Stanley Burroughs' conceived his Master Cleanse, a controversial detoxification program that is more fast than diet, in the late 1950s. The plan gained widespread popularity in the 1970s with the publication of a mass-produced paperback entitled "The Master Cleanser." While Burroughs' health claims have never been verified by any randomized, double-blind trials, proponents of the Cleanse continue to extol its virtues in the media, getting a boost from celebrities like Beyonce Knowles and Howard Stern sidekick, Robin Quivers, as well as Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.
It's Not a Diet
The Cleanse, which contains fresh lemon juice, grade B maple syrup, water and a pinch of cayenne pepper, is not a diet in any traditional sense of the word. Burroughs used the word "cleanse" because he believed that this combination of ingredients helped purge the body of harmful toxins that collect in the bowel and small intestine, but there is no medical evidence to support that claim.
It's Not a Detox
There is very little the medical establishment advises to rid the body of environmental toxins since the processes of the liver and kidneys are so efficient at doing so in healthy individuals. The secret is there is nothing you can put into your body that will do a better job of filtering toxins than your body is already doing. Lemons are a weak acid that is overpowered by stomach acids and grade B maple syrup is just less-refined pancake topper.
There are some dangerous toxins that certain industrial workers are exposed to that can hide in fatty tissues or the lining of the lungs. Eliminating these requires a diagnosis and complex medical treatment from a qualified doctor, according to Ed Zimney, M.D., a former FDA physician in the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications.
The Weight Comes Back
A good portion of the weight lost during the Master Cleanse diet is water. The body retains a lot of water to use in its normal processes, and digestion is water intensive. When you remove solid food that includes protein, fat and complex carbohydrates from your diet, your body responds by releasing water that would otherwise be used for this purpose. As a consequence, dieters who return to normal eating after the cleansing period see most or even all of the weight return within a few days, according to USC Health Now, a publication of the Keck School of Medicine at USC.
It Can Be a Springboard to a Healthier Lifestyle
Despite the lack of evidence supporting the health claims of Master Cleaners, doctors acknowledge that there is little danger from performing the Cleanse providing it's not carried to extremes. The secret is to use the Cleanse as a springboard to a healthier lifestyle. It can be a reset button, breaking the dieter out of poor eating habits by removing eating from the equation altogether. Staying on the program requires discipline, and if after it's over, you can use some of that new-found success at controlling your cravings to start on a healthier diet plan, then it can be worthwhile.
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