The Maple Syrup diet, also known as the Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet, was created by Stanley Burroughs more than 50 years ago as a detoxing and fasting program. It gained popularity in 2006 when Beyonce claimed she lost 20 pounds on the diet while preparing for Dreamgirls.c

Though it was originally intended as a way to rid the body of toxins caused by "improper diet, lack of exercise and negative mental attitude," people now use it for quick, drastic weight loss.c

Individuals on the Maple Syrup Diet are not allowed to eat any solid foods. Instead, they have their choice of three liquids—a salt water flush, herbal laxative tea and the Master Cleanse Lemonade.c

The salt water flush consists of two teaspoons of salt mixed in a quart of water, which is supposed to be mixed every morning and consumed by the end of the day. A single serving of the Master Cleanse Lemonade contains two tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice, two tablespoons grade-B organic maple syrup and a tenth of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper dissolved in 10 ounces of filtered water.c

Depending on how long an individual can last or how much weight they want to lose, people typically stay on the diet for four to 14 days. Afterwards, they are encouraged to ease their way back to eating solid foods, starting with broth-based soups, fruits and vegetables.c

If you do decide to participate in this or any other kind of detox diet, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind. Michael Picco, MD, with the Mayo Clinic, recommends not only checking with your doctor beforehand but also getting a list of the herbal ingredients of any cleansing product used and staying hydrated.c

Because of the minimal amount of calories consumed while on this diet, participants definitely lose weight, though most of it is water weight and muscle mass, not fat as most people want.c

Other potential side effects of being on the Maple Syrup Diet include hunger, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, sluggishness, diarrhea, nausea and constipation. Additionally, the effect of detox is minimal because the liver naturally filters out toxins from the body.c

Starvation diets like the Maple Syrup Diet are not only unsuccessful over a long period of time, resulting in weight gain after the diet is over, they are also potentially harmful to the individual. They can deplete the intestinal bacteria that help with digestion and promote a healthy immune system.c

This kind of diet also tends to result in decreased muscle mass, because when the body is low on fuel stores, it will often use muscle. While this may still result in overall weight loss, it also results in a higher percentage of body fat.c

Despite short-term weight loss, dieters may still gain the weight back and more once they are off the diet, because of the binge eating that tends to follow. Since the body has been in starvation mode, it will attempt to over-compensate and store up extra fuel.c

For long-term, sustainable weight loss, most doctors recommend decreasing caloric intake by a sensible amount and increasing energy expenditure to a moderate level (read: eat less, exercise more).