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Lemon Juice Diet

Deepa Kartha
Lemon juice diet has become quite popular in recent years, as it said to be the fastest way of losing weight. However, if you are planning to take up this diet, it is important for you to know about what exactly is this diet and whether it actually works.
The last few years have seen an increased popularity of lemon juice for diets because of its claim of helping many people, especially celebrities to lose weight instantly. It is also called the lemon juice detox, was introduced by Stanley Burroughs in 1941.
It is actually a detoxification diet where the body is cleansed of the toxins that get accumulated due to unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Though people take up this diet for the purpose of losing weight, it is actually not something that is made for this purpose. Rather, the main aim of this diet is to cleanse the digestive system.
It is said that the main reason for gaining too much weight is because of the improper functioning of the digestive system. When the digestive system does not work properly, the body does not get the essential nutrients which are necessary for burning excess fat, thus promoting weight gain.
So, when an individual adopts this diet, the digestive system clears up, thus burning the extra calories from the body. If you find this diet interesting, here are few things that you have to know about it.

Diet Plan
One very important thing that people ought to understand before beginning is that it is different from the lemon detox diet. This is because the later is a more complex detoxification program where the person has to consume a special lemonade without any solid foods.
However, this diet is comparatively simpler and one need not restrict any kind of solid foods from his diet. Rather, it is important to eat foods that are nutritious and healthy while following this diet. Here are some important points that you have to keep in mind while planning this diet.
● A person starting the diet should begin the day with a glass of lemon juice. It consists of lemon juice, one cup hot water and 2 teaspoons sugar. Some people prefer cayenne pepper instead of sugar. This should be taken early in the morning, before starting daily activities. Once you