What ever you do, don't go on the Lemon Detox Diet. I don't want you to experience a serious drop in metabolic rate and lose muscle mass. This is what you can expect when you drop your usual energy intake from around 7,500-10,000 down to 1,700-2,500 kJ, which is all you'll get on the Lemon Detox Diet.
Cut, paste and email the link below to share my video with anyone who is considering doing this diet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-_qXwT1guE
What's in the Lemon Detox drink?
The instructions state, to make one glass of the Lemon Detox drink mix:
One tablespoon (or 20 ml) of Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup(TM) [which the ingredient's list on the can says is a mixture of palm syrup and maple syrup]
One tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Half a pinch of cayenne pepper
Mix the ingredients and dilute with at least 250ml water
What do you consume on the diet?
The "optimum version" of the Lemon Detox Diet includes 6-9 glasses if the above mixture each day for 10-14 days. You DO NOT eat any solid food during this time. There is also a "relaxed version" that allows some solid food.
What nutrition do you receive?
Based on a a computerised dietary analysis of the Lemon Detox Drink, consuming 9 glasses a day will provide:
2,500 kJ (600 Cal) which is severely restricted at only 33-50% of the expected minimum energy requirement of a person on a weight loss diet
Around 8 grams of protein per day which is severely deficient and in tandem with the energy malnutrition will contribute to the loss of lean muscle tissue over the 10-14 day diet period
Severely deficient intakes of a wide range of vitamins and minerals
What are the metabolic dangers of the Lemon Detox Diet?
This diet programme when followed as instructed will achieve a weight loss result by starving the body of energy. In this severe energy and protein deficient state, the body will be forced to turn to stored body fat and muscle protein for fuel. Sure, you will reduce body fat, but you will also reduce muscle amino acid content. This is turn will negatively impact on metabolic rate.
Lemon Detox Diet claims just don't stand up to science
The "Lemon Detox Diet Instructions" that come with the package (I purchased it and show you in my video) states:
"The most effective way to cleanse your body is to abstain from eating any solid foods whilst on the programme."
There is no evidence the back up this claim and I know of no advantage of a liquid-only diet over a solid food diet in terms of detoxification.
"The ingredients in the Lomon Detox drink are all natural foods and they provide the body with the necessary nourishment whilst on the programme."
They are natural, but it is untrue that the 6-9 glassess of Lemon Detox drink provide adequate nourishment. Based on analysis, the diet is clearly deficient in most nutrients.
"It is an essential liquid food, and that is why people do not feel hungry on the programme. You are actually eating, it is just not in solid form but rather in liquid form which is the most suitable form for cleansing the body."
How can you claim you are eating when you are drinking? And as for avoiding hunger, do you think that only consuming several sweet drinks a day for 10-14 days with no food will avoid hunger?
"Digesting solid food consumes much of the body's energy and reduces the effectiveness of many of its other tasks. In the short absence of solid food the body can focus its energy on cleansing.
Digestion and absorption of food only account for around 10-15% of of total daily energy expenditure and it would be an advantage for body fat loss to keep this dietary induced thermogenesis at a higher rate to burn calories. The absence of food for 10-14 days will contrubute to a lower metabolic rate.
Warning, warning, warning!
If you want to maintain your metabolic rate, which is vital for long-term successful weight management, do not go on the Lemon Detox Diet. In fact, our best available scientific evidence indicates that following the Lemon Detox Diet will increase the likelihood that you will end up fatter! You'll also pay around $AUD112 for the experience.
Please feel free to print and share this article and email the link below to share my video with anyone who is considering doing this diet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-_qXwT1guE
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