What is it?
The Lemonade Diet is a weight loss fad diet that claims it can detoxify and cleanse the body. It’s also known as the Master Cleanse Diet, and it became popularized by the celebrity Beyoncé who also used it.
Only liquids are allowed and it claims it’s able to promote an improved digestive system for more energy, vitality, happiness, and overall health improvement. It was originally mentioned in a book but there have been numerous variations on this diet. Our review experts have researched many different dietsand the most effective for weight loss was found to be the 18Shake Diet. It combines an appetite suppressing meal replacement alongside a fat burning diet pill. Both have natural ingredients with no cheap fillers, stimulants, colors, preservatives, or artificial additives. Read more about the benefits of the 18Shake Diet by clicking the link here.
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Lemonade Diet Ingredients and Side Effects
For 10 days the goal is to only drink the following:
• Salt water mixture: 2 full tablespoons of non-iodized salt and a one quart of slightly warm water. First thing in the morning one has to drink this on a completely empty stomach.
• Lemonade drink: 10 ounces of spring or purified water are mixed alongside 2 tablespoons of either lemon or lime juice, a tenth of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. A minimum of 6 to 12 glasses need to be drank each day.
• A laxative or peppermint tea: The herbal laxative is needed for those who can’t have a normal bowel movement. It’s preferably drunk before bedtime in order for it to process fully by the body. Peppermint tea is also recommended as it can help reduce any bloating, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Under no circumstancesare there any other kinds of food allowed. This is to properly detoxify the body so it can flush out toxins and rejuvenate itself. After the full 10 days are done and weight loss results are achieved, it’s then advised to slowly introduce light foods such as soup, juice, raw fruits, and raw vegetables.
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It’s mentioned that side effects are possible, and that’s why they allow for peppermint tea and the laxatives. Possible side effects revealed by the official diet are:
• Nausea, food cravings, headaches boredom, nausea, and lack of a normal bowel movement.
It’s claimed that these kinds of side effects are normal, as it’s the body flushing out harmful toxins. This is not proven however. These same kinds of symptoms are possible from eating a diet that is rich in sugary maple syrup, acidic lemon or lime juice, and a diet high in sodium. It may also be due to the lack of sufficientvitamins and minerals.
A Dr. Hansa Bhargava adds:
“If weight loss is your goal, it may work temporarily. Anytime you limit your food intake, especially this drastically, you will lose some weight”
Other issues mentioned by the doctor are:
“problem is, you will losemuscle mass. This diet puts you at risk for nutritional deficiencies, too”
As far as sustained weight loss the doctor saw no benefit:
“you will likely gain the weight back really quickly once you start eating normally”
These are serious issues which show that this diet has not enough nutrition, calories, and an unlikelihood of promoting positive weight loss results. This is why this fad diet has not been proven to be safe and effective. The doctor finally recommends:
“it is better to lose weight gradually with a balanced diet that makes sure you get the nutrients you need. Cross this one off your list”
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Exercise is not mentioned by this diet, but it's unlikely with a 650 calorie limit that it would be advised. Health US News.com adds:
“it may even be dangerous to exercise when you’re consuming so few calories. Ask your doctor before exercising while (on this diet)”
This can also potentially make it difficult to perform regular tasks as the caloric demands for both men and women are around 2,000. The Lemonade Diet offers less than half of the advised daily amount for maintenance and proper physical functions. This can potentially lead to issues such as fatigue and brain fog.
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Lemonade Diet Quality of Ingredients
While lemon or lime juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup can be healthy in moderation, relying on theingredients for weight loss is not a good way to lose weight. There are far too many potential issues with this mixture, as it does not have enough vitamins and minerals.
There’s also a need for laxatives in order to promote a bowel movement, as no solid foods are allowed on this diet. The fact that one cannot rely on their own body for a natural process shows how potentially unsafe this diet is.
There’s also a salt flush which can contain a large amount of sodium which can promote water weight gain. The extreme limit by eating only 650 calories is also another issue which can cause many side effects.
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The Price and Quality of Lemonade Diet
The price will likely be cheap since the bulk of the diet is limited and relies on the same basic foods. Howeverthere’s no evidence that sustaining oneself on these kinds of foods would be safe and effective for weight loss. Health experts have also agreed that this is simply another fad diet lacking in sufficient nutrition and calories.
Due to the many potentially side effects which can damage the body, there’s far too much risk involved with this diet.
Business of Lemonade Diet
The diet was first mentioned in a book called the “The Master Cleanse” which was published in 1976 by Stanley Burroughs. The creator has not provided any proof showing whether or not this is a safe and effective diet.
He has also been charged in many lawsuits for proving false and ineffective nutrition and health advice. He was a specialist in natural medicine, which is a field of medicine which his not accepted in the medical community.
