The Lemonade Diet: What it is
The Lemonade Diet has been around for more than 50 years, but its popularity soared a few years ago after Beyonce announced she'd lost 20 pounds on the diet for the movie Dreamgirls.
The Lemonade Diet, also known as the Master Cleanse, was developed by the late Stanley Burroughs as a detoxification and fasting program. Originally intended to rid the body of toxins and internal wastes brought on by "improper diet, lack of exercise, and negative mental attitude," it's now also touted as a quick weight loss plan.
The plan, consisting of nothing more than a lemon juice concoction, is supposed to "help you lose up to 20 pounds, look younger, ease chronic pain, cleanse your body of internal waste, and boost your energy levels in 10 days."
Unfortunately, Americans are no strangers to the dark side of dieting and are willing to go to extremes like the Lemonade Diet to lose weight.
Of course, weight loss is inevitable when you stop eating and drink very few calories. But this kind of diet can also be dangerous to your health. Nutritionists point out that the Master Cleanse diet plan is deficient in all the essential nutrients: calories, vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat.
Exercise is not part of the diet prescription, probably because physical activity would be difficult on a starvation diet.
Lemonade Diet: What You Can Eat
No solid foods are allowed, nor are any supplements. You consume only the Master Cleanse elixir to keep you hydrated.
The plan calls for you to drink 6 or more servings daily of the lemonade drink. The only other options are a "salt water flush" of 2 teaspoons salt mixed in a quart of water in the morning, and an herbal laxative tea at night, if needed.
A single serving of the Master Cleanse drink consists of:
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
- 2 tablespoons grade-B organic maple syrup.
- 1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- 10 ounces filtered water.
After following this fast for 4-14 days, dieters are urged to slowly ease back into solid food, starting with foods like vegetable soup, followed by fruits and vegetables.
You will lose weight on the Lemonade Diet because the fast creates a serious calorie deficit. But chances are, what you'll lose is water weight and muscle -- not the fat you want to get rid of.
During the fast, you can expect to feel hungry, and may experience headaches, fatigue, dizziness, sluggishness, diarrhea, nausea, or constipation.
The Master Cleanse Diet is supposed to "release years of built-up waste in just 10 days, while your energy soars."
Yet, experts point out, the liver already detoxifies the body. Further, there is no medical evidence that fasting or "cleansing" diets actually rid the body of any toxins not otherwise discarded in bodily waste.
"The suggestion that we are filled with toxins creates fear that drives people to these kinds of plans," says Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry. "But in truth, our bodies naturally rid themselves of undesirable substances without any human intervention whatsoever."
Experts also question how a diet consisting only of a low-calorie beverage can provide enough energy for normal bodily processes, let alone leave you feeling energized.
Lemonade Diet: What the Experts Say
American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Melinda Johnson, RD, doesn’t see anything positive about this diet plan.
"There is no scientific evidence that you need anything like this or any other detox program to cleanse your body or help you lose weight," she says.
She suggests staying away from smoking if you want to avoid toxins. Otherwise, trust your liver to do its job.
Experts agree that such unbalanced plans are not only ineffective, but are also potentially dangerous, depending on how long you stay on them. Fasting can rob your intestines of healthy bacteria that aid digestion and boost immunity.
Another risk of rapid weight loss is the loss of lean muscle tissue. Nutrition expert Pamela Peeke, MD, says that without enough protein in the diet, your body must get protein from some other source -- so it burns its own muscle mass. At the end of the fast, the dieter will weigh less, but his or her body will be higher in fat and lower in muscle.
"Lean muscle and fluids are the first to go on starvation diets, not belly fat," Johnson says. "And the problem is that when you lose muscle mass, you turn down your metabolism, so it is counterproductive when you return to normal eating because you will need fewer calories."
Another problem with this and other fasting plans is that many dieters eat everything in sight afterward.
"Whenever you follow an extremely restrictive diet plan, it is usually followed by an extreme binge," Johnson says.
Her advice: Forget fasting and detoxing. She says there is nothing magical about these kinds of plans, they don’t work long-term, and they ultimately perpetuate an unhealthy relationship with food.
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