If anything is geared toward the short-term, it is a detoxifying cleanse like the Master Cleanser, now popularized as The Lemonade Diet (and sometimes also called The Maple Syrup Diet or the Beyonce Knowles diet). Developed by Stanley Burroughs a number of years ago, The Lemonade Diet was supposed to be a health remedy. Let’s take a minute to see just what’s involved in the Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet.

What’s in it?

The basic premise of The Lemonade Diet is a fasting cleanse, meant to rid your body of a build-up of toxins. The “lemonade” recipe, which is available from a number of sources free of charge, includes 2 Tbs lemon or lime juice, 2 Tbs real maple syrup, 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper, and 8 oz. water. Depending on whether you want to lose weight or just cleanse your system, The Lemonade Diet suggests you drink 6-10 glasses of the lemonade concoction daily.

How does it work?

The toxins released by the Master Cleanser allegedly come from our unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and bad “mental attitudes.” So, as you release these toxins, weight loss is supposed to be a side effect of the cleansing process, which also “naturally” causes a great deal of expelling by-products. However, there is no exercise program included in The Lemonade Diet, which seems to be a bit of a contradiction since these toxins build up from a lack of exercise.

Who does it work for?

There is no question that drinking nothing but a syrupy liquid for a number of days is likely to help you drop some weight, but research does not confirm that “toxins” are actually released during the Master Cleanser. Also, while you may be able to drop some water weight and jump-start your weight loss plan, unless you are able to stick to The Lemonade Diet long-term (which they actually say is possible for 7-10 days out of every month), you will likely not have made lasting lifestyle changes, and this will be just another yo-yo diet.

Are there possible side effects?

There are a slew of negative side effects related to fasting, one of which is a serious lack of energy. Also, your internal organs can be negatively affected by an extended fast, further slowing your metabolism. In addition, if you really are able to lose 2 pounds per day, this is well above the physician-recommended weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week, and you are unlikely to maintain this kind of speedy weight loss over a long period of time.

Are there any “bonus” features?

While you can find the recipe for Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet from a number of sources, The Lemonade Diet website actually offers a variety of kits with all the ingredients you need to mix up the lemonade, a copy of Stanley Burrough’s book The Master Cleanser, and a few laxative herbal teas. Although this kit isn’t necessary, it does offer the complete philosophy behind The Lemonade Diet, which we recommend reading if this is something you’re interested in.

Of all the diets we have reviewed, Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet seems to be one of the most short-lived of all possible results. Unless you make a point to develop your own exercise plan (which you’re not likely to do while on a liquid diet), there is little chance you will change the problems that led you to gain weight in the first place. Without noticeable lifestyle change, The Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet is an encounter with futility: even if you manage to drop pounds quickly, there is no guarantee that they won’t just pile back on.