The Lemon Detox Diet

In April 1976, Stanley Burroughs published a 50-page book called "The Master Cleanser," in which he outlined a simple cleansing diet of lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper over a 10-day period. Burroughs believed the diet cleansed and healed the body. It is now also known as the "lemonade diet" or the "lemon detox diet" and is popular with people who want to lose weight quickly. Ask your doctor if it is safe for you before embarking on this or any other extreme diet.

Features of the Lemon Detox Diet

On the lemon detox diet, meals are replaced with a minimum of six to nine glasses of liquid every day for 10 days. The drink consists of maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper or ginger and hot or cold filtered water. You eat no solid food during the diet. The purported aim is to cleanse your system and boost your metabolism while keeping your body hydrated and energized. However, MayoClinic.com reports there is no scientific evidence that detox diets cleanse the system. The liver and kidneys function as the body's natural filter of toxins, without the need for special detox diets.

Pitfalls of Fast Weight Loss

Singer and film star, Beyonce made the lemon detox diet popular after she reportedly lost 20 pounds in 10 days. However, losing pounds quickly through this type of low calorie detox diet is counter-productive in the long term. You will likely gain more weight back after returning to normal eating because your metabolism will be slower due to inevitable muscle loss suffered during the process.

Lemon Juice and Tooth Decay

Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps to maintain the immune system. However, be aware that the acidic nature of the fruit means it will eat away tooth enamel if you do not rinse your mouth and clean your teeth thoroughly after taking the lemon juice in the lemon detox diet drink.

Before You Detox

In his article entitled "Should You Detox to Get Rid of Chemicals?" Dr. Joseph Mercola says you must not go on a detox diet unless you are in good health and already following a healthy lifestyle. He warns he has seen many patients become ill because they were not well enough to withstand the rigors of a detox, which puts extra demands on the liver. He stresses the importance of a health check-up prior to any detox.

Considerations

If you have never fasted before, you could struggle to stick to the liquid-only regimen, and your body may react by going into "starvation mode." To control your weight in the long term, follow a healthy eating and fitness program, and seek advice from a registered dietitian or health professional.