Weird Health Fads Review #4: The Master Cleanse

Often called "The Lemonade Diet" or "Maple Syrup Cleanse" the Master Cleanse became popular (as most health fads do) as a result of the Hollywooders. Although created with the intention of being a cleanse or detox, it is most often misused as a crash weight loss program.

Originally concocted in 1941 by Stanley Burroughs, an alternative health practitioner, it has increased exponentially in popularity in the last decade. It is quite a simple program as there is only the "lemonade" solution consumed during the detox period. The length of time suggested ranges from 10 to 40 days...this is without any food, only the lemonade.

The solution is a mixture of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, dark unrefined maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. Taste-wise, the Master Cleanse solution is actually not bad - goes down like a natural tangy lemonade.

The theory with this cleanse, as with other fasts, is that the lack of food gives the body a break to recuperate and repair its tissues. Lemon juice provides vitamin C and electrolytes, maple syrup provides natural sugar and minerals, and cayenne pepper increases circulation and sweating.

The composition of the lemonade provides basics to sustain the body during a fast, but unsupervised, this can be quiet dangerous particularly with underlying health conditions and/or medication. The other problem is that fasting, although targeted to eliminate toxins from the body as a result of nothing else being consumed by the body, can actually do the opposite.

Metabolic detoxification pathways in the liver require many nutrient co-factors that can be depleted during a fast. Because of this, toxic metabolite intermediates may actually back up in the body or be prevented from being properly eliminated. Proper foods and nutrients should be supplemented with to support the detoxification process. Without this support, it actually defeats the purpose of cleansing.

Short-term, under medical supervision, The Master Cleanse can have benefits for some people, but I would not recommend doing this for longer than a 2-3 day period without food. And to reiterate, this is only after a thorough medical assessment and under supervision.

Many people use this cleanse as a quick weight loss program, which will absolutely work in the short-term, but as most diets that put the body in a state of ketosis (or starvation) will have a rebound effect as you reintroduce food. You will quickly regain the weight you lost, and often more than previous, as your body wants to protect itself from starvation again.

I think the cleanse lemonade solution is a great adjunct to a normal healthy diet, taken first thing in the morning, or even as a natural homemade Gatorade replacement (with a pinch of salt and baking soda added), but would not recommend it for extended periods of time.

REVIEW (out of 10):
Weird Factor: 5

Safety Rating: 3

Health Benefit: 4

Weird Health Fads Review #2: The Cookie Diet

I literally burst out laughing when I first heard about this new diet some of the celebrities are on. Gotta admit, great marketing. Who wouldn't want to subsist on cookies to lose weight?

I realized I shouldn't knock this diet until I investigated further. Obviously it's a great name for a diet, but what did the meal plan consist of? What are these "cookies" all about? Did Cookie Monster come up with this?

Weird Health Fads Review #1: Breatharianism

A brief primer on why I decided to review Weird Health Fads:
As a naturopathic doctor, I practice what is still considered complementary and alternative medicine. Our training provides us with an education in laboratory diagnosis, physical clinical diagnosis and evidence-based treatments; however, we focus on treatments that include clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and lifestyle counselling.

Depending on who you ask, these may still be perceived as falling into the "weird health" realm, but really any treatment, either conventional or alternative can be criticized in some way or another.

I have an open-mind to many complementary treatments that I do not practice, but that my patients may be receiving or seeking out on their own. I will not discourage (and sometimes encourage) my patients to continue these treatments if they meet the following criteria:
a) they are safe
b) they are receiving health benefits
c) there is some logical sense to the treatment plan and treatment itself (even in a metaphysical, emotional or energetic sense)

I think these criteria can and should apply when assessing conventional allopathic treatments as well as any alternative treatment.

I am rating weird health fads on the basis of these criteria: Safety, plausible Health Benefits and Weird Factor.

On to the review...

Breatharianism = Living on Air. Yes, eating and drinking air.

The concept of breatharianism was touted by an Australian woman named Ellen Greves, (otherwise known as Jasmuheen), who promoted the idea of surviving solely on breathing air, without fluid or food. This was described as "pranic nourishment." She had a cult following based on her teachings, and having others try to live off of the "physical and spiritual crystals in the air."

Unfortunately, between 1997-1999, there were three deaths associated with followers of breatharianism who perished as a result of dehydration and malnourishment. This seems like a tragic but obvious conclusion to depriving your body with its basic needs.

Breatharianism may sound like an interesting concept, but should remain only as a fictional idea, and not as a treatment that should be implemented by anyone.

REVIEW (out of 10)
Weird Factor: 10
Safety Rating: 0
Health Benefit: 0