The Master Cleanse

• The idea of The Master Cleanse, or the "Lemonade Diet" had a resurgence with the 2007 publication of Tom Woloshyn's "The Complete Master Cleanse." Woloshyn's ideas come largely from the 1976 book, "Master Cleanser" by Dr. Stanley Borroughs.
  
  The primary idea of the cleanse is that drinking a mixture of fresh lemon juice, water, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper offers a complete array of essential daily nutritives. As a result, the mixture staves off hunger. The books discuss the "lemonade diet" as part of a cleansing ritual to make fasting easier and to help the body eliminate toxins.
  
  

Common Use

• Some people have begun using the "lemonade diet" outside the confines of the Master Cleanse as a way to lose weight. Woloshyn' and Borroughs' theories hold that the nutrients in lemon juice contain most of what a person needs in a day. The maple syrup provides some essential carbohydrates and other nutrients. And the cayenne pepper not only adds flavor, but also assists in the elimination and the intake of B vitamins.
  
  Some people like to substitute honey for maple syrup. For dieting purposes, this probably doesn't change the low calorie intake and flushing that induces weight loss. However, both authors are clear in their books that honey is not a good substitute for maple syrup for nutritional reasons. The authors feel their particular cocktail's nutritive value makes it so that a person doesn't become hungry when on the "lemonade diet."
  
  

Warnings

• Replacing normal eating with an all-liquid diet containing only a few ingredients has its risks. While it may assist in a quick weight loss, many physicians would advise that it's not a healthy way to lose weight.
  
  Even many of the websites dedicated to the Master Cleanse --- like MasterCleanse.org and PureInsideOut.com advise doing the cleanse under the supervision of a naturopath or herbalist.
  
  Before beginning a diet of this nature, it's always wise to consult a physician.