Did you know 100% pure maple syrup has the beneficial antioxidant compounds found in other food items like red wine, flaxseed, berries, whole wheat, tea, and tomatoes?
Maple syrup has been loved by millions of people around the world. Drizzle it on your pancakes or add it to your signature cocktail, this magic potion obtained from the sap of the maple tree will never disappoint you with its remarkable taste.
How is maple syrup produced?
To begin with, a hole is drilled in a maple tree to collect the sap into a container. Upon boiling the sap, a thick, sugary syrup is obtained, which is then filtered to eliminate impurities.
The Maple Syrup Diet
The Maple Syrup Diet was created by a holistic healer – Stanley Burroughs – in the 1940s. This “Lemon Diet” or “Lemonade Diet” is wildly popular amongst people who desire fast and extreme weight loss. In his book “The Master Cleanser”, Burroughs has explained a detailed 10-day detoxification program, where he suggests a 40 days program for exceptional cases. The diet claims to cleanse the colon by eliminating retained matter and toxins from the body.
The Maple Syrup Diet, or MSD, came into the limelight because of Beyoncé Knowles, who lost 20 pounds with this diet for her role in the movie Dreamgirls in 2006. The diet has been a talk of the town thanks to celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Naomi Campbell, Jared Leto, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Demi Moore.
Despite gaining popularity, the use of MSD is still controversial since it is considered unsafe, especially if continued for long periods. Many dieters have reported a shooting weight loss of 5-10 pounds within 10 days of this diet. However, some of them reported a re-gain as soon as the diet stopped.
What is it about?
The diet includes a beverage consumption that contains maple syrup, lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper or ginger. The diet includes a beverage consumption that contains maple syrup, (or maple sugar) lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper or ginger. The mixture is recommended to consume several times a day without eating any food. Calorie intake is strictly regulated. People following the Maple Syrup Diet can consume around 300 to 600 calories each day. Dieters often consume laxative teas to further detox the body.
One of the most universally reported downsides of the Maple Syrup Diet is a near-constant need to use the bathroom. Since the diet includes the consumption of liquids throughout the day, most people take frequent trips to the bathroom. Fatigue and nausea are other obvious side effects of MSD. It happens because of calorie regulation. Participants have also reported dizziness, mood swings, and, irritability.
Subtle And Hidden Side Effects
The dietary combination of maple syrup, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper has insignificant nutritional value and no protein or fiber. It pushes the body into the “starvation mode”. Limitation on calorie intake for an extended time can slow down your metabolism as your body works to conserve minimal amounts of energy. This phenomenon can lead to long-term effects on your metabolism, making future weight loss tougher to achieve.
The master cleanse is a long-term fasting process that can reduce potassium and sodium levels in the body, causing low blood sugar and electrolyte imbalances. In extreme cases, ketoacidosis can occur where the body retreats to burning fat instead of sugar, which leads to ketone build-up in the blood.
Despite the negative effects, there is a lot of anecdotal testimony that a short cleanse can have positive effects on the body. The maple syrup diet mustn’t be treated as a diet but as a short-term
detoxification. Post-completion, participants are recommended to take great care by maintaining a healthy diet high in vegetables and healthy fats and avoiding processed foods and added sugar.
