The Lemonade Diet Plan, also called the Master Cleanse, is a 10-day cleansing ritual during which you consume only a drink consisting of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. First introduced in the 1940s, the Lemonade Diet Plan regained popularity in the 1970s and again the 2000s when a number of celebrities reported following the plan. The primary purpose of the plan is to cleanse your body of toxins and bring about a renewed sense of health.
Features
The Lemonade Diet Plan calls for six to 10 glasses of spring water mixed with 2 tbsp. of lemon juice, 2 tbsp. of maple syrup and 1/10 tsp. of cayenne pepper daily. A saltwater flush and a laxative tea are also included daily, but no food or additional beverages. While the original plan, devised by alternative medicine doctor Stanley Burroughs, requires 10 days of this regimen, some people follow it for just a few days.
Indication
The Lemonade Diet is strictly for cleansing, although weight loss may occur as it contains just 600 to 800 calories per day. Burroughs theorized that the body would direct energy normally used for digestion toward detoxification. Some people follow the diet to fight illness or combat acne.
Warning
The Lemonade Diet contains very little nutrition. You may find yourself lacking energy when following the plan. Near fasts like the Lemonade Diet may cause you to gain more weight in the long run. The original "Master Cleanser" publication actually noted that you should expect to regain at least half of any lost weight after going back to regular food. Starving your body can cause your system to hoard calories later for fear of another period of deprivation. The weight you do gain back will mostly be from fat while a starvation cleanse causes you to lose mostly water and muscle.
Considerations
Before following any diet plan, especially one as extreme as the Lemonade Diet, you should consult your doctor. Although the Lemonade Diet recipe is easy to follow and the drink is rather pleasant tasting, not eating solid food for 10 days is extremely challenging. You will have trouble at social events and restaurants. You may find your exercise routine suffers because you have very little energy. If you do feel better on the diet, it may simply be a result of cutting out all junk food, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. You could potentially experience the same results with a calorie-controlled, whole foods diet which offers more nutrition and may be followed for a longer period of time.
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