Lemonade with Maple Syrup and Cayenne Pepper: The Celebrity Drink Said to Cleanse the Body and Help with Weight Loss

Three ingredients, one glass, and a promise of a flatter tummy and a "cleaner" body. For almost two decades, this spicy lemonade has been whispered about as a Hollywood slimming secret. It has been linked to pop stars, actresses and even royalty. But what really happens in your body when you drink lemon, maple syrup and cayenne pepper? And is there anything behind the glamour?

The Star Who Made It Famous and Then Said "Never Again"

The drink became a global phenomenon thanks to Beyonc{-15447}. To prepare for her role as Deena Jones in Dreamgirls (2006), she followed the strict liquid-only version of the Master Cleanse and talked about losing around 20 pounds on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Overnight, "the Beyonc{-15447} lemonade" became one of the most searched diets in the world.

What is often forgotten is the end of the story. Years later, in an interview with Elle, the singer was asked whether she would do it again. Her answer was short and clear: "Never." She explained that she did it to lose weight very fast, but that it wasn't fun. She has also recalled feeling cranky on set while colleagues ate doughnuts around her.

A lifestyle writer who later tested Beyonc{-15447}'s diets for Yahoo Lifestyle described something many people recognise: intense hunger on the first day, followed by a strange lightness by the third. Such experiences are real, but they say more about calorie restriction than about any magic in the glass.

From Royal Tabloids to Hollywood

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is often described as one of the slimmest members of the British royal family. British tabloids have claimed that the "secret" to her figure is a recipe for lemonade with a few additions. This has never been confirmed by the Palace, so it is best taken as celebrity gossip. The same drink has also been linked in the press to Pink, Demi Moore, Michelle Rodriguez and, of course, Beyonc{-15447}.

Why does one drink fascinate so many famous people around the world?

Its fans say it supports the immune system, "alkalizes" the body, detoxifies, cleanses and helps with weight loss. Some even claim you can lose up to 10 kilograms with this lemonade. As a nutritionist, I would gently put those claims into perspective, because the real story is more interesting, and more honest.

Where Did the Master Cleanse Come From?

The recipe is not new. It was created by Stanley Burroughs, who began promoting it in the 1940s and revived it in his 1976 book The Master Cleanser. In its original form, the Master Cleanse is a fast: no solid food at all, only the lemonade, plus salt water and herbal laxative tea. According to WebMD's review of the lemonade diet, it is very low in calories, which explains quick weight loss on the scale, but it is far from the principles of healthy eating.

The good news: you don't need to fast to enjoy this drink. The version below is meant as a refreshing beverage alongside regular, balanced meals.

Ingredient 1: Lemon – Fresh, Tangy and Rich in Vitamin C

Classic lemonade contains plenty of vitamin C, a nutrient that, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, contributes to the normal function of the immune system and helps the body absorb iron from plant foods. That makes a glass of lemon water a pleasant companion in summer, when air conditioning and temperature changes can leave us feeling run-down. Lemon is also traditionally regarded as mildly diuretic and has natural antimicrobial properties.

What about "alkalizing" and "detoxing"? Here the science is sober. An article in The Conversation by a nutrition researcher from the University of South Australia explains that your liver and kidneys already do the detoxing, with or without lemon water. Interestingly, the same article notes that small studies found lemon juice taken with starchy foods such as bread or rice may slightly soften the rise in blood sugar after the meal. It's a nice bonus, but not a miracle.

If you enjoy lemon-based drinks, you might also like our recipe When your body fills up with toxins after picnics, it's soothed by a single glass: a recipe with lemon, grapefruit, and parsley.

Ingredient 2: Cayenne Pepper – A Little Heat with Surprising Effects

If we add a pinch of hot red pepper or cayenne pepper (it could even be half a teaspoon – it's all a matter of taste), the drink becomes lively and warming. Many people notice that it stimulates digestion, increases saliva, makes them sweat a little and gives a pleasant, invigorating kick.

