liquid bowel movements. The website claims that these induced bowel movements are a vital part of The Master Cleanser.
Dieters are instructed to take an herbal laxative or laxative tea each night. A saltwater flush, which consists of 1 liter of water mixed with 2 tsp. of sea salt, is to be consumed each morning. The Master Cleanser website notes that some choose to take a morning laxative as well.
What Experts Say
The Master Cleanser appeals to many dieters because it presents a quick-fix solution to weight loss. However, much of the weight lost is water, according to New York Registered Dietitian Joy Bauer. When dieters finish their detox regimen, they tend to return to their previous ways of eating, putting pounds back on.
Your body is efficient at removing toxins on its own. "I've never seen any published trials that would lead me to believe that if you are healthy, your lungs, kidney and liver need help removing toxins from your body," says Colleen Doyle of the American Cancer Society. The argument that resting the digestive tract with a liquid diet is beneficial is also contraindicated; in fact, the utilization of the GI tract is necessary to keep it functioning properly.
Laxative use raises concern among health professionals, who point out their many dangerous consequences. Laxative abuse can result in severe dehydration as well as colon or heart damage. Saltwater flushes might disrupt the bacteria that naturally reside in our intestine, making the gut more prone to infection.
Rather than going through the discomfort, monotony and danger of The Master Cleanser, a dieter would be better off using her time to ease into a healthful diet full of whole grains, lean protein, low-fat or non-fat dairy, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
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