Premise
It is essential to begin the article with a premise concerning the nutritional correctness of this diet. In this regard, we recall that there are no miracle diets that can promote localized weight loss, nor even balanced diets based on a single ingredient.
More generally, all dietary regimens that involve the use of a single food (grapefruit diet, water diet, watermelon diet, egg diet, etc.), are to be considered real buffaloes.
The goal of the following article is to describe the key principles of the lemon diet, without supporting or publicizing it in any way.
Lemon Diet: How Many Are There?
The lemon diet can be understood as various dietary strategies, since the name is not deposited or protected in any way.
Among other things, the lemon is a fairly common product and being generally associated with the concept of "healthy food", it is widely used in the so-called "weekly diets" or "magazine".
There are therefore several lemon diets: some are aimed at slimming, others at the detoxification of the body.
Below we will go into detail as regards the most well-known and used lemon diet, namely the " Lemonade Detox Diet " (Lemon Detox Diet), also called "Master Cleanse".
Lemonade Detox Diet or Master Cleanse
The lemon detox diet has been on the market for almost 50 years, during which it has undergone many variations compared to the original strategy. Recently, the Master Clease has become popular again, but only thanks to the approval of the famous "idol pop" Beyoncé Knowles.
The purpose of the lemon detox diet is to degrade and eliminate toxic substances in the body, also contributing to weight loss in a short time.
Its creator, Stanley Burroughs, invented it to try to cure some pathologies of the digestive system and after various experiments published a book about it.
Entitled " The Master Cleanser ", the text speaks above all of a hypothetical clinical success in the treatment of a patient suffering from gastric ulcer (with a bankruptcy history of about three years behind him): "Without remedies, the patient followed the guidelines of Burroughs and in eleven days he was completely healed. "
The same source mentions other similar cases, all characterized by the resolution of the problem. Moreover, in addition to improving the disease, Burroughs ensures a reduction in excess body weight.
Obviously, these statements have raised many doubts, but the testimonies of healing seem more than one.
Recently, Tom Woloshyn released another book called "The Master Cleanse Experience", published in 2009 by "Ulysses Press". The text summarizes the clinical experience on this treatment and, in addition to the remission of pathologies associated with weight loss, cites many other benefits, such as: improvement of sleep, perspective and lucidity, and remission from certain addictions.
The scientific developments have clearly identified the risk factors for the accumulation of certain wastes, which are: incorrect diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, pollution etc; in fact, the lemon detox diet works on the principle that, to deal with any disease, it is necessary to purify the body entirely. This is why the Master Cleanse is not aimed only at itself, but represents the first link in a long chain of habits to be adopted indefinitely.
By respecting a healthy diet, performing regular exercise and reducing general stress, it would also be possible to maintain the results permanently.
Principles and Limitations
According to Tom Woloshyn, undergoing the detox diet is like preparing a marathon; it is necessary not to look away from the objectives and get rid of all doubts.
The creator offers this insight by being aware, more than anyone else, of the side effects induced by the Master Cleanse system.
According to Woloshyn, some may benefit from a preliminary phase of a vegetarian diet to reduce the typical trauma of starting therapy. Moreover, those who regularly take coffee or cola-type drinks should gradually reduce their daily intake by supplementing with pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which should prevent the onset of caffeine-induced migraine headaches.
People who have undergone an organ transplant and all those who take drugs suppressing the immune system cannot face this system. In fact, Woloshyn warns that the lemon detox diet stimulates the immune system and effectively inhibits drug results; according to him, this combination could induce a rejection of the transplanted organ.
Diet Organization
The lemon detox diet is a cleansing program that encourages the consumption of a drink consisting of the following ingredients: lemons, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. The treatment period lasts about ten days.
To create this drink, simply mix the ingredients in the quantity suggested by Burroughs and drink about 6 glasses a day. In case of hunger, it is allowed to increase the dose up to 12 glasses.
It is then advisable to take a laxative every morning and every evening, so as to evacuate at least three times a day. This process will completely remove the toxins accumulated in the intestine.
The Master Cleanse lemonade must be drunk fresh, without subjecting it to microwaves or other heat sources, this to avoid reducing the effectiveness of the active ingredients (vit C, other antioxidants, etc.).
