A modern lifestyle has its pitfalls. Most of us succumb to its pressures and the lack of time and resort to unhealthy lifestyle practices such as eating junk food, consuming more than the recommended amount of caffeine, smoking and drinking, improper sleeping habits, to name a few. We are also exposed to pollution, may it be air, water or noise, eventually increasing toxins in our bodies. The obvious consequences are obesity, lack of lustre and dull skin, lack of energy, cellulite, bloating and dull and dry hair.
People today are making note of these consequences and are taking measures to get back to a healthier lifestyle. One of the most popular measures taken is ‘detox diets’, of which the ‘lemonade diet’ or ‘master cleanse’ is the most widely practiced.
As the name suggests, a detox diet effectively purges one’s system of harmful toxins and free radicals. This diet is more like a ‘carbohydrate fast’, wherein the individual is restricted from any carbohydrate intake for either some or entire duration of the fast. Originally conceived by Stanley Burrough, the lemonade fast heals disease by cleansing and detoxification. To practice lemon detox diet, one must abstain from all foods and drinks except lemon juice.
Before You Begin
A lemon detox does not permit the intake of any foods or drinks during the entire duration of the fast. Make up your mind on the duration of the fast, be it 3, 5 or 10 days and prepare mentally to endure this strict regime throughout the duration of the fast.
Feeling dizzy and weak are common symptoms in the first day or so, till your body adjusts to lack of solid food. Therefore be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner and ensure you are physically fit before you start with the diet.
The Lemonade Diet
The diet essentially comprises of a mixture of ‘madal bal syrup’, which is nothing but a combination of maple tree syrup and juices from four different rare palms of Asian origin. The syrup contains natural sugars along with zinc and calcium that help curb hunger during the period of the fast. This is available from health stores and is combined with lemon juice, cayenne pepper, sea salt and pure spring water.
For an 8 ounce glass of water, you would require 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of madal bal syrup, a pinch of cayenne pepper and sea salt. You could also make this in a larger quantity sufficient for an entire day and refrigerate. At least 6 servings of this drink are required through the day and one must not forget to drink herbal tea before retiring as this works as a laxative.
At the end of the fasting period, solid foods such as fruits and vegetables and juices need to be slowly introduced and gradually built into a healthier diet.
How Does It Work?
It is a known fact that fasting once in a while is an effective way to cleanse one’s system, ensures improved health and a longer life span. Our digestive organs ‘deserve a break’ and abstinence from solid foods provides just that. The additional energy required to digest solid foods is saved and directed towards cleansing the system. While our body itself takes care of cleansing and rejuvenation, adding a lemon diet to it just enhances the process.
Natural sugars and essential salts contained in the syrup, are required for the body’s normal functioning, restoring biochemical and mineral balance in tissues and speeding up cell regeneration. Moreover, the astringent property of vitamin C in lime juice and potassium in sea salt, cause tissues to contract and release toxins contained in them. The acidity of lemon juice assists the cleansing process and dissolves excess fats and the cayenne pepper or ground ginger helps speed up metabolism, thus promoting circulation and the elimination of toxins.
Most importantly, this diet provides a liquid medium for all nasty toxins to be flushed out of one’s system.
Most people emerge feeling healthier, livelier and lighter from a detox diet. They report increased energy; improved clarity and focus, uninterrupted sleep and decrease in insomnia, along with a decrease in sore and swollen joints in some others. Despite these benefits, some researchers opine differently. According to them, too much fluid can dilute blood and decrease levels of essential electrolytes in the body. Decreased energy may impact work performance and reduce ability to concentrate.
Therefore, to get the most desirable results, keep these pros and cons in mind and definitely consult with your physician before you embark on the master cleanse diet.
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