Fad diets have been around forever it seems and some people seem willing to try just about anything to lose weight in order to fit into a sexy swimsuit come summer or to wear their old favorite clothes. Truth is though, most of these fad diets are not strategies to lose weight and to eat better in the long run, but interesting marketing lures that actually amount to starving oneself with the promise of some type of liquid concoction on a regular basis so that you don’t dry out and die. So what about the Lemonade Diet?
Is this diet any different and is it effective?
The Basics of this Diet
The Lemonade Diet (also known as “the Master Cleanse”) is based on the premise that the person on this diet will benefit from cleaning out their system (mainly their colon) by drinking a lemon beverage consisting of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water, several times a day. Solid foods and vitamins are prohibited on this diet which lasts anywhere from 4 days to 2 weeks. The only other options allowed, besides drinking this lemonade drink, is salted water or an herbal (laxative type) tea at night.
The Basics of Starvation
In our society, starving ourselves almost seems too common place as a way to look better, whereas in other Third World societies, people are starving because of a lack of resources – heck, lack of food to put it plainly. Starving is basically the result of a lack in food intake, which causes the body to break down fat and muscle in the body in order to keep daily metabolic functions going. Starving yourself is not something to take likely as it could cause, with certain medical conditions, complications, including death. Additionally, starving oneself rids the body of desired muscle mass, not only fat, so you will not ONLY lose fat, but the muscle that you’ve worked hard to obtain. Additionally, on any starvation type diet, you will also feel horrible as the body mains message to you at this time is to EAT.
Symptoms You May Feel on this Diet
The Lemonade Diet will cause you to lose weight, of course, if you stick with it. You might also get sick in the process. The symptoms of starvation include: vitamin deficiency (which can result in anemia), diarrhea, irritability, lethargy, and in long term cases, heart failure, scurvy, beriberi, pellagra, skin rashes, muscle atrophy and cracked, dry skin (due to lack of hydration).
The Best Approach
The best thing for anyone to do who wants to lose weight is to exercise and to begin policing one’s portions. Master cleansing one’s system is not needed as the body has its own regulatory systems in place. Cleansing potions often mess with the body’s internal balance, sometimes causing the user problems such as colitus, a very uncomfortable intestinal condition.
Do the Right Thing for Your Body
Be extremely careful when embarking on new diets. Always err on the side of caution and give your body what it needs to function effectively. Starving shouldn’t be something we do voluntarily – should it?