Ever heard of the "Master Cleanse"?

If you haven't, don't worry. You will soon. Apparently, this is "a fast that requires subsisting for 10 or more days solely on an elixir of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water" which has been around for quite some time (actually, it was created in the 40's) and is now making a comeback among those wanting to lose weight very quickly. According to the NY Times article, "I Heard It Through the Diet Grapevine", the fast was originally created "to treat ulcers and other internal ailments. Its fans then were health-conscious types, interested in purging their bodies of impurities and toxins like pesticides and food additives." Now, with society's instantaneous gratification mentality, this diet has been used by many, even celebrities, to lose weight quickly. Staunch believers swear by this diet --- and say it helps in their facial appearance (ie. less acne) and gives them energy.

Many nutritionists caution consumers regarding this diet, though they don't seem to completely denounce it. Fasting for a few days is not harmful for the body, though it may be counterproductive if the sole purpose is losing weight. They say it may "even slow down the metabolism, making it even more difficult to lose weight in the future."

Does this diet work? We don't know. We've never tried it ourselves.

Have you? If so, let us know your thought on this.