The Master Cleanse Diet, also known as the Lemonade Diet, is a liquid diet that permits no solid food. It is followed for a minimum of 10 days, though some people choose to fast longer. The diet gained popularity as a celebrity cleanse, notably after pop star Beyonce used it to lose 20 pounds in 10 days. However, any benefits of the diet have not been proven, and it should be approached with extreme caution. Ask your doctor before trying this or any diet, especially if you have health problems.
Claims
Most of the weight lost is a combination of water and muscle, and not fat. According to the University of Iowa Health Care Center, liquid diets promising rapid weight loss are dangerous, and do not promote lasting fat loss because eating too few calories causes a loss in lean muscle mass, which slows down metabolism. Because of this, many dieters gain most of the weight back upon resuming their normal diet.
Lemonade
The juice used in the fast requires 2 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp. of pure maple syrup, 0.1 tsp. of cayenne pepper, and 1 cup of purified water. These ingredients should be organic and as fresh as possible, with no added ingredients. Fasters drink the lemonade six to 12 times daily. The recommended amount is 12 cups a day, and fasters can make adjustments from there, drinking more when they feel a lack of energy, but never falling below six cups. In addition to the lemonade, those on the diet can drink as much fresh water as they desire.
Routine
In addition to the lemonade diet, those following the Master Cleanse are advised to complete a saltwater flush every day.This is done by mixing one liter of room temperature water with 1 tbsp. to 2 tbsp. of sea salt. Drinking this mixture rapidly will result in a series of bowel movements that can last an hour or more. If the flush does not work, those on the diet are advised to drink a laxative tea at night containing the ingredient senna leaf. Fasters are advised not to exercise while fasting. Check with your doctor before attempting any cleanse, particularly if you have health problems.
Risks
The Master Cleanse diet is not nutritionally sound. First, the minimum amount of calories consumed on the diet, roughly 600, is not enough to sustain an adult's activities. The minimum recommended calorie intake for an adult female is 1,200; 1,500 for an adult male. Additionally, the lemonade has no nutritional value, and its high sugar composition may be harmful to those sensitive to sugar. According to Bonnie Taub-Dix, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, the diet's lack of protein makes it nutritionally inadequate. Side effects from following the Master Cleanse include lightheadedness, lack of energy, rapid blood sugar spikes and drops, irritability, and a variety of gastrointestinal problems because of the daily laxatives. Ask your doctor before attempting the Master Cleanse, as its risks are well established.
Expert Opinions
The Harvard Medical School publication Health Beat has no data on the Master Cleanse in its literature, meaning it has done no studies evaluating its health claims. However, the 2008 publication cautions readers that fasting and low-calorie diets will lower the amount of calories the body burns because it is being starved, and therefore must conserve energy. Further, the laxatives can cause dehydration and disrupt the normal functioning of your bowls and other parts of your digestive system. Most alarmingly, this diet can lead to the development of metabolic acidosis, defined by HMS as "a disruption in the body's acid-base balance." This can lead to coma and death. According to Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society, your body does not need help detoxifying itself.
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