Burroughs' Lemonade Diet

Drinking lemonade once in a while is fine in moderation, but drinking a homemade lemonade concoction for every meal may be dangerous. Stanley Burroughs, a holistic health supporter, created the Master Cleanse to detox the body, but the recipe has been passed around the Internet as a weight-loss aid. If you must try the Master Cleanse, do it only under the direct supervision of your doctor.

History

Burroughs published the book "The Master Cleanser" in 1941. The book details the detox diet and recommends it as a way to cleanse the digestive system, the kidneys and to remove all toxins from the body. In the book, the diet isn't recommended as a weight-loss aid, but celebrities like Beyonce Knowles and Jared Leto have purportedly used it to lose weight. Although the diet is published in "The Master Cleanser," it isn't approved by doctors as a safe way to detox the body or to lose weight.

Indications

The Master Cleanse diet involves making a homemade lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and spring water concoction, then drinking it for every meal. According to Burroughs, the substance contains just enough calories and nutrients to keep the body functioning. You continue drinking only the lemonade concoction for 10 days, or as long as you deem necessary. Burroughs recommends easing in and out of the diet by drinking only orange juice the day before and after the diet.

Results

Because the Master Cleanse is so low in calories, dieters will probably lose weight while following it. When the body isn't receiving adequate calories, it sheds water weight in an attempt to save stored fat and calories. When you discontinue the Master Cleanse and start consuming adequate calories again, the water weight will return immediately. As a detoxification program, the Master Cleanse isn't medically or scientifically proven to reduce toxins or cleanse the body.

Dangers and Drawbacks

The Master Cleanse diet may seem harmless, but consuming so few calories for days at a time may be dangerous. Burroughs wasn't a doctor or medical professional of any kind, and the Master Cleanse isn't approved or recommended by doctors. Burroughs was hit with a slew of court sentences, including practicing medicine without a license, illegal sale of cancer treatments and involuntary manslaughter when a man with cancer died while following the Master Cleanse under Burroughs's direct supervision.