The Master Cleanse diet, otherwise known as the Lemonade diet, or sometimes the Maple Syrup diet, became popular in 2006, when pop star Beyonce used the diet to lose weight for the movie "Dream Girls." Other celebrities, such as Robin Quivers and Jared Leto, employed the diet, further popularizing it with the general public. The Master Cleanse diet is a fasting diet, and no solid foods are consumed.
History
Alternative health practitioner and charlatan Stanley Burroughs invented the Master Cleanse diet in 1941. Burroughs, who claimed that the diet could cure anything from impotence to terminal ailments, administered his diet to a cancer patient in conjunction with tissue massage and light therapy. After the patient's death, Burroughs was convicted of felony murder, practicing medicine without a license and unlawful sale of cancer treatments in the state of California.
Step One
The Master Cleanse diet consists of large quantities of purified water with the addition of small amounts of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and sea salt. Dieters call this "lemonade." Recommended consumption of the lemonade is six to 12 servings a day for 14 days.
Step Two
The secondary component of the diet is the salt water flush, which purportedly "flushes" the toxins from the bowels. The salt water flush mixture is comprised of purified water and sea salt, and is consumed daily in conjunction with the lemonade to promote bowel movements.
Side Effects
Side effects of the diet include light-headedness, headaches, extreme hunger, food cravings and fainting. The salt water flush can result in diarrhea and anal leakage. Long-term use of the diet may result in malnutrition and chronic constipation due to failure of the bowels to process solid food.
Expert Insight
Dietitians and physicians concur that short-term use of the Master Cleanse diet does result in weight loss. However, they have debunked claims that the diet acts as a detoxifying agent or that it increases sex drive and eliminates craving for alcohol and nicotine, citing instead the placebo effect. Experts advise against using the Master Cleanse diet for more than 14 days.
Tags: Master Cleanse, Master Cleanse diet, Cleanse diet, Cleanse diet, salt water, salt water flush