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Customer Opinions of Lemonade Diet
Featured below are some reviews from users of the Lemonade Diet:
“This diet is very restrictive”
“I was miserable. I had no energy… felt like I wassuffering from a rare disorder”
“It’s mostly nonsense from those who don’t understand physiology or any aspect of medicine”
“The cleanse is not the best way to lose weight”
People often had extreme hunger pains from a lack of solid foods. There were major complaints as well from those who lose some weight but managed to pile it back on as soon as they ate normally.
The majority of users had trouble not thinking about food, and once they resumed eating they felt like they had to binge. Some failed to lose any weight at all.
Common symptoms were listed by users including nausea, headaches, fatigue, low blood sugar, mood swings, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and low mental performance. Some also experienced serious issues such as extremely low blood sugar and depression.
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Conclusion - Does Lemonade Diet Work?
The Lemonade Diet is similar to other fad diets which suggest limiting oneself to just a few foods. Only liquids are allowed, and the diet suggests only using it for 10 day periods. Since the caloric limit is 650 a day, this will likely result in weight loss. Any extreme caloric deprivation like this is known to promote weight loss. The issue is that it’s not sustainable. Many people have experiencedseriousside effects, and they also mentioned how all the lost weight returned as soon as normal eating continued. The diet has also not been proven to be safe and effective. There are health professionals who have concluded that this diet is not safe or effective. It enforces a strict lack of calories with very little to no nutrients.
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User Feedback
(Page 7 of 18, 343 total comments)shannon
i just am starting the diet so do you just drink the lemonade drink mix and NO food ? and also kinda gross but do you end up running to the bathroom every five minutes ? its the beginning of summer and ive been under a lot of stress and need to shed some pounds right now!! need that boost of confidince .help
posted May 19th, 2010 10:59 pmAlaska
+I'm on my day 5. So far I've lost 7 lbs. I'm using cayenne pepper caplets ( the lemonade was waaaay to hot for me ) Day 3 and 4 were the worst. Headache, hungry and cold all the time. Today I'm still cold but not so hungry anymore.
posted Apr 16th, 2010 4:31 pmI don't do the SWF, I take dulcolax before bed with mint tea. So far so good. I feel great, more energy, lighter in my step and flatter stomach.... what's bad about that?!
If you don't try it, how can you say you can't do it!?
Alaska
+I'm on my day 5. So far I've lost 7 lbs. I'm using cayenne pepper caplets ( the lemonade was waaaay to hot for me ) Day 3 and 4 were the worst. Headache, hungry and cold all the time. Today I'm still cold but not so hungry anymore.
posted Apr 16th, 2010 4:30 pmI don't do the SWF, I take dulcolax before bed with mint tea. So far so good. I feel great, more energy, lighter in my step and flatter stomach.... what's bad about that?!
If you don't try it, how can you say you can't do it!?
truda
+Hi everyone,
posted Apr 10th, 2010 5:22 amI tried this diet for 3 days sometime back and starved for food after the 3 days and gave up, i guess i didn't put enough effort into it. This time i am goin to do it for a full 2 weeks and exercise 3 times a week. I know i can do it
Michael Mandarino
+This is my third time doing it! And I love it!
posted Apr 6th, 2010 4:04 amLauren
I'm at the end of day three. I had lost a total of 7 lbs at the beginning of the day! I haven't been hungry. As soon as I start to feel hungry I drink the lemonade. I only drank four gasses on day one. On day two I had herbal tea with the maple syrup. I am now drinking the lemonade without syrup and alternating with herbal tea in which I do use the syrup saved from the lemonade. It's fabulous! I have a few types of herbal tea so I dont get bored....I have to tell you day one and half of day two was really tough.As a coffee drinker My head was killing me and I had no energy. All I wanted to do was sleep. By the middle of day two I felt much better had a little more energy and no headache but I have a backache that is really painful. It made it very difficult to sleep last night and it hasn't gone away yet, so I am drinking lots of water and hoping for the best. I really hope it's gone tomorrow! This is really easy to be on other than some sideffects. I can't believe how fast the time is going!
posted Apr 3rd, 2010 11:32 pmLauraV
+the reviews on this diet make me want to do it evn more!!
posted Apr 1st, 2010 10:40 ami've cant help but eat rubbish food.. hopefully this diet will flush all the bad stuff out, make me lose a some wieght as well as turning me against junk foods!
im scared ill give up after a day :( any tips?
