What Is the Maple Syrup Cleansing Diet?

The maple syrup cleansing diet is more popularly known as the Master Cleanse diet or the Lemonade diet. Started by Stanley Burroughs in 1940, the diet is intended to purge the body of toxins and help jump-start weight loss. The diet recently came back into vogue when singer Beyonce Knowles and Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers reported losing a lot of weight on the diet.

Origins

• In his 1976 book "Master Cleanser," Burroughs states that in addition to weight loss and detoxification, the cleanse would also cure stomach ulcers and other diseases. A second book on the Master Cleanse, "Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days" by Peter Glickman, was released in 2004, continuing to fuel the cleanse's popularity.

How it Works

• The 10-day diet consists of drinking a concoction of freshly squeezed lemon juice, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. Burroughs encourages drinking salt water in the morning, laxative tea at night and the lemonade in the hours in between. No food is consumed during the cleanse.

The Effects

• In the first days of the cleanse, users have reported experiencing dizziness, nausea and hunger pains. The cleanse also typically leads to a less pleasant effect, with users running to the bathroom frequently for several days with severe cases of diarrhea. Later in the cleanse, some users say they end up feeling lighter and more energized with a heightened sense of smell and taste and fewer cravings.

The Results

• Some users of the maple syrup cleansing diet have reported losing anywhere from 5 to 20 lbs. in the 10 days of the diet. Others who have stayed on the cleanse longer, which isn't recommended, have reported bigger weight loss. Some followers have found the weight loss results to be only temporary, however, and regained the pounds once they began eating solid foods again.

The Science

• While many medical practitioners have nothing against fasting for a few days, they warn that continuing an extremely low-calorie diet such as the Master Cleanse for a prolonged period will deprive people of needed nutrients and lead to a breakdown in muscles.