Lemonade Diet: the Master Cleanser
Published by naturopath Stanley Burroughs in 1976, the Master Cleanser is a cleansing and weight loss diet that has regained popularity in the last couple of years. Notable users of this plan include celebrities, Robin Quivers, Beyonce Knowles and David Blaine.
The Health Claims
It claims to “dissolve and eliminate toxins”, melt fat “at the rate of 2 pounds a day for most persons- without harmful side effects”, eliminate “colds, flu, asthma, hay fever, sinus and bronchial troubles”, dissolve calcium deposits, and cleanse skin disorders including “boils, abscesses, carbuncles and pimples”
The Plan
Basically, it is fasting diet consisting of a mix of lemon or lime juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and spring or purified water. Recommended for at least 10 days up to 40 days and beyond according to the author.
Weight Loss Claims
No surprise here, users of this diet will lose weight because of severe calorie restriction. Be aware though that part of this weight loss is also water loss and dehydration due to the laxative effects of the diet. Severe calorie restriction will cause your metabolism to shut down as your body goes into starvation and survival mode. Once the diet is over, you will quickly regain the weight and possibly more as your resting metabolism is slower due to the loss of metabolically active muscle lost during the fast.
The Dangers
Contrary to the author’s claims, the Master Cleanser will cause toxins to build up, by depleting glutathione liver stores, the major detoxifying antioxidant produced by your body. Additionally the laxative effect caused by the diet will further acidify your blood and this can cause a profound metabolic acidosis. I have personally treated a number of patients in the Emergency Room, who presented with weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as a result of the Master Cleanse. Contrary to popular belief these “detox” symptoms are actually a result of a build up of toxins due to glutathione depletion, dehydration and a profound metabolic acidosis. One patient, whose acidosis and dehydration did not respond to IV fluid resuscitation, required admission to the hospital.
This diet is particularly dangerous if used, as the author claims to fight “colds” and ” flu”, since inadequate nutrition will weaken, not strengthen, your immune system.
The Bottom Line
I would not recommend this diet for any reason, and consider it dangerous to your health.
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Tags: Beyonce Knowles Weight Loss, Diet, David-Blaine, Diet Reviews, Fasting Diet, Lemonade Diet, Robin Quivers
22 comments
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Janet { 10.09.07 at 9:07 pm }
Dear Dr. Marc,
I am sorry to read the bad effects of the master cleanser and the patients whom you treated.
This has been my 4th usage of the diet plan for the past two years and admit your body does go through some of the dizziness and nausea effects. You are correct of the symptoms. People who take the cleanser need to read the book carefully and follow the instructions. The lemon and cayenne pepper breaks up the toxin and are loose in the symptom but needs to flush out with salt water to get rid of the toxin everyday while on the cleanse.
You are also correct , people will gain the weight. The author cautions if the reader goes back to old eating habits and overeating , old symptoms will reoccur. He suggests eating a healthy diet and not to overeat after completion .
I believe in the master cleanser; however, people are probably not taking or following according to the proper instructions in the book. Perhaps if they had you to assist with the proper knowledge of reading the book first hand then perhaps they could have avoided the problems experienced afterwards.
Again, I am truly sorry they experienced that but that has’nt changed me from taking the cleanser.Like or Dislike:
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Dr Marc Twitter: @celebdietdoc { 10.09.07 at 9:42 pm }
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your response. I have studied the Master Cleanse, and if you follow this “cleansing diet” your body will accumulate toxins and your blood will become acidic. The salt water regimen will actually make this worse.
On the master cleanse you will initially lose weight but will quickly regain the weight leading to yo-yo dieting. Worse yet, you will have lost lean body tissue and become proportionally fatter.
The Master Cleanse offers false hope, is dangerous to your health and will not lead to sustainable weight loss.
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Erika, New York { 12.31.07 at 9:43 pm }
thanks for the tips doc. i was goin to use this “diet” but i am glad i read this first. old fashioned workout and eating the right foods still rain supreme.
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Larry { 01.01.08 at 3:35 am }
How many people have you treated for side effects from prescription drugs?
