The Master Cleanser, otherwise known as the lemonade diet, has been getting a lot of press recently since Beyonce Knowles admitting to using the crash diet to lose 20 lbs for her role as Dina in the hit movie “Dreamgirls.” The former Destiny’s Child singer states she was motivated to shed the pounds “to go the extra mile.”

She reportedly told China Daily, “Back in the sixties, models like Twiggy were popular and I knew Deena would have been thin then, so even though I really love eating, it was necessary to lose weight really fast because we shot Deena at 16 and Deena at 36 two weeks apart.”

The Master Cleanser, also known as the “Master Cleanse diet”, “lemonade diet”, “lemonade fast”, “Master Cleanser lemonade fast” and the “maple syrup diet”, was popularized by Stanley Burroughs as a way to cleanse, detox and lose weight. Far from being a “detox diet” the master cleanser actually causes a build up of toxins. Please see the dangers of the Master Cleanser.

According to Beyonce, “My nutritionist suggested the only way to do that was the (lemonade diet) fast.” “I would never recommend it to anyone unless you are doing a movie and it’s necessary, and you have proper help. There are ways to lose weight healthily if you want to lose weight, but this was for a film.” Not surprisingly, she states she ” was cranky” on the diet, while those around her, on the set, scarfed down Krispy Kremes.

As a weight loss solution the Master Cleanse, and all fasting-type diets, wreaks havoc on your metabolism and your body. By going into starvation mode, your body shuts down not only using available fat stores for energy, but also breaking down significant amounts of metabolically active muscle for fuel. This slows your metabolism, making your body more efficient at putting on fat when you go off the diet. This perpetuates the yo-yo dieting pattern, as dieters go on and off diets only to regain more weight later. She adds “As soon as it was over, I gained the weight back.”

Here’s the latest photo of Beyonce, when she preformed on the CBS early show in March. Do you think she weighs more now, than before the fast?

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.