The Master Cleanse Diet, also known as the Lemonade Diet or Maple Syrup Diet, is a fad diet that shared the spotlight with pop star Beyonce, who used the method to shed a quick 20 lbs. for an acting role in the 2007 movie "Dreamgirls." Described by integrative physician Andrew Weill as a "real oldie," the Master Cleanse was created by self-professed healer Stanley Burroughs in the 1940s. The original intent of the Master Cleanse--a concoction of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup--was to "detoxify" the body and thereby cure "acute and chronic conditions" such as cancer. A review of the Master Cleanse Diet reveals that this method of weight loss has unpleasant side effects, yields temporary results and can be very dangerous when used for more than the recommended 10 days.
Fad
The Master Cleanse is a fad diet, and that in itself is telling. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) points to certain traits that all fad diets share, such as quick weight loss, limited portions, a rigid "menu" and no recommendation of exercise, among others. More dicey are diets that assure you that a combination of foodstuffs can cause you to lose weight quicker. The ADA notes that there are no such foods, and certainly there's no magic to be found in Burrough's daily cocktails. The Master Cleanse can be too boring and regimented for dieters to stick to the plan.
Starvation
The Master Cleanse is a starvation diet, with its only source of calories coming from the sugar content (maple syrup), points out physician Ed Zimney, one of the health care practitioners responsible for debunking the diet. The diet limits you to between 600 and 1,200 calories (the average daily caloric intake recommended for adults is 2,000). The hunger that you feel during this fast can have a devastating effect on the body. Muscle breaks down, and important organs like the heart and brain are affected.
Bowel Irritation
The cayenne pepper in the Master Cleanse acts as a bowel irritant, points out Dr. Zimney. Factor in the second prong of the Master Cleanse, the salt water flush, and this basically amounts to holistic laxative abuse. Dieters must stay close to the toilet at all times, as profuse diarrhea is expected. This can ultimately cause dehydration--and chafing on your bottom due to numerous wipings.
Temporary
You may drop weight quickly on the Master Cleanse, but it will only be temporary. Dr. Weill indicates that once you're off the program, you'll be inclined to eat more due to prolonged caloric deprivation. Even worse, Weill notes that fasting diets can change your metabolism so that it's tougher to lose weight even after you start eating regularly. A healthy amount of weight to lose on a diet plan is 1/2 to 1 lbs. each week, says the ADA.
The Real Con
You can determine a lot about a weight loss plan by the character of its maker. In 1984, Burroughs went before the California Supreme Court after being charged with the second-degree felony murder of a young cancer patient, to whom he administered "alternative" treatments, which included putting the patient on the Master Cleanse diet. The victim succumbed after 30 days. The court's opinion in People v. Burroughs cites the charlatan's other dubious treatments, such as the use of colored lights and abdominal massage. Burroughs was also convicted in 1960 for practicing medicine without a license.
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