The lemonade weight-loss diet is a modified fast that can be done for as few as three and as many as 30 days. Alternative health practitioner Stanley Burroughs developed the diet in the 1940s as a detoxification regimen to cure stomach ulcers. Today, most people follow the lemonade diet in hopes of losing a lot of weight in a very short time. Do not undertake this diet without consulting your primary-care physician.
Diet Basics
The lemonade diet has three components -- the lemonade, a laxative tea and a saltwater flush. The saltwater flush should be done soon after awaking on an empty stomach. It's simply salt and lukewarm water. You can drink up to 12 glasses of lemonade daily, and you should have a cup of laxative tea in the evening -- but not too close to bedtime. No food is allowed, although you may drink plain water if you choose. The lemonade is made from purified water, fresh organic lemon juice, grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Grade B maple syrup undergoes minimal processing and is high in minerals.
Weight Loss
The lemonade diet is low in calories -- there is nothing special about the combination of ingredients that causes weight loss. You will consume 700 to 1,200 calories, depending on how much lemonade you drink. Although you will lose weight, most of it will be water from the extremely diuretic effects of this diet. Water weight will be quickly regained once you start eating normally. Additionally, because of the low protein content, your body may convert lean muscle mass, rather than stored fat, to energy. Losing muscle mass will slow your metabolism, making it easier to gain weight in the future.
Safety
The lemonade diet is neither safe nor healthy. It is low in essential nutrients, protein and fiber. The lack of nutrients may compromise your immune system, leaving you unable to fight off infections. Because it is a very low-calorie diet, you may have some symptoms of hypoglycemia -- or low blood sugar, which could include hunger, headache, fatigue, dizziness, shakiness, anxiety and mood swings. Following such a low-calorie diet may not give you the energy needed to exercise regularly.
Healthy Weight Loss
The lemonade weight loss diet is a fad diet, according to the National Institutes of Health. The diet claims that you can lose a lot of weight in a short time. It limits or eliminates entire food groups, and it's not medically or nutritionally sound. Healthy weight loss begins with a balanced diet that includes a variety of complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains, lean proteins and unsaturated fats. Practice portion control, and exercise regularly. Keep your expectations realistic, and expect to lose 1 to 2 lbs. weekly.
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