Cleanser or Lemonade Diets?

Using a cleanser or lemonade diet to lose weight and improve health may be effective, but there are risks. The lemonade diet or cleanse, also called the Master Cleanse, usually lasts 10 days. During the cleanse, only lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper are consumed, with the possible inclusion of laxative tea and saltwater. The cleanse is the invention of Stanley Burroughs. He promoted the practice in his book, "The Master Cleanser," published in 1941. The lemonade diet experienced resurgence in the 1990s and early 2000s when author Peter Glickman began promoting the diet. He released his book, "Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days," in 2004 and continues to sell cleansing kits, DVDs and other books on his website (greenpeople.org).

Why These Ingredients?

Burroughs was a fan of natural health and healing techniques and chose the ingredients of the Lemonade Diet for specific reasons. The purpose of the lemon juice is to provide calories during the cleanse. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is recommended, as is pure, filtered water. Using tap or bottled water may expose you to the same toxins you are trying to flush from your system. Cayenne pepper is added to the lemon juice and water mixture. The pepper is believed to be a digestive aid because it stimulates saliva and gastric juices. It may also alleviate stomach aches, cramps and gas, all three of which may be a problem when drastically changing your diet. Cayenne also has ulcer-fighting properties, cardiovascular benefits and may boost the metabolism, assisting in weight loss. The final ingredient in the lemonade is grade B maple syrup, included mainly to add sweetness to the lemon and pepper mixture, but also thought to have a high mineral count and several cancer-fighting anti-oxidants.

What is the Goal?

The two main reasons people use cleansers or the lemonade diet is to lose weight and to clean out the digestive system. Drastically reducing calories jump-starts weight loss. Many promoters of the lemonade diet promise users will lose 10 to 20 pounds during their 10-day cleanse. Promoters also claim the diet helps prevent a variety of diseases, especially colon cancer. There is no official medical proof of this being the case. Others believe the cleanse is an effective way to begin a health regimen. By cleaning out your system, there is less temptation to continue eating unhealthy foods, and the regimented nature of the program leads to increased motivation.

Are the Diets Effective?

As with any unorthodox diet, there are differing opinions concerning the effectiveness of the plan. Most people do lose weight, but the same results are possible with any calorie-restrictive diet. Some people feel healthier and more energetic, while others report feeling tired, sicker than usual and inconvenienced by the constant trips to the bathroom. The lemon juice acts as a diuretic and the optional laxative tea and saltwater flushes the bowels. There is anecdotal evidence about long strands of feces expelled during the cleanse, believed by some to be accumulated build-up in the intestines. However, most medical professionals agree this is not the case and feel the risks of the lemonade diet outweigh any benefits.

Are There Risks?

Most drastic diets include risks, and cleansers or lemonade diets are no exception. The diet is low in calories and lacks fiber, protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins -- all essential components of a healthy diet. Dieters following the cleanse report feeling dizzy, hungry and fatigued, and many experience headaches, nausea, constipation or diarrhea. The other concern is all 111 calories in each serving of the lemon juice mixture derive from sugar. The diet may trigger the body into "starvation mode," meaning it is cannibalizing muscle and lean tissue, instead of fat. Dieters may lose weight, but it will not be the excess fatty tissue that is considered unhealthy.