Maple Syrup Diet

The Maple Syrup Diet, also known as the Lemon Diet, the Lemonade Diet and the Master Cleanse was created in the 1940’s by Stanley Burroughs. Burroughs claimed to be a holistic healer and published a pamphlet titled “The Master Cleanser” detailing a 10 day detoxification program. He noted that extreme cases should follow the program for 40 days. It was originally intended to cleanse the body, especially the colon, of retained matter and toxins.

Today the Maple Syrup Diet (MSD) is seen as a go-to for fast and extreme weight loss. It was made famous by Beyoncé Knowles who used it to lose 20 pounds for her role in the movie Dreamgirls in 2006, and has been popularized by other celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Ashton Kutcher, Jared Leto, Demi Moore and Gwyenth Paltrow.

Its use is controversial and many people believe it is unsafe, especially if continued for long periods of time. Dieters report weight loss of 5-15 pounds in ten days. Like most crash diets the weight lost is usually re-gained as soon as the diet stops. In many cases more weight is gained as the body recovers from the severe calorie restriction.

People following the diet consume a beverage containing maple syrup, lemon juice, water and either cayenne pepper or ginger several times a day without eating any food. Calories are restricted well below the recommended daily allowances. People on the Maple Syrup Diet usually consume between 300 and 600 calories each day instead of 1,600 for women and 2,400 for men. Participants in the cleanse often drink laxative teas to further ‘flush’ the body.

There are many reported negative side effects from the Maple Syrup Diet. One of the most universally reported side effects is a near constant need to use the bathroom. The combination of the laxative effect of the cayenne pepper, the laxative teas and consuming an entirely liquid based diet force most people into the bathroom much more than normal. Other obvious side effects are fatigue and nausea. Both are caused by the limited amount of calories. Mood swings, irritability and dizziness are also caused by the limited calorie intake.

Subtle and hidden side effects of the diet are also worth mentioning. Lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper have minimal nutritional value and no protein of fiber which can push the body into “starvation mode”. When you limit the amount of calories you consume for an extended period of time your metabolism slows down to conserve the minimal amounts of energy (calories) you are putting in. This can have long term effects on your metabolism and can make future weight loss harder to achieve. Staying on the master cleanse can have another major hidden effect on your body. Long term fasting can cause low potassium and sodium levels, low blood sugar and electrolyte imbalances. In extreme cases ketoacidosis can occur when the body resorts to burning fat instead of sugar and ketones build up in the blood. Ketoacidosis can be fatal.

Despite the negative long term effects there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that a short cleanse can have positive effects. It is important that the maple syrup diet is not treated as a diet, but as a short term detoxification. Following the completion of the cleanse great care should be taken to maintain a healthy diet high in vegetables and healthy fats while avoiding processed foods and added sugar.

The Mohawk Valley Trading Company offers the highest quality maple syrup we can produce, made primarily from sugar maple sap. Sugar maple sap is preferred for maple syrup production because it has an average sugar content of two percent. Sap from other maple species is usually lower in sugar content, and about twice as much is needed to produce the same amount of finished syrup.

For Grade A, Robust, Dark, Pure Maple Syrup: http://www.tenonanatche.com/maple-syrup.htm .
 

Mohawk Valley Trading Co.
901 Broad St
Utica, NY 13501