There is a great deal of hype around the Lemon Detox Diet. Celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Beyonce Knowles have added to the hoopla by stating publicly that it works, and there are also several articles that say it is a great plan for short term weight loss. but, like many other fad diets, the Lemon Detox plan is also an extreme one, which has a different way of “working”, if you may call it that! So for those of you who don’t know what the Lemon Detox diet is, here’s an introductory writeup to help you find out what it is all about and if it is right for you! [img source]
How the Lemon Detox Diet Works
The objective behind the diet plan is to release your body of poisonous toxins. These toxins supposedly build up in your body as a result of chemicals it is exposed to through diet and environment. These toxins can then lead to a deterioration in quality of life through lack of energy, tiredness, disease and other conditions. So, by restricting intake of food for a specific amount of time, you are also restricting the toxins entering your body.
What’s on the Diet Plan
While on the Lemon Detox diet, your only intake throughout the day is the lemon detox drink which consists of lemon, tree syrup, cayenne pepper, salt, herbal tea and water. All these ingredients play different roles in the detoxifying process.
Lemon Juice is used to flush out wastes from the body, via the blood stream, putting less strain on the digestive system. Cayenne pepper helps speed up the metabolism, which further promotes the cleansing process. Salt/Herbal Tea helps stimulate bowel movement, flushing the toxins out of the body. Water keeps the body hydrated and aides the cleansing process. Tree syrup contains nutrients and calories to keep the body functioning normally during the diet. It is also claimed that the quality of this tree syrup is pertinent for the success of the diet and justifies the hefty price for the otherwise relatively cheap ingredients. These ingredients are mixed together to form the Detox Diet Drink which one is supposed to have at least 6 – 10 times each day, as part of the diet plan.
Is the Lemon Detox Diet Good For You?
Each drink has roughly 60 calories, so by restricting your diet to only 600 calories a day you will obviously lose weight, but not without paying a price! An average person requires around 2000 calories per day, and 600 calories is too less. It causes the body to go into starvation mode, slowing down your metabolism, which in turn makes you feel tired and lethargic. This also signals your body to convert these calories into fat, as it feels it needs to create reserve deposits to sustain regular physiological processes. You will start losing muscle, and even if you see significant short-term weight loss,you will rapidly gain all the weight back as soon as you get off the diet!
If you are looking for fast weight loss, the Lemon Detox Diet could work for you; but it’s like choosing to fall sick so you’ll look thin! It also means you’ll have saggy wrinkled skin, dark circles under your eyes, and extreme lack of energy! Is this worth it? If you are a model who needs to lose a few pounds to fit into those skinny outfits, then yes, you might give this a shot. But for individuals like you and me, who want to maintain a healthy weight, this short-cut might not be the best option.
A balanced meal plan coupled with regular exercise, which includes cardio and strength-training, is the only option to consider. It may not be as glamorous or as fast-acting like the Lemon Detox Diet, but it is the safest and most recommended way to healthy weight loss!
Check out these Special Weight-Loss Tips from a Real Mom!
Related Articles:
Exercises that Actually help you Burn Fat
20 Ideas for Healthy Guilt-free Snacks
A Quick & Effective 15-Minute Workout at Home
Good day I am so excited I found your weblog, I
really found you by error, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Anyways I am here
now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a fantastic
post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
to go through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time
I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb work.
i completely agree with Anonymous. I’m doing the lemon detox diet and havent had any problems with it at all. and im not in the bathroom as mush as you would think i would be. i can still go to work and take care of my 6 kids on this diet and not feel uncomfortable. im using all organic items for my detox diet, and best of all the drink doesnt taste bad at all. it tastes just like lemon tea with syrup or honey in it. i just started a couple weeks ago and have already lost 3 lbs. i love this diet. and i feel great. my hair is changing, my skin is clearer and im starting to be able to do more things. i also drink a mint tea that also helps through the day and ill squeeze lemon juice into my tea to give it a little tang and a boost to my diet. 100% healthy for you.
I respect the thought expressed in the article because a well planned and balanced diet is ultimately a better long term lifestyle choice.
However, I do not agree with the facts. First, the calorie information is incorrect. Since most of the recipes for this cleanse calls for 24 tablespoons of maple syrup (which is about 50 calories per tablespoon). That generates a general caloric intake of more around 1500 – 1700 calories per day when the lemon /limes are added (which is usually 6 @ 30 calories per lemon /lime) as well as almost a gallon of purified water intake (another good thing).
Secondly, the ingredients, if organic, are pretty well accepted as being rich in many anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins (which I would venture to say that the typical persons diet does not contain).
Now I’m not a promoter of the Lemon-Diet as a solution to health. I completely agree with your suggestions for permanent healthy weight loss. I would just suggest that your article contain more balance and better facts if it is being presented as unbiased information.
As a final thought, I’ve known multiple persons, who are very fit (meaning they normally eat balanced diets, exercise and maintain low body fat levels) that have tried this diet to get ready for a competition, a reunion or a photo shoot who have never complained about the symptoms you describe for more than 1 or 2 days. If fact, after the 10 “grueling days” of irregular bowel movements, they’ve almost always reported increased energy and clarity along with the weight loss (some of which does come from water loss).
The diet works for many people with positive results; it’s just not the best thing for a balanced life-style. And it fails for many people for that same reason, quick initial weight loss with rebound because of not learning proper eating habits.
So again, I agree with a more balanced approach to maintaining weight loss as you recommend but please practice better unbiased reporting principles.
Agree with your take on the lemon detox diet. Could not have said it better myself. I use a OptimalBodyWeight’s free online weight loss tools to watch what I am eating and lose weight the healthy way! Have a look and see if you like it.
Very good piece on detox
thank you
Manasi such a thoughtful article on that diet.
My doctor recommended against it – he said my body could have adverse effects with such strict diet, and I could become weak and anaemic!
Great info Mansi! Will give it a thought!