Lemon Detox Diet
The lemon detox diet is a world-renowned detox program known to have amazing cleansing effects on the body, from within as well as outside. Read on to know more about the lemon detox diet and also how to do it.
The lemon detox diet — also known as the Master Cleanse Diet, Lemonade Detox Diet or Neera SuperCleanse — was introduced around 30 years ago as a process that naturally cleanses the body of toxins and aids weight loss. It was immensely popularized by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé Knowles, who claimed to have lost 9 kg following it before the film "Dreamgirls." Of the many detox diets around, this is the most famous, and it is said to deliver results for about 95% of the people who follow it.
Lemon Detox Diet Ingredients
Very few ingredients are needed, and each is recognized for helping the body release accumulated toxins. The main ingredient is, of course, freshly squeezed lemon juice; the others are organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. The maple syrup can be substituted with natural tree syrup, and the cayenne pepper with grated ginger root or ginger powder. You also need a natural laxative — herbal tea or salt water — while on the diet. For best results, use freshly squeezed lemon juice and good-quality organic maple syrup.
Lemon Detox Diet Recipe
To make one glass of the drink, mix 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup (or natural tree syrup), and half a pinch of cayenne pepper (or half a teaspoon of grated ginger) into 250 ml of warm or room-temperature water, and stir well. It is always better to prepare the drink fresh rather than storing it.
How to Do the Lemon Detox Diet
While on the diet you consume only the lemon detox drink — no solid food — having about 6 to 12 glasses a day, roughly every two hours, for a period of three to seven days. Drink herbal tea at least once a day to stimulate and ease bowel movements, and drink plain water occasionally. Initially you may find it difficult, but most people adjust within two or three days.
How the Lemon Detox Diet Works
The diet cleanses the colon and digestive tract of the build-up that reduces the body's ability to function optimally, with each ingredient playing a role. Lemon juice, the most important ingredient, supplies vitamin C to help flush out toxins, is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and helps absorb fats, easing the load on the digestive system. Cayenne pepper speeds up metabolism to aid detoxification and colon cleansing. Maple syrup counteracts the heat of the cayenne pepper while providing carbohydrates, calcium, potassium and energy.
Benefits of the Lemon Detox Diet
- Detoxification of the body and a homemade colon cleanse
- Shinier hair, clearer skin and stronger nails
- A better-functioning immune system and greater resistance to illness
- Improved digestion and blood circulation
- Weight loss and increased vitality and energy
- A healthier lifestyle and a sense of wellbeing
It is essential to note that this is a detox diet, not a weight-loss diet: if faster weight loss is your only aim, be aware that you will tend to put the weight back on as soon as you stop. It is always better to seek your doctor's opinion before starting the lemon detox diet — or any detox program. Used sensibly, though, it is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to start on the path to an improved quality of life.
