Maple syrup, lemon and water are key ingredients in the Master Cleanse, also called the lemonade diet. A method of detoxification, the cleanse was developed by Dr. Stanley Burroughs during the 1940s as a treatment for "various health conditions," according to the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw." More recently, the diet, which replaces solid food with a specially formulated lemonade, has been used to promote weight loss, remove toxins and improve overall health.
Ingredients
The basic lemonade diet recipe calls for purified water, grade B maple syrup, fresh lemon juice and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Each ingredient plays a vital role in the detoxification process, according to the book "Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days" by Peter Glickman. While the lemon juice works in the colon to break down waste, the maple syrup provides important minerals and energy in the form of sugar. In addition, the cayenne pepper helps break up mucus in the gastrointestinal tract and expands the blood vessels.
Method
Forgoing solid food in favor of lemonade is just one part of the lemonade diet. The regimen also requires dieters to drink a solution of noniodized salt and water each morning, and an herbal laxative tea each night. Both drinks help clean out the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating bowel movements.
Glickman recommends consuming six to 12 glasses of lemonade during the day. The Master Cleanse typically lasts about 10 days, although Burroughs says that it can be done for 40 days or more.
Benefits
According to Glickman, the Master Cleanse works in two stages. The first is to free built-up toxins from the "cells and organs in which they are embedded," while the second is to flush them from the body before they can be reabsorbed. This process reportedly provides both physical and mental benefits, from weight loss to renewed energy.
Effectiveness
Despite numerous claims supporting the Master Cleanse's proposed benefits, there is no medical proof of its effectiveness, warns "Healthbeat," a newsletter by the Harvard Medical School. The publication also states that the weight loss is only temporary. The result of a reduced calorie intake and fluid loss due to frequent bowel movements, lost weight is "quickly regained" once normal eating habits are resumed. In addition, detox diets may not actually remove toxins, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Side Effects
Common side effects of the Master Cleanse include fatigue, irritability, food cravings and burning bowel movements. These symptoms are temporary and disappear as the cleanse progresses, says Glickman. More serious side effects described by "Healthbeat" include dehydration, electrolyte depletion and impaired bowel function. In extreme cases, repeated cleansing may cause the development of metabolic acidosis. This condition is characterized by too much acid in the blood and may lead to coma or death.
References
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw"; Mark Reinfeld, Bo Rinaldi and Jennifer Murray; 2008
- "Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days"; Peter Glickman; 2005
- Harvard Medical School HealthBeat: Detox Diets
- Mayo Clinic: Detox Diets
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