Articles: Weight Loss

What is the Lemonade Diet?

The Lemonade Diet is also known as the "The Master Cleanser Diet" which encourages that you fast to rid your body of toxins that are produced by poor dietary habits, a lack of enough exercise and even by possessing a negative mental attitude. It is not intended for weight loss purposes and should be viewed and utilized strictly for detoxification. Medical experts also strongly suggest that these types of diets be only followed for a minimal length of time. For example, staying on the Lemonade Diet for forty days is not recommended.

By using the Lemonade Diet for weight loss, you will dissolve and help your body to eliminate the toxins and congestion, as well as cleanse your kidneys and digestive system. Additionaly the diet helps to purify your glands, eliminates waste and hardened materials that have accumulated in your joints and muscles. The goal is to then build a healthier bloodstream while maintaining optimal blood pressure. Then, achieving all these factors will lead to weight lose. Proponents say that the Lemonade Diet is superior for reducing fat at a rate of approximately two two pounds per day without any harmful side effects.

What You Can Eat While on the Lemonade Diet

This is considered a short-term, cleansing diet that is similar to a juice fasting diet. Time on the diet can range from then to forty days and your sole source of nutrition is a lemonade made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, purified (non-fluoridated) water, grade-B maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. Additionally, each morning, you must drink a salt-water flush, and each evening you drink a laxative tea. The only other beverages allowed are pure (non-fluoridated) water and peppermint tea.

There is also a strict regimen for ending the diet. You will begin with fresh-squeezed citrus juices for approximately 36 hours, and then gradually incorporate raw fruits and vegetables and then on to cooked vegetable soups over the course of three to five days.

An extensive website and bulletin board support group for those following the Lemonade Diet has popularized the diet, and there is a large group of people who do the 10-day diet each January. The bulletin board can be found on therawfoodsite.com.

Raw food diet adherents often use the Lemonade Diet to start or augment their raw lifestyle.

Side Effects

As you can imagine, the first few days of the Lemonade Diet can be challenging when eliminating your normal food intake. Additionly, adjusting to life without solid food can also be a tremendous challenge.

Additionally. because this diet is a detox diet, "detox" symptoms that may occur including headaches, nausea and vomiting, cravings, fatigue and irritability. Usually these symptoms are short-lived, however occasionally, they may be so severe that the dieter can no longer continue on the diet.

Medical Considerations

With such a tremendous change in required eating habits, you should first discuss it with your doctor. This is especially necessary if you are taking long-term medication that cannot be safely discontinued during the diet. Your doctor may desire to monitor your health during the diet to ensure that the radical change in eating habits does not alter the effects of your medication. For example, people who have followed the Lemonade Diet have experienced changes in blood-pressure, blood-sugar and insulin levels, as well as depression. These symptoms required their doctor to adjust their normal dose of medication for these conditions.

Health Warnings

The concern with the Lemonade Diet is its lack of nutrition and the impact on your intestinal system is intense. You can suffer from accute stomach pain and diarrhea. Also, dehydration is a definite side effect, which can result in dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fever, headaches, blurred vision and fatigue. If you decide to follow the Lemonade Diet, ensure that you follow it exactly and under your doctor's supervision. You should also be "tuned into their body" when it provides signals that it's time to transition back to your normal eating requirements. The recommended 10 days to remain on the diet is sufficient for most people. Staying longer on the diet is not be recommended unless you are under your doctor's care and you have become accustomed to participating in shorter-term fasting.

Lemonade Diet Recommendations

You should drink at least the minimum recommended amount of the lemonade each day - 6 to 12 glasses of the lemonade per day. Here is a summary of the nutritional intake: Two tablespoons of Grade B maple syrup equals 100 calories per glass. There is eight calories per two tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1/6 teaspoon of cayenne pepper is only one calorie. Thus With each glass providing about 109 calories, it is important to drink eleven to twelve glasses daily to ensure that you are consuming at least 1200 calories per day. Remember, any dieting plan that does not supply an average of 1200 calories per day is not safe for optimal health. Additionally, to prevent dehydration, you should drink plenty of water throughout the diet period. For example, drink a glass of water between drinking your glasses of lemonade.

Repeating the Diet

If you wish to follow the Lemonade Diet more than once per year, it is recommended that you wait between three to six months before repeating. For example, the minimum recommended interval is waiting for three months between ten-day diet regiments.


You should always consult your doctor before you try any diet program.