The lemon, honey and pepper diet is another name for the Master Cleanse, a detoxification and weight loss program developed in 1940 by naturopath Stanley Burroughs. The diet was detailed fully in Burroughs' 1976 book, "The Master Cleanser," and since has been popular under a number of other names, including the lemonade diet, the maple syrup diet and the Beyonce diet, after one of its most famous followers, Beyonce Knowles. The plan centers on a concoction prepared from lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water, though some versions allow you to substitute honey for the maple syrup. Proponents claim that following the program will cleanse your digestive tract, give you more energy and help you lose weight. Health professionals, however, say it's unhealthy. Speak to your doctor before beginning any version of the Master Cleanse diet.
Guidelines
The Master Cleanse diet is a 10-day plan. On each day, followers are instructed to avoid consuming solid food and to drink nothing more than a quart of salt water after waking in the morning; a cup of laxative tea before bed; and plain water, mint tea and six to 12 glasses of a special "lemonade" mixture throughout the day. Regular exercise is not a part of the program. Burroughs claimed that by strictly following these guidelines, you could purify your body of built-up toxins and treat a wide variety of diseases. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence to indicate the plan can have any beneficial effect on your health.
Ingredients
Burroughs' book gave specific instructions on how to make the lemonade drink used in the Master Cleanse and what types of ingredients to use. To prepare 60 oz. -- approximately one day's worth -- of the drink, followers mix 12 tbsp. of maple syrup, juice from 12 freshly squeezed lemons and 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper into 60 oz. of water. Spring water is the preferred water, and the lemons should be organic. Limes can be substituted instead. Burroughs said the syrup should be pure, organic grade B maple syrup. Although some followers use honey in place of the syrup, Burroughs strongly advised against this, saying honey would decrease the drink's cleansing power.
Side Effects
People who've followed the Master Cleanse diet have reported a number of side effects, including fatigue, joint pain, dehydration, vomiting, dizziness, extreme hunger and a large number of explosive liquid bowel movements. Erin Kelly, a health and fitness reporter for MailOnline, followed the plan for five days and wrote that she suffered from mood swings, trouble sleeping, headaches, light-headedness, difficulty concentrating and mental confusion. When she became so hungry she broke the fast with a vegetarian sausage, she had painful stomach cramps.
Expert Insight
Mayo Clinic.com reports there is no scientific evidence that diets like the Master Cleanse remove toxins from your body. Registered dietitian Keri Glassman told "The Early Show" on CBS that detoxification diets can get you started on a yo-yo cycle of rapidly losing and re-gaining weight and may contribute to electrolyte imbalances. American Dietetic Association spokesperson Lona Sandon agreed, telling MSNBC.com the Master Cleanse diet can cause blood sugar problems and induce your body to begin breaking down muscle, including heart muscle. In addition, if you drink the recommended amount of the lemonade mixture, you'll be consuming only 650 to 1,300 calories daily. Health professionals warn that fewer than 1,200 calories per day can put you at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
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