The Master Cleanse Diet is popular as a way to lose weight and "detox" the body, according to MayoClinic.com. It is occasionally promoted by celebrities who attribute their weight loss to the diet. However, since your calorie intake is strictly limited and the diet is designed to clean out the digestive system thoroughly, certain health risks may arise if you are on the diet for several days without a break, according to Master Cleanse Secrets. Before you decide to begin the Master Cleanse or any change in your diet, talk to your doctor about your needs and health risks.
The Diet
On the Master Cleanse Diet, you spend seven to 10 days without eating, according to the official Master Cleanse website. Instead, your calorie intake comes from a combination of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. The Master Cleanse website also suggests drinking a large glass of salt water twice daily, at morning and at night. The salt water has a laxative effect, stimulating your body to push wastes out of its system. You may also drink large amounts of plain water throughout the day.
Function
The purpose of the Master Cleanse diet is to allow your body to "detox," or to clean out "toxins" that are stored in your body's tissues and its digestive tract, according to the Master Cleanse official website. Because you are not eating fiber, the diet includes salt water and other laxatives to induce your colon to push out waste material. The diet's official website also claims to help people lose weight, though much of the weight loss may be water, rather than fat.
Side Effects
The diet itself produces a number of side effects, according to the Master Cleanse website. For instance, weight loss is listed as a common side effect of the diet. Other side effects include symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose, coughing or sneezing; fatigue; muscle aches; and headaches and fever. According to the Master Cleanse website, these symptoms are the body's response to the toxins leaving its systems.
Health Risks
The Master Cleanse diet poses a number of health risks, especially for those who stay on it long-term. People who stay on the diet longer than 10 days may experience severe fatigue and difficulty concentrating, according to Master Cleanse Secrets, because the body is not getting adequate food for energy. According to MayoClinic.com, staying on a liquid-only detox diet, like the Master Cleanse, increases your risks of dehydration, dizziness and nausea. In addition, drinking large amounts of water may cause abnormally low sodium or potassium levels, which can damage the heart.
Considerations
Using a liquid-only diet like the Master Cleanse to detox the body is unnecessary, according to MayoClinic.com, because the body is capable of handling and getting rid of toxic substances on its own. For weight loss, many programs are available that do not include side effects, like flu-like symptoms or diarrhea, and which do not pose the same risk of damage to the heart or other organs. If you are concerned about your weight or your overall health, speak to your doctor about treatments that may help you.
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