Behind the heat is capsaicin. A 2014 meta-analysis published in the journal Appetite combined results from several clinical trials and found that capsaicinoids taken before a meal reduced food intake during that meal by around 74 kcal on average. That is modest, the studies were small and varied, and the effect seemed to need at least about 2 mg of capsaicinoids. So yes, a spicy lemonade may help some people feel a bit less hungry, but the old saying "the spicier the lemonade, the more weight you'll lose" is more folklore than fact.

Looking for other drinks that bring flavour and nutrients to the table? Read 5 drinks that are stronger than dietary supplements.

Ingredient 3: Maple Syrup – A Natural Sweetener, Still a Sugar

The third ingredient of the "royal" lemonade is maple syrup. Compared with white sugar, pure maple syrup brings small amounts of minerals such as manganese and some riboflavin (you can check its full profile in the USDA FoodData Central database). Its sugar gives the body quick energy, which is why it was included in the original fasting recipe.

Still, it is important to be honest: maple syrup is mainly sugar. Two teaspoons per glass add roughly 35 kcal. If you drink six glasses a day, that quickly adds up. Enjoy it for taste, not as a vitamin supplement.

What Does Science Say About "Detox" Diets?

Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney reviewed the evidence in "Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence", published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Their conclusion: despite a booming detox industry, there is very little clinical evidence supporting these diets, and the few existing studies had small samples and methodological weaknesses. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health takes a similar view of detoxes and cleanses.

Dietitians interviewed by Healthline add that during a strict lemon-water fast you are likely to feel tired and low on energy. Rapid kilos lost this way are mostly water and glycogen, and they tend to return once normal eating resumes.

If bloating is what bothers you, you may find practical ideas in Get Rid of Bloating and Excess Water, and if your weight isn't moving, take a look at Hello, and Fattening: Foods that Sabotage Your Diet.

The Recipe

So what is the recipe for this drink?

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon (freshly squeezed)


• 300 ml lukewarm water


• 2 teaspoons of pure maple syrup


• a pinch of hot red pepper or cayenne pepper

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients and stir until the maple syrup has completely dissolved. A tip for choosing a good syrup: read the label carefully and choose a product marked "100% pure maple syrup". Cheaper "pancake syrups" are often made mostly from glucose or corn syrup with added flavouring.

Lukewarm water makes the drink gentle on the stomach. If you like warm drinks in the colder months, you may also enjoy Warm Water with Turmeric Against Winter Troubles.

How Often to Drink It

The traditional advice is to drink this lemonade 2 to 6 times a day, drinking more if the aim is weight loss and "cleansing", and two glasses a day if you simply want to support digestion and general well-being. Followers of the recipe often drink it regularly for 5 days, take a week's break, and then repeat.

From a nutritionist's point of view, one or two glasses a day alongside regular, balanced meals is a sensible, enjoyable approach. It can help you drink more fluids and may make it easier to skip sugary sodas. Replacing meals with it is not recommended.

Who Should Be Careful

• Teeth: lemon juice is acidic and, when consumed often, may wear down tooth enamel. Drinking through a straw and rinsing your mouth with water afterwards can help.


• Sensitive stomach: people with heartburn, reflux or a sensitive digestive tract may find lemon and cayenne irritating.


• Blood sugar: maple syrup is a sugar, so people who need to watch their blood sugar should take it into account.


• Pregnancy, chronic conditions and medications: talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any bigger changes to your diet, and especially before any kind of fasting.

The Bottom Line

The Beyonc{-15447} lemonade is a tasty, zesty drink with a fascinating celebrity history. Lemon brings vitamin C, cayenne may take the edge off appetite a little, and maple syrup rounds out the flavour. It is not a magic slimming potion, and even its most famous fan says she would not repeat the strict version. Enjoyed in moderation as part of a varied diet, it can be a refreshing, flavourful habit, and that is a perfectly good reason to make a glass today.