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.
Tags: Beyonce Knowles Weight Loss, Diet, David-Blaine, Diet Reviews, Fasting Diet, Lemonade Diet, Robin Quivers
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
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.
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.
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.
)
How many people have you treated for side effects from prescription drugs?
can you eat anything else while on this diet.?
or just drink it and thats it.?
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 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]
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
I actually agree partly with you regarding illness. Most chronic illnesses are diet related and caused by chronically eating too many processed foods. Instead of eating more veggies, especially greens and fruits many people look for the quick fix such as a lemonade or "detox" diet. How do you think sugar water with lemon and cayenne pepper is going to cure anything?
I am not going to change your mind and that's fine… I'm more interested in educating readers considering the lemonade diet to avoid it like the plague.
@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.
A better way to prepare the body is just eat raw foods and skip the cleanse!
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.
Reading is Fundamental. When you read the manual you will discover the Master Cleanse is not a one time affair. It is a process which needs to be done periodly for the rest of your life. As long as your eating food, your building up toxins/waste in your body, and I have been doing that for how long? Only my entire life. Considering my intestines is about 3 blocks long and I don't have daily BM's a periodic cleanse could only do what? HELP ME remove more WASTE from my body. I have been on the Master Cleanse for 4 days thus far and I have lost 10 pounds, I have more energy, better focus, and a clearer mind. But what's different for me is that I am not doing it on my own. I have hired an Herbalist, named Luwanna who prepares the Lemonade for me. She has also, provided me with Herbal supplements as well as the Herbal Tea. But what's the made the journey worth it is that she is in daily contact with me, assessing me, encouraging me and motivating me. Having her available 24/7 has given me peace of mind and reassurance of my state of health. This is a natural cleanse which only manifests a total mind, body and spiritual enlightenment. Sorry Doc, but the medical industry has betrayed the people it promised to help. Every medication out there has a hint of the main Herb which cures the problem watered down with a boat load of other unneccessary supplements so more $ can be made for our Capiltalistist Society. I can't wait for our society to begin exploring more Oriental Herbs and become a proactive community rather than a reactive one. Tell me doctor, would you rather prevent a health problem before it starts or try to manage a health problem after it begins? Wait, I'll let you check your mortgage rate first. For everyone out there who want to try the Master Cleanse, but needs some support to get it done contact me for Luwanna's contact information. She a positive Herbalist who resides in Orange County, CA.
can i ask? what toxins are you specifically speaking of? and how do you think the lemonade diet (which I just explained causes a build up of metabolic acidosis and toxins) is actually going to help you in medical terms. If you're looking to be relieved of constipation, you're most likely eating too many processed foods (as is 99.99% of all Americans – which is why constipation is such a big issue in our culture). Up the veggies/fruits and you'll have daily bowel movements. The rest is just hype, misinformation and potentially dangerous to your health….
Hi Dr. Mark,
The toxins I am specifically speaking of is bowel/feces/bile. All the stuff your body eliminates after it's extracted the vitamins and minerals it needs for nourishment. Why don't you tell people how they can avoid getting Metabolic acidosis or what they can do in the event they do get it? Why don't you tell them what it feels like or what the signs and symptoms are? It's better to empower people with knowledge rather than trying to control them. People are going to do what they want to do, so the best thing I think you could do for them is inform them of the solutions to the problem.
While I was on the Master Cleanse (I lost 20lbs in 10 days), I made sure to stay hydarated by drinking the suggested 8 glasses of water rocommended for daily use.
If I felt a headache coming on, or sensed the smell of alcohol on me, I made sure to drink MORE water. It's the kind of smell you get when you have a hang over, the next day. I knew I hadn't consumed any alcohol; but in the past when I have felt that way, what did I do? I drank water like a fish, to get over it.
Now that I'm done with the Cleanse, my herbalist & I have integrated more fruits and veggies into my diet; only cosuming meat three(3) times per week. Yes, increasing veggies & fruits is great, but how much? Its up to each individual to decide what "works" for them.
It's not just about relieving yourself of constipation it's about getting aligned with the creater who lives inside of us all and establishing a holistic harmony of the body mind & spirit.
Hi Rn Drop Out,
… 2.4 million years of human evolution has developed a colon perfectly capable of eliminating waste.. no need for a "cleanse" To avoid metabolic acidosis in this case is simple.. avoid the Master Cleanse! remember those supposed "detox" symptoms are your body's way of saying you're getting sick
The master cleanse has been a life saver for me. I cant speak for others but I have completed this 3 times and its great I have never felt so energized in my life. I suffered for years with terrible menstraul cramps and the master cleanse helped tremedously. I wouldnt say this is bad every person body responds differently to different things, you cant speak for everyone Doctor , you can only speak for the specific patients that you treated if you did a survey of everyone who ever did the cleanse you would find that everyone has something different to say. I would suggest that you do a little bit more research. Its the same with medication every person body reacts to different meds. Some people have allergic to certain meds and some are not. This cleanse has been a life saver for me .
If i did this cleanse for 14 days for an event and then slowly introduce healthy food back to my system, will this reduce the amount of weight i immediately put on. I know how bad this is for me but unfortunately its essential. do you have any tips on how to re introduce food into my diet after i have done the cleanse?
Can you site any studies on the glutathione depletion and acidosis that I could show others? I am very concerned for friends who are doing the cleanse. I did it back in the early 80's when it was a fad then and became very sick but of course the defenders of the diet say it was because I was discharging toxins and it was a good thing–it was not. My daughter also did it last spring (against my advice) and she quit at 7 days because her teeth hurt badly– a few weeks later found she had 5 cavities! Though she they may have already started i can't believe that bathing her teeth in sugar and acid could have helped–what do you think? Anyway she is not doing it again.
I am on my 3rd Master Cleanse right now, day 33. I have never felt better. Fasting has been going on since biblical times & has been done for numerous reasons. It gets a bad rep when a celeb is doing it to lose vanity pounds. Some people use the Master Cleanse to jump start better eating habits & to detox the body; & although you will lose weight, it’s not the design of the cleanse merely a side effect. I too would like you to cite just one study that shows the negative effects. If people follow the instructions in the book & see for themselves they will rep the benefits of feeling better & having energy & if they lose weight to its a plus, if that’s a personal goal. Adjustments can be made so that you don’t lose much weight & it will only return if you go out on a eating spree. Instead incorporate morefruits & veggies. I did great transitioning from meat eater to vegan & I used the master cleanse to do it. Peolpe need to do their own research & stop being sheep!
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