When singer/actress Beyonce Knowles had to lose 20 pounds in two weeks for her role in the film "Dreamgirls," she undertook the 10-day Master Cleanse detoxification fast. Also known as the Lemonade Diet, the Master Cleanse program was primarily designed to rid the body of accumulated toxins, but many people who go on this diet do so with a primary goal of losing weight.
Master Cleanse
Alternative-health practitioner Stanley Burroughs invented the Master Cleanse in the 1940s and popularized the detox in his 1977 book "The Master Cleanser." The purpose of the diet is to cause your body to shed harmful toxins that have accumulated over the years. The 10-day program is essentially a fast in which the dieter eats no solid food; the sole source of nourishment comes from drinking a special concoction consisting of filtered water, fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. The Master Cleanse website advises you to drink this mixture anywhere from six to 12 times per day.
Weight Loss
The cleanse offers a variety of benefits, although the most important of these is detoxification, according to the Master Cleanse website. Although weight loss is seen as a secondary side effect of the Master Cleanse, it's become the primary reason why many people undertake this particular detox diet. The amount of weight you'll lose on the Master Cleanse depends on how closely you adhere to the diet.
The Salt Water Flush
An important part of the Master Cleanse is the salt water flush. This involves mixing a quart of filtered water with two teaspoons of sea salt and drinking the entire mixture. Because your kidneys do not process salt water, the mixture will pass straight through your kidneys to your colon. Within about an hour, you'll experience a series of bowel movements that, according to the Master Cleanse website, will flush out your colon, eliminating any waste and toxins that have built up in your digestive tract. The elimination of this accumulated waste matter can also result in weight loss.
Criticism of Master Cleanse
The side effects of detox diets such as the Master Cleanse should give dieters cause for concern. Hazards associated with these types of detox cleanses include vitamin deficiencies, muscle breakdown from lack of protein and blood-sugar problems, according to a 2007 story on MSNBC.com. Depriving your body of nutrients can also weaken your immune system. In addition, the weight loss you experience will likely be short-lived. MSNBC references a 2007 report published in "American Psychologist," the journal of the American Psychological Association, indicating that the majority of people who lose weight on highly restrictive diets, such as the Master Cleanse, will regain the weight they lose. Two-thirds of dieters will gain more weight than they lost within four to five years.
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