Maple Syrup Cleansing Diets

Also known as the lemonade diet, the maple syrup cleansing diet was created by Stanley Burroughs in the 1950s and outlined in his book "The Master Cleanser." He designed the all-liquid diet to cleanse the body of toxins and impurities and to result in rapid weight loss. The diet combines maple syrup with water, lemon juice and either cayenne pepper or ginger to create a juice. The dieter drinks six to 10 glasses of the juice each day for seven to 10 days. She also consumes a laxative tea each evening and 1 cup of salted water each morning to aid bowel movements. Following the diet plan, food groups are gradually reintroduced to the diet.

Maple Syrup

Pure maple syrup is known for its health benefits. As a naturally occurring plant sap with constant exposure to sunlight, it is high in anti-oxidants and minerals such as zinc and calcium. Therefore, it has anti-bacterial and anti-cancer properties. The use of grade B real maple syrup, rather than less expensive commercial products, which tend to use maple flavoring, is encouraged by maple syrup cleanse proponents.

Beneficial Claims

Maple syrup cleanses have been made popular by celebrities, including Beyonce Knowles, who followed the plan and lost more than 20 pounds for her role in the movie "Dreamgirls." Individuals who used a maple syrup cleansing diet said they felt more energetic and focused while on the diet, but that may be due to their belief that the diet purified their bodies. In fact, the body does not require a detox in order to remove toxins. The skin, liver, digestive system and kidneys remove toxins naturally as their function. Beneficial claims made by maple syrup cleansing dieters include weight loss, clearer skin, better digestion, improved circulation, sounder sleep, renewed determination and willpower, a happier outlook to life and a greater sense of self.

Drawbacks

The maple syrup cleansing diet is a very low-calorie plan. It can be extremely harmful to health when followed for many days. Negative side effects associated with the maple syrup cleanse include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headaches, lack of concentration, the slowing of metabolism, nutrient deficiency, poor circulation and a weakened immune system. A temptation to overindulge may follow the diet, causing a body set in "starvation mode" to store extra calories as fat. So in the weeks following the diet, the individual regains weight. Also, repeated crash dieting can put pressure on the heart, causing cardiac stress and heart palpitations. Pregnant women, children, teen-agers and people with medical conditions should avoid undertaking a maple syrup cleansing diet.

Variations

Less extreme versions of the maple syrup cleansing diet allow individuals to consume solid foods while detoxing. A variation uses the diet's juice to replace one or two meals each day for several days. Another involves following the diet plan for one day each week in order to maintain weight loss. Other variations include a pattern of three days on the maple syrup cleansing diet, then three days of eating light, healthy meals, then another three days of the cleansing diet.