The Lemon Detox Diet, also known as the Master Cleanse, claims to produce extraordinary weight loss and health benefits. Proponents of this strategy claim that today’s standard diet leaves the body with so much junk to process, and the Lemon Detox Diet is just the thing to clear it all out.

But WebMD says that detox diets like a juice fast or the Master Cleanse, which features a regiment of lemon juice and maple syrup mixed with cayenne pepper, are rarely successful in the long term and can even be dangerous. Because the diet essentially advocates engaging in a sort of lemonade-enhanced starvation, many cleansers are at risk for essential fluid loss, vitamin deprivation, and other related maladies.

In fact, WebMD goes on to say that nutrition experts don’t recommend fasting because there is no evidence that the body needs it. Our organs are specially designed to flush toxics and other undesirable substances from our bodies without the help of a lemon detox diet.

Detox diets will often claim that once the body is free of these unwanted toxins, metabolism will naturally rev up and weight will drop off. While many people who cleanse will likely experience some weight loss because of the drastic reduction in calories, there is no evidence that supports the claim that these results are due to enhanced organ performance.

Finally, most people who undergo a lemon detox diet or other fad cleanse eventually gain back the weight they lost. While this may be attractive to some people seeking a quick fix, toying with the metabolism is never a good idea when you are hoping for long term weight loss.

So before you mix up a lemon detox recipe, think about the long term repercussions. Real lasting weight loss is much more satisfying than being tricked by a lemon detox diet fad.

 Source:

• “The Truth About Detox Diets”, WebMD

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