Marleny
I am on day two of my diet and so far so good. I am getting used to the SWF and I have to admit that I love what it does. I love that I see the results of the flush right away. I am not drinking the lemonade as much as I should. Yesterday I only drank 4 cups. Today I will try to drink a lil more. I drink lots of water and water with lemon. I also had an herbal tea last night. I wanted to ask if its ok to susbstitute the lemonade drink with water and tea? For some reason I can not drink 12 cups of this thing. Other then that I am doing great. I really think I can finish this detox diet as planned.
posted Mar 27th, 2010 11:47 amAlexis
Hey, i have heard that the less you weigh the less weight you will loose on this diet. is this true? if so can you do more exersise to boost the weight loss?
posted Mar 26th, 2010 10:52 amMarleny
I am starting my detox diet today and I am excited. It will be a challenge but it is one that I am willing to take on. I am 5'4'' and weigh 157 pounds. I have been feeling really bad lately because I hate looking this way. My goal is to get down to 135 pounds. I hope this work. I will keep everyone posted.
posted Mar 24th, 2010 3:53 pmChristina
Your welcome(: You can drink extra water as you wish.
posted Mar 9th, 2010 12:52 pmmia
Thank you so much for your response. I am drinking my tea now. Thanks again...
posted Mar 8th, 2010 11:13 pmChristina
Hi mia
posted Mar 8th, 2010 5:00 pmI'm now on my 8th day of this. You don't have to do the salt water flush. But you do have to have a bowel movement at least 2-3 times a day. A cup of seena tea smooth move at night before bed will work just fine.
mia
I am starting this today and was wondering if you have to do the salt water flush? I have read you shouldn't. Also, can you drink water throughout the day as well?
posted Mar 8th, 2010 11:14 amChristina
Hi Everyone
posted Mar 2nd, 2010 12:59 pmI'm now on my second day of the this lemonade diet. I'm really nerves about not eating anything at all but I'm still going to give it try since there has been some good feeback. Day 1 was hard since my family were eating pizza infront of me. ):
But I'm really going to stick to it for 10 days. I did get hungry ....I found that each time I get hungry I just drink a glass of the lemonade and hunger goes away.
I'm 164 lbs after havings my 2 kids back to back 11 months apart. I hope this will help me to jump start into a healhier lifestyle. I will weigh myself at the end of 10 days.
Britnee
+I started the diet less than 24 hours ago and I've already lost 4 pounds. The cayenne pepper makes my throat a little scratchy but the tea makes it feel better, but no complaints here, 4 lbs. in 24 hours is amazing. I'll be doing this for 10 days, I'll check in at halfway and when I'm finished.
posted Feb 23rd, 2010 5:14 pmMandieTooey
Thank you Jewell for that, i'll bear it in mind!
posted Jan 30th, 2010 7:55 amAnd i started this diet today, much to my mums disapproval slating it 'disgusting' 'inhuman' and 'bad news' but im desperate to lose this weight.
i jog too so hopefully i can keep it off! :) any pointers anyone? x
Jewell
+On this diet now. The fiesrt time I lost 10 pounds but wasn't educated to know how to continue without the juice. I gained 15 pounds back in a snap.
posted Jan 29th, 2010 4:45 pmI have since educated myself to include walking or dancing in the mirror for 30 minutes a day, learning the right foods to eat and committing myself to this for life.
So far I have lost 3 pounds in 3 days and I feel great! I want to try the simplified diet drink to include in my daily diet once I'm done and based on my schedule, i will drink it for my last meal of the day instead of breakfast.
I suggest that if you make this drink at home, to use the freezer to turn it into slush form. It tastes so much better. Also remember to stir or shake your pitcher before you pour. Someone asked about not using the cayenne pepper. It's important to inculde it because it helps with the cleansing process and it helps me burn and sweat more during my walks. Do not exercise heavy, just dance, walk or do extra chores to get your heart rate up. When your're done after 10 days, add more.
I learned alot from my first mistake to not let this happen again. Please remember, there are no diet claims to this, but with dicipline, it's the best thing out here and it's cheap to do. Good luck!!
missm
I have been on this diet for 8 days. The first 3 days were horrible. I was sooooooo hungry, but I stuck with it. By the 4th day I was feeling great. I have plenty of energy and I haven't felt sluggish at all. Is the seena really necessary.? I don't like the taste. I am gonna do this for 14 days . I love it!
posted Jan 22nd, 2010 5:51 pmDonna
Simply Slender VS mix yourself? I have tried this fast many years ago and made the mix myself. I lasted about 7 days and felt great. I am going to try it again but now I see there is a product called Simply Slender, a premixed version where you add your own water. Reviews say it tastes horrible but I wonder if they have never tried this fast before and expected a typical lemonade drink? It sounds much more convenient. If you have tried both versions I'd like your opinion on using Simply Slender. Thank you!
posted Jan 11th, 2010 9:53 am