The 1940s Lemonade Millions Still Swear By: Stanley Burroughs' Famous Recipe

Four ingredients. Pennies per glass. More than 80 years of fame. Few homemade drinks have been talked about, praised and argued over as much as the spicy lemonade created by Stanley Burroughs. Known today as the Master Cleanse or simply the "lemonade diet," it has travelled from 1940s health circles to Hollywood film sets, and it still shows up on social media every January.

Its most famous fan is probably Beyonc{-15447}. While preparing to play Deena Jones in the 2006 film Dreamgirls, she told Oprah Winfrey that she lost 20 pounds for the role, admitting she felt grouchy along the way. She later described the experience as very difficult and, according to Fox News, said she would not do it again. As KSL reported, the weight returned quickly once she went back to her usual meals. Her story sums up the Master Cleanse perfectly: fascinating, dramatic, and best approached with a healthy dose of common sense.

Ordinary people share similar stories. One home cook who reviewed the recipe on Food.com recalled drinking it several times a day for one week back in the 1980s, and stressed that the most important part was returning to solid food slowly, starting with gentle foods such as yogurt and clear broth.

Why the colon matters

Among other things, the large intestine helps regulate the amount of water in the body. It absorbs water and certain minerals (electrolytes), houses trillions of gut bacteria, and plays a key role in digestion and overall well-being, as explained by the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It's good to know that food can take roughly one to three days to pass through the digestive tract, and sometimes longer, depending on what we eat, how much we move and how much we drink. The Mayo Clinic notes that total transit time varies widely from person to person.

Contrary to what many people think, a diet rich in fiber, from vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains, usually helps things move along more smoothly, while highly processed, low-fiber food tends to slow digestion down. If you are curious how much your plate influences your gut, read What happens to your stool when you stop eating meat? and What happens to the body if we eat pears regularly.

When the diet lacks fiber and fluids, constipation is a common result. Many people then feel heavy, bloated and sluggish, and the scale may show a little more than usual. Because a large part of the immune system is linked to the gut, researchers are increasingly interested in how digestive health relates to overall well-being. Still, symptoms such as rashes, bladder problems or frequent colds have many possible causes and should always be discussed with a doctor rather than blamed on the gut alone. Our article Food That Makes You Age Faster explains how low-fiber foods can affect both digestion and skin.

The man behind the lemonade

The legendary natural-health advocate Stanley Burroughs proposed his program for "cleansing" the body back in the 1940s. At the time it attracted a lot of attention, as alternative approaches to health were still in their infancy and many people had high hopes for them. Burroughs later described the method in his book The Master Cleanser (1976), and for many fans of cleansing routines it remains something of a bible to this day.

Ingredients:

• 300 ml (about 10 fl oz) of water


• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (start with less if you are sensitive to spicy food)


• 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup


• juice of half a lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients well. Fresh lemons and real maple syrup (not pancake syrup with added flavorings) make a big difference to the taste. Some people prefer it with lukewarm water, especially in the morning.

The original plan vs. a gentler approach

In Burroughs' original program, the lemonade replaced all meals for at least 10 days, often longer, and the cycle could be repeated after a break. That is a very low-calorie liquid diet, and health experts advise caution. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) points out that there is little reliable evidence that detox programs remove toxins, and that very restrictive plans can cause side effects such as fatigue, headaches and dizziness. A critical review published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Klein & Kiat, 2015) reached a similar conclusion: our liver, kidneys and gut already do the "cleansing" work every day.

That's why many people today enjoy Burroughs' lemonade differently: as a refreshing drink alongside regular, balanced meals, for example one glass before breakfast or between meals, rather than as a replacement for food. If you are considering any longer fasting or cleansing program, it's wise to talk to your doctor first, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, a digestive condition, or take regular medication.

What each ingredient brings to the glass

• Lemon adds vitamin C and a fresh, sour taste that many people find makes it easier to drink more water during the day. You can check its nutrient content in the USDA FoodData Central database. If you like lemon-based drinks, try 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.


• Maple syrup provides quick energy and small amounts of minerals such as manganese. It is still a sugar, so moderation matters, particularly for anyone watching their blood sugar.


• Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, the compound responsible for its heat, which has been studied for its possible modest effect on metabolism and appetite. For another spicy idea, see Juice with cayenne pepper that boosts metabolism.

Will the scale show less?

Burroughs believed the mixture would leave people feeling lighter and more energetic, and many fans report that the scale shows less after a few days. Science offers a simpler explanation: when you drink lemonade instead of eating, you take in far fewer calories, and much of the early loss is water and stored carbohydrates rather than "waste" from the intestines. In a small 2015 study published in Nutrition Research, overweight Korean women who followed a lemon-based detox diet for 7 days lost weight and body fat, but the researchers linked the results mainly to calorie restriction. Without lasting changes in everyday eating habits, the weight usually returns, just as Beyonc{-15447} experienced.

Friendlier ways to support your digestion

If your goal is to feel lighter and keep digestion regular, these everyday habits are backed by far more evidence than any short cleanse:

• Eat plenty of fiber from vegetables, fruit, legumes, oats and seeds. The Mayo Clinic explains how fiber supports regular bowel movements.


• Drink enough water throughout the day. A glass of lemonade or warm water with lemon can make this more enjoyable. In winter, try Warm Water with Turmeric Against Winter Troubles.


• Move every day, even a brisk walk helps the intestinal muscles do their job.


• Add small, healthy fats. Some readers like a spoonful of olive oil in the morning, see Olive oil on an empty stomach: healthy habit or myth?

Stanley Burroughs' lemonade has earned its place in food history. Enjoyed as a tangy, spicy pick-me-up next to wholesome meals, it can be a pleasant ritual. Treated as a miracle cure, it promises more than any glass of lemonade can deliver.