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angie { 01.14.08 at 9:29 pm }
can you eat anything else while on this diet.?
or just drink it and thats it.?Like or Dislike:
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Douglas { 01.30.08 at 5:22 pm }
ive known about the lemonade drink for a few years now, tryed it 3 times, i have the book also. iam on it right now tring for 40 days, 13 days to go, on the 20th i lost 30lbs feel great and lots of energy. dont like the lemon taste so i add more maple to off set it. and i never went on it because of any celeb.
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Joanna { 03.05.08 at 5:26 pm }
[quote comment="743"]ive known about the lemonade drink for a few years now, tryed it 3 times, i have the book also. iam on it right now tring for 40 days, 13 days to go, on the 20th i lost 30lbs feel great and lots of energy. dont like the lemon taste so i add more maple to off set it. and i never went on it because of any celeb.[/quote]
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sonya, rn { 03.15.08 at 7:18 pm }
I’m currently on the Master Cleanse and have been for 5 days! I feel great! I have also lost weight and other yucky stuff from my digestive system that I dare not mention. Anyhoo. What this Doctor knows like many Docs know that they won’t make one red penny off of people who desire to be pro-active in their health and not take medication after medication to only suppress or mask a symptom. This Cleanse actually get’s to the root of our many health problems. 90 % of sickness is related to our digestive systems. So what this Doc is telling you is what will keep him in business. So conintue to be proactive about your health. I have not had one side effect from this diet and only positve results. I wish I would have known about it before now. Also I had an abcess tooth and my Dentist had prescribed an antibiotic and pain med. After being on the Master Cleanse for 3 days I noticed that I didn’t have to take the pain medicine anymore. Huumm! I also had stopped taking the antibiotic prior to beginning the Master Cleanse. Huumm! Now I’m a RN and I work in a hospital setting and I see sickness all the time. No one no even my Doctor can tell me that the Master Cleanse doesn’t work. So with our health care crisis in our Country spiraling out of control we will should all be looking for ways to be pro-active and not re-active with our health. Also the lemon/limes come from the earth, maple syrup (grade B) comes from the earth and the cayenne pepper which increases circulation is a natural herb. So go-figure. Keep your money in your own pocket instead of some Doctor. !
Sonya RN BSN
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kim { 12.19.08 at 1:22 pm }
@Dr Marc –
Therein the problem lies, this is not meant to be just another chapter in yo-yo dieting, the cleanse–not diet– is meant to prepare the body for a more healthy way of eating.. i.e. raw living foods. Those who go back to the SAD (Standard American Diet) and in excess will probably experience more problems than those who do not.
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Karen { 05.12.09 at 3:02 pm }
Go Sonya – love your reply!
It is known that lemon is good for cleansing your liver. If one were to incorporate some lemon in water every day it would be beneficial… just at a slower rate. There is so much fear going on in these comments about the “danger” and if someone is not comfortable with it that’s fine, they don’t need to do it in a fasting manner, they can still incorporate the things that are healthy for them.
To think that your body is going to accumulate toxins while you’re consuming less doesn’t even make sense. You’re body is expelling all the waste you have built up in it. Do you realize that for every meal you eat there should be an equal number of bowel movements? Unfortunately most people have accepted that if they go once a day or once a week it’s normal. One Gastrointestinal doctor that I went to for help told me he thought it was normal that one of his patients only had a bowel movement once a month. Do the math people. You’re smart enough to figure out that the truth is that this cleanse is beneficial. You’re body doesn’t create waste out of thin air. It is expelling waste that you are carrying around… I’d be more worried about that. Of course, if we all get well and healthy there won’t be a need for doctor’s and prescription drugs.
You have to make a choice if you want to change your lifestyle, and I imagine that when you are feeling better, you will choose better and be more positive and less fearful – more courageous. Cleanses have always given me more energy and endurance, so something is working better. I have been and probably always will be carnivorous, but I can still make changes that make me healthier, and when needed, give my body a little help with a cleanse. My body does so much for me, it’s something I can do to say thank you.
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