Lemonade is a favorite beverage generally enjoyed in the warmer months but it is also delicious all year round. Real lemonade, which contains the juice of lemons, may also help you lose weight. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, the intake of which was found to correlate with fat loss in a 2005 study conducted at Arizona State University. As part of a healthy lifestyle that includes increased physical activity, low-fat proteins and complex carbohydrates, lemonade may help you lose weight. Speak with your doctor before making significant changes to your diet or level of physical activity.
Step 1
Drink a glass of lemonade before eating a healthy breakfast. According to dietitian Katherine Zeratsky of MayoClinic.com, eating breakfast can make it easier for you to resist overeating. In addition, eating breakfast encourages fat burning rather than fat storing. Drinking a glass of lemonade before breakfast provides your body with immune boosting vitamin C as well as energy boosting sugar. Additionally, staying hydrated is important for keeping your metabolism and energy levels up and a full glass of lemonade is a healthy start to your daily fluid intake.
Step 2
Replace soft drinks and other calorie-laden beverages in your diet with lemonade. To cut your caloric intake further and add fluids to your diet, mix half your glass of lemonade with water. Eliminating soft drinks from your diet helps you decrease unnecessary ingredients that are used in their preparation. Lemonade provides vitamin C, which has antioxidant properties that may help you become more resistant to illness.
Step 3
Fill an insulated portable water bottle with half lemonade and half water and carry it with you throughout the day. Drink the lemonade mixture between meals to ensure proper hydration and also to fill your stomach so that you eat less calories. A 2008 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition" found that substances in lemons known as polyphenols significantly suppressed weight gain. These substances were also found to decrease the accumulation of abdominal fat and suppress the development of high cholesterol.
Step 4
Drink 8 oz. of lemonade before lunch and dinner. This helps fill your stomach so that you eat less during your main meals. Emphasize low-fat proteins as well as complex carbohydrates such as whole grain rice or pasta in all your meals. Complex carbohydrates contain fiber, which helps fill the stomach and slow digestion. These foods also generally contain fewer calories than their fiber-poor counterparts, so you will eat less overall.
Step 5
Drink an 8 oz. glass of lemonade half an hour before going to bed in the evening. This fills your stomach so you're less likely to snack in the evening. In addition, lemonade provides water, which according to MayoClinic.com, is a major component of your body. Water helps your body remove toxins and carry nutrients to the cells. Even mild dehydration can lead to significantly less energy and cause a headache and muscle weakness. Aim to drink at least 64 oz. of fluid every day to prevent dehydration and if you're increasing your level of activity, you'll need more to replace the lost fluids.
Tips and Warnings
- Check with your doctor before starting a diet. Buy lemonade that doesn't contain added sugar if possible. This is available at your local health food store.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh lemonade or lemonade without added sugars
- Portable insulated water bottle
References
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition: Strategies for Healthy Weight Loss: From Vitamin C to the Glycemic Response
- MayoCinic.com: Breakfast: Why is it So Important to Weight Control?
- Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition: Lemon Polyphenols Suppress Diet-induced Obesity by Up-Regulation of mRNA Levels of the Enzymes Involved in β-Oxidation in Mouse White Adipose Tissue
- MayoClinic.com: Water: How Much Should you drink every day?
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