Feb 11, 2007 8:52 pm US/Central
The Lemonade Diet --Good or Bad?
Dieters See the Effects, But Doctors List Side Effects
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
You can lose weight by cutting calories or by cutting carbs, but how about cutting out food altogether?
CBS 2's medical editor Mary Ann Childers reports thousands of people are doing just that -- going without food for 10-40 days to lose weight on the lemonade diet.
To prepare for her movie role in "Dreamgirls," Beyonce Knowles dropped 20 pounds by drinking lemonade.
On this diet, you drink 60 ounces of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper every day. You also drink an herbal laxative tea and a quart of salt water every morning for a minimum of 10 days.
"I did it 18 days and I actually ended up losing about 25 pounds," said dieter Jim Gronemann.
Gronemann said he dreamed about food, but was never hungry.
"I had no hunger pains whatsoever," he said.
The Lemonade Diet, also known as the "Master Cleanser," was developed decades ago as a way to clear the body of toxins. Quick weight loss was a side effect.
"You'll lose weight because you're decreasing caloric intake," said Dr. Donald Novey of the Advocate Medical Group. "It's pure and simple."
While it won't kill you to go without nutrients for a day or two, be prepared for side effects, from fatigue to headaches. And it can backfire.
"Essentially your metabolism is slowing down, so not only will you likely regain that weight back, but you will likely regain even more," said Jennifer Ventrelle of Rush University Medical Center.
As for the daily "salt flush:"
"So the number on the scale goes down," said Ventrelle, "but it's largely going to be water loss."
Salt can also affect blood pressure; maple syrup might not be wise for diabetics; citrus can aggravate acid reflux; cayenne pepper can irritate the bladder. Excessive fluids can be problematic for those with kidney or heart disease. Still Novey believes a body cleanse can jump start a healthier lifestyle. That's why wellness-fitness trainer Sheila Brooks did it and lost five pounds in five days.
"I do like sweets and since I've done this I don't seem to have the same craving for sweets and that's an added bonus that I just wasn't expecting," said Brooks.
Lisa Masey lost eight pounds in 10 days and her craving for caffeine.
"I would drink about 5 Diet Cokes a day and I totally did not crave caffeine and I am still not drinking diet coke," Masey said.
Both Brooks and Masey say they feel better and they'd do it again. Jim Gronemann has done it five times.
"If the weight loss was effective, why are you doing it again?" asked Novey.
Novey, an alternative medicine specialist, said cleansing for any reason is safest under a doctor's supervision. Incidentally, after her movie, Beyonce regained weight on purpose. She said she's proud of her healthy body and she feels much more like herself with curves.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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