The lemonade diet, or Master Cleanse, is a detox diet that may cause drastic weight loss -- but it's neither healthy nor a sustainable long-term way to manage your weight. The diet lasts usually lasts between 10 and 14 days, although experienced cleansers may stay on the program for up to 30 days.
Do not try the lemonade diet or any other extreme diet without first consulting your doctor.
The Lemonade Diet
Developed in the 1940s as a detoxification program by alternative health practitioner Stanley Burroughs, the lemonade diet is a modified fast that allows you to drink up to 12 glasses a day of a lemonade made with lemons, water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. In addition to drinking the lemonade, it's recommended that you do a salt water flush every morning and drink a laxative tea every evening. This diet is low in calories, protein, fiber and nutrients.
Weight Loss
Depending on the amount of lemonade you drink, you'll consume between 700 and 1,200 calories daily -- the majority of the calories come from the maple syrup. In essence, you're living on spicy sugar water for 10 days. Any time you consume fewer calories than you need you will lose weight. But weight lost on the lemonade diet may not be fat -- it's a liquid diet that advocates using flushes and laxatives; much of the weight will be water weight and will be regained as soon as you go back to your regular diet.
Detox Diet Dangers
A low-calorie nutrient-deficient diet can have serious side-effects. In the short-term, you may experience hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar include hunger, headache, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, the shakes and mood swings. In the long-run, the lemonade diet can cause you to lose muscle mass, which will slow your metabolism and make it easier to gain weight in the future. The lack of nutrients can also weaken your immune system and prevent you from fighting infections.
Healthy Weight Loss
Forget unrealistic promises of rapid weight loss. Aim to lose weight slowly and steadily, at a rate of 1 to 2 lbs. per week, advises The National Institutes of Health. Eat a variety of complex carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. Choose lean protein low in saturated fat or eat plant-based proteins such as beans, soy or nuts and seeds. Limit saturated fats such as butter in favor of unsaturated fats such as olive oil. Practice portion control and exercise regularly to help burn more calories, build muscle mass and increase cardiovascular health.
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