The pop star Beyonce lost 20 lbs. to star in the movie "Dreamgirls" released in 2006. Part of her weight loss strategy included two weeks of following the lemonade diet, also called the master cleanse, which consists of drinking six, 10-oz. glasses of a mixture of spring water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper daily. This near fast can help you lose weight, but is not the healthiest approach to weight loss.
History
Dr. Stanley Burroughs developed the Lemonade Diet in the 1940s as a cleansing regimen. He theorized it helped to rest your digestive tract and encourage the expulsion of toxins from your body. Although weight loss is a side effect, it is not the primary intention of the plan. Beyonce helped bring it back into popularity when the media reported her rapid weight transformation. Since then, models and radio personality Robin Quivers have also touted the weight loss benefits of the diet.
Components
To make a day's worth of lemonade, you blend together 60 oz. of spring water, 12 tbsp. of organic, Grade B maple syrup, 12 tbsp. of freshly squeezed, organic lemon juice and about a 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper. The only other things you consume are a laxative tea and a salt water flush. Although some people follow the diet for only a day or two, the original plan says you should follow the diet for two weeks, which is never advised now.
Effects
Because you are consuming very few calories, weight loss is likely to occur. Advocates of the cleanse maintain that the lemon juice helps purify the body while the cayenne pepper aids in circulation. You get energy from the sugar in the maple syrup. Some nutrients are present in the lemon and maple syrup, but they are limited.
Concerns
The Lemonade Diet does not provide much nutrition, putting you at risk for nutritional deficiencies. The weight you do lose on the diet is likely to return quickly when you go back to eating a regular diet. Any weight you do lose will include lean muscle mass, rather than just fat. The Lemonade Diet does not help you learn long-term weight loss strategies.
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