The Lemon Detox diet, also called the Lemonade Diet or Master Cleanse is a dangerous modified fast that is very low in calories, protein, fiber and essential nutrients. Although short-term use may not cause long-term damage, the lemon diet is not recommended for anyone with diabetes, heart or kidney disease or women who may be pregnant or nursing.
Fad Diets
A fad diet is one that promises unrealistic weight loss and advises you to follow a nutritionally unsound eating plan that could involve severe calorie restriction of eliminating entire food groups, says the National Institutes of Health. By that definition, the lemon diet is clearly a fad diet. Calorie intake averages about 1,000 calories daily and there is no food allowed -- the diet allows only the lemonade made from purified water, organic lemon juice, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup.
Metabolism Dangers
The lemon diet is too low in calories, requiring just 6 to 12 glasses of lemonade daily. Each glass averages about 100 calories, mostly coming from maple syrup, which is pure sugar. If you don't consume enough calories, your metabolism slows down because your body thinks food is scares and holds on to every calorie. Women need at least 1,200 calories and men need at least 1,500 calories daily for proper metabolic function. If your metabolism slows, weight loss stalls and it becomes easier to gain weight in the future.
Low Protein Intake
The lemonade diet is too low in protein for safe weight loss. Your body's primary source of energy is glucose, easily made from carbohydrates. In the absence of carbs, you body can convert both muscle and stored fat into energy. Muscle is easier to turn into energy than fat, which is why many low-carb diets are high in protein, to encourage your body to burn fat rather than muscle for fuel. In the absence of protein intake, such as lemon diet, you will lose lean muscle mass. Losing muscle lowers your metabolism and is not the type of weight you want to lose. A healthy weight loss program should help you to lose body fat. The weight you lose on the lemon diet is mostly water weight and muscle.
Other Problems
You may experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, on the lemon diet. Symptoms include hunger, headache, fatigue and mood swings. There is no fiber intake on the lemon diet and, coupled with the diet's diuretic effect, you will be in the bathroom often. Once you stop the diet and start eating food again your fiber intake will increase dramatically, which may lead to a different problem -- constipation. The lemon diet is so low in nutrients it can compromise your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to infection and illness.
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