The Lemon Detox Diet, aka The Master Cleanse, has garnered a lot of press because of its ability to provide dramatic weight loss in a short amount of time. It has also been met with a lot of criticism from health advocates as to whether it’s safe or not. So are there any benefits that are claimed that actually pan out? Is this a diet or a detox that you can rely on to provide lasting benefits, or is it something that will set you back and create more problems than its worth? We’ll discuss that here.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most commonly claimed benefits of the Lemon Detox program to see whether they’d actually be something you can expect to experience. Here are six benefits that seem to hold water, and an explanation for why they work.
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1. Stops the Influx of Unhealthy Food
The first benefit of the Lemon Detox Diet is that it gets you to stop eating solid food, which puts a pause on any unhealthy eating habits you may have, and gives your body a break. This alone will likely cause weight loss in many individuals
Detoxing is a one-two punch not only because of what it provides the body, but what it withholds. Compared to going along your current path this could mean the difference of several thousand calories over the period of the program. Of course this benefit mostly applies to those with bad eating habits, and if you currently eat a healthy diet you won’t experience much of a benefit by abstaining from healthy foods.
Why it works: Rather than continue on with a daily bombardment of oversized meals, junk food, fast food, and soft drinks, you’re giving your body a chance to catch its breath, and missing out on all of the fat and calories these foods contain. While it may not be a long-term solution, it may change the way you feel about eating these types of foods and could be the start of healthier eating.
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2. Improved Digestion
Your digestive system is almost always continually at work processing the food you just ate, as well as meals you’ve finished previously even days ago. By stopping the intake of food and drinking the lemonade mix as your only source of nourishment, you are emptying the digestive system and giving it a chance to catch up, so to speak.
One thing is for certain, doing The Master Cleanse is going to give your digestive system a rest and a chance to repair itself. Of course there are other methods to achieve the same or better results, but this is one benefit that you’ll receive if you follow the protocol for the cleanse.
Why it works: No solid food for multiple days gives the digestive system a chance to clear any backlog. Be sure to start and stop the lemon detox the right way to avoid any digestive trouble.
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3. More Energy
When you stop consuming foods and beverages that can sap your energy, the natural result will be that you have more energy. This includes large portion sizes, foods and drinks high in sugar and fat, and caffeinated beverages that give you an artificial burst of energy.
It may sound counterintuitive that you’d have more energy on a cleanse that restricts your caloric intake, since you need calories to burn up as energy. Of course it may take a few days before you experience this, after hunger pangs subside and you adjust to the cleanse.
The lighter, more buoyant feeling you have while doing any cleanse that requires you stop eating will also make you more likely to have some get-up-and-go while on the lemon detox diet.
Why it works: You won’t be bogged down by heavy meals, so you’ll feel lighter and you’ll still have sugar to burn from the maple syrup used in the lemonade mix.
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4. Mental Clarity
If you’ve ever suffered from the post-lunch brain fog self-induced food coma, then you’ll know first hand the effect that some meals can have on you. Since you stop eating solid foods and are only relying on the special lemonade to get you through the day, you’ll find that you’re more mentally alert for much of the day.
The first few days you may not experience any mental clarity, since your thoughts will most likely be centered on being hungry and thinking about food all the time. But once the initial panic of not eating goes away, you should have a newfound or regained sense of mental focus.
This is one benefit that may not be experienced by everyone, especially if you don’t currently feel that you lack mental clarity.
Why it works: There is a strong connection between the food you eat and your mental state, and cutting out the food gives your mind a new perception.
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5. Improved Immune System
The Vitamin C from the lemon juice in the lemonade you make while doing the Lemon Detox Diet should help correct any deficiencies you had for this essential vitamin.
Your immune system does more than just fight off the common cold and help wounds heal. Over the long term it can help prevent the onset of more serious diseases like cancer. It’s important to keep it running efficiently, and while the lemon detox diet is not a long-term answer it can help get you back to good in the short term.
If you’re wondering about the state of your immune system, you can consult with your doctor. They’ll be able to test to see how well it’s doing with blood tests, but check to see if you’re showing signs of a deficient immune system first.
Why it works: If your current diet has you working against yourself in terms of nourishing the body and giving the immune system what it needs, you can benefit from the lemon detox because it fixes that imbalance.
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6. Helps Start Healthier Habits
When compared to taking no action in regards to your health, doing the Lemon Detox can be the start of a healthier lifestyle. In many instances it’s better to do something, especially something that resonates with you, rather than nothing.
You may be surprised at the new thoughts you have in regards to food, dieting, health, and life in general when you stop eating meals and drink only the lemonade. Once you see how dependent you’ve become on sugar, stimulants, and fatty foods you can start to make improvements in your diet.
Once you complete the cleanse you should be more likely to get more active, which will only lead to even greater health and wellbeing.
Why it works: Sometimes taking drastic action is needed if you’re headed down the wrong path and previous attempts to right the ship haven’t worked. It causes you to reflect on your state of health and could give you a new perspective on the foods you eat, and your body in general.