According to the creator, hunger pangs will progressively decrease with each passing day.
Breaking the lemon detox diet is as critical a process as starting it. The first day we should gradually introduce orange juice, the second soups and broths, the third fruit and vegetables. It is necessary to be very careful not to exceed or speed up the restoration and it is recommended to always drink plenty of water. At the end, it will be easier to follow a healthy diet by avoiding or reducing foods of animal origin.
The gains from the Master Cleanse diet are an effective strategy to change old habits and start prevention against certain diseases.
Recipe of the Detox Lemonade
Over the years, Stanley Burroughs' original recipe has been slightly modified, but not always successfully. Other fruit juices and / or capsules and / or protein powders have been added; however, some ingredients have reduced the effectiveness of the diet.
The purpose of the program is to "put ten days" on the digestive tract, so it should not be allowed to ingest other foods. Not surprisingly, Stanley Burroughs, also discourages the intake of supplements and vitamins, as they could interfere with the body's purgation system. Lemon would be a natural source of mineral salts and vitamins, while maple syrup should be able to cater for the most pressing energy needs. Also the amount of water should not be too low or excessive, as it would compromise the recommended intake of 6-12 glasses of lemonade per day.
The recipe provided by Stanley Burrough is the following:
- 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 60ml of water (warm or cold)
For those who do not like this lemonade, it is possible:
- Mix equal parts of lemon juice and maple syrup as a concentrate; maple syrup preserves lemon juice, prevents the oxidation of vitamin C and certain enzymes
- Store in a cool place until it is consumed
- Each time you want a lemonade, measure 4 tablespoons and dilute them in a glass; then add the cayenne pepper, stir and drink.
Health commentary
The lemon diet, intended as a Master Cleanse, is a potentially risky food strategy; not so much for the notorious (and imaginative) reinforcement of the immune system with the consequent risk of rejection of the transplanted organs, as for the enormous stress to which the organism is subjected.
In fact, the lemon diet is a real form of fasting, which according to its discoverer should be controlled by taking a simple drink.
The dangers of the Master Cleanse diet are primarily nutritional.
The body and mind of a person who remains fasting for about 10 days cannot function optimally and below we will list some of the side effects hypothetically related to the lemon diet:
- First of all, the lack of energy. This, if modestly favors the reduction of weight within the safety limits, in the Master Clease is so emphasized as to induce: hypoglycemia and physical weakness, poor ability to concentrate, reduction of the general performances and possible onset of sudden blackouts (fainting ). If you want to try, it is absolutely not suitable for those who follow an active lifestyle and even less for those who practice sport
- The lack of energy depends on the almost total absence of caloric nutrients, ie carbohydrates but above all lipids and proteins. Given the extent of the curtailment, the compromises of blood composition (even serious ones), such as metabolic ketoacidosis, cannot be excluded.
- In the absence of certain essential molecules such as, for example, fatty acids and amino acids, it cannot be excluded that the entire homeostasis of the organism (pro and anti-inflammatory molecules, precursors of neurotransmitters or hormones, etc.) may be compromised
- Among the deficiencies in the lemon diet there is also that of all the mineral salts. The lack of potassium and magnesium rapidly alters the ability to contract muscle and causes very painful cramps; in fact, despite being present in lemon juice, potassium is not at all sufficient. In predisposed subjects, iron deficiency could give rise to an anemic condition, even severe
- Then there are vitamin deficiencies; the only ones well present in the lemonade are the C and the folates, while all those of the B complex and the liposoluble are less. Remember that most (but not all) of the vitamins are present in the body in the form of a hepatic reserve; on the other hand, since these are essential factors for the body (which sometimes are deficient even following an ordinary diet), interrupting the dietary intake can only induce a worsening of the state of health (as described also in point 3).
Ultimately, leaving aside the purifying effect (on which certain hypotheses cannot be advanced), it is rather obvious that the lemon diet represents a very bad, risky and absolutely inapplicable food strategy.
Especially in some conditions - such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, certain pathologies, intense sports, etc. - even represents a serious health risk.
