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 Many people write off the Lemonade diet as a fad but its soaring popularity over the years proves otherwise. This diet is sometimes known as the Master Cleanser or the Maple Syrup diet. It was originally developed as a means of detoxifying the body. The main benefit of the Master Cleanser diet lies in its ability to clear all those toxins from the body that have slowly accumulated over time. Poor dietary habits, no proper exercise, pollution and lifestyle choices are some of the factors that can contribute to a buildup of toxins within the body. Popularized by Beyonce a few years ago as a means of weight loss, many people use the Lemonade diet nowadays as a means of crash dieting without being aware of some of the dangers inherent in it.

This extreme plan is akin to starvation and many medical professionals and nutritionists are vehemently opposed to it because of its inherent dangers. Proponents however, swear by the benefits but certain precautions will need to be taken while implementing this diet.

The diet consists of drinking a mixture of water, lemon juice and maple syrup, preferably of the organic variety, to which is added some cayenne pepper. That is all. No other food is to be eaten while on this diet and proponents swear that at the end of it you will feel rejuvenated, younger and much lighter. The latter is obvious. If you do not eat any food and your calorie intake is negligible, then your body is going to use up stored body fat for its energy requirements. The result is a drastic loss of weight.

This diet should not be sustained for long as it is deficient in virtually every form of essential nutrients including dietary fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. For this reason, some people supplement this diet with a multivitamin pill every day.

No exercise in any form apart from your usual daily activities should be undertaken during the course of this diet.

The plan requires you to drink at least six servings of the lemonade mixture every day. Some proponents suggest drinking herbal laxative tea at night in order to ward off constipation owing to the lack of dietary fiber in the diet.

Each serving of the master cleanser consists of a mixture of 2 - 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 2 – 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. To this is added 10 ounces of water.

The diet has to be followed for up to 14 days. At the end great care has to be taken when reintroducing regular food into the diet. This needs to be done gradually. Vegetable or chicken soups are the favorites initially after which fruits and vegetables can be reintroduced.
The first couple of days will be very difficult to get through but the hunger pangs should then ease up. You may experience dizzy spells, headaches, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea or constipation while on this diet.

A few days of this diet will help your body get rid of all accumulated toxins and wastes in the body. It is also reputed to make you feel younger and more energetic, a suggestion scoffed at by experts. After all, how can you feel energetic when you are starving? Still, no one can deny that you will end up shedding a few pounds in the process.

The severity of the Lemonade Diet makes it essential for you to consult your doctor before implementing it especially if you are being treated for any conditions such as diabetes or are taking any kind of medication. Make sure that you have your doctor approve the diet plan before you actually get on to it.

Reference

1. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/clar0841/psychblog2012/2012/04/the-master-cleanse.html

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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