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 or Maple Syrup Diet, 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. 

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The severe 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.