The Lemonade Diet, also known as the Master Cleanse, is a highly restrictive 10-day regimen that involves drinking only eight glasses of lemonade a day. The lemonade, sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with cayenne, is purported to cleanse and detoxify the body, restoring health and vigor while facilitating weight loss. While proponents swear by the regimen's effectiveness, skeptics warn that the diet may carry more danger than benefit.
Weight Loss
For many, the Lemonade Diet's greatest benefit may be its ability to cause rapid weight loss. This weight loss may be upward of one pound a day. In a testimonial on The Master Cleanse/Raw Food Site, one dieter claims to have lost 80 pounds in 31 days. This weight loss is primarily due to the very low calorie intake associated with the regimen, as few as 660 calories daily. However, the Harvard Medical HealthBeat warns, much of this weight loss is related to very low carbohydrate intake and dehydrating bowel movements. That causes fluid loss, but when the dieter resumes normal eating, much of the weight will return.
Detoxification
Proponents of the diet claim it removes toxins from the body, causing heightened energy, mood and vitality. Testimonials discuss remaining on the diet until the tongue turns pink, supposedly a sign of complete detoxification. There is no scientific evidence, however, that the Lemonade Diet cleanses the body in any way. That said, the diet does call for abstention from alcohol, tobacco and all processed foods. If you have been ingesting toxins through your food or lungs, simply avoiding them for a time will allow your body to remove them via its natural cleansing and healing process. As dietitian David Grotto told the Associated Press, your liver, spleen, lungs, skin and digestive system are all designed to expel toxins and will do so naturally.
Healing
Some of the more remarkable claims about the Lemonade Diet have to do with healing physical ailments. Dieter Zoe Cochran told the Associated Press the regimen healed an injured knee; Ted Damiecki claims it helps his chronic fatigue syndrome. The Master Cleanse/Raw Food Site hints that the diet may heal asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, skin ailments and digestive problems. However, there is no evidence whatsoever that these claims are founded in fact.
Warning
Though its claims sound splendid, the Lemonade Diet has not been fully studied for effectiveness or safety. Registered dietitian Karen Crawford notes that the only research has been in the form of informal surveys. Further, this diet can have serious health consequences. It provides no protein or fat and only limited nutrients, and is essentially a fast. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University, told "The New York Times" that extended fasting can deplete muscle tissue and endanger organ function. If you are considering following this diet, talk to your doctor first to determine whether it is safe for you.
References
- The Master Cleanse/Raw Food Site: Master Cleanse Testimonials
- Harvard Medical School Healthbeat: The Dubious Practice of Detox; July 22, 2008
- The Master Cleanse/Raw Food Site: The Master Cleanse
- SignOnSanDiego: Celebrities Boost Lemon Detox Fad, But It May Not Be Good for Your Health; Karen Matthews; May 2007
- The Diet Channel: The Master Cleanse Detox Diet Dissected; Karen Crawford, MS, RD, CSP; July 19, 2007
- The New York Times: I Heard It Through the Diet Grapevine; Lola Ogunnaike; December 10, 2006
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