The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet, promotes a liquid fast for reduced toxins in your digestive system and weight loss. During the cleanse, your diet is limited to a blend of lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper and pure maple syrup for the course of three or more days. Laxatives, herbal supplements and salt enemas --- consuming salt to stimulate bowel movements --- are also encouraged. The Master Cleanse lacks scientific validity, according to Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, and poses numerous risks.
Lethargy
The Master Cleanse juice blend provides some calories and nutrients, but far fewer than your body likely requires for positive energy. Use of laxatives and herbal supplements containing diuretics, or fluid-flushing substances, can also lead to lethargy. Since people's energy and calorie needs vary, it's difficult to predict how the Master Cleanse will affect you, according to director of integrative GI nutrition services at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Gerard E. Mullin. If you're highly active or accustomed to a relatively high-calorie diet, the drop in calories likely cause heightened energy problems. Avid coffee-drinkers may also experience lethargy as a result of caffeine withdrawal, since the stimulant is not permitted during the cleanse. Depending upon the severity of your symptoms, you may find it difficult to tend to work or school tasks and recreational activities.
Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalances
Although liquids are consumed throughout the Master Cleanse, lemon juice, diuretics and laxatives can flush fluids out of your body and result in dehydration. Since foods, such as fruits, vegetables and soups, also contribute to your hydration level, you may also end up consuming less fluid than you do during your usual diet. Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, increased thirst, low urine output, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue and abdominal cramps. If left untreated, dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalances --- irregular levels of important bodily salts that support your heart rhythms, muscle contraction and overall well-being. In some cases, electrolyte imbalances become fatal, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Exercising or spending time in hot weather during the Master Cleanse increases your risk for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Emotional Risks
The restrictive nature of the Master Cleanse can also hinder your emotional health. For this reason, the program is not suitable if you have history of an eating disorder, according to Mullin. With or without eating disorder history, restricting calories and solid foods can cause feelings of deprivation, irritability, anxiety and depression. Extreme diets, such as cleansing, also increase your risk for depression, low self-esteem, emotional stress, pathological dieting, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders. Partaking in the Master Cleanse often may increase your risk for emotional complications.
Health Complications
If you have health conditions, the Master Cleanse may make your symptoms worse. For this reason, the program is not suitable if you're pregnant, nursing or have blood sugar disorders, such as diabetes, according to Mullin. Elderly adults and others with weak immune systems, such as children and people with HIV/AIDS, are also discouraged from the Master Cleanse, since fasting may further weaken your immune system function and increase your risk for infections and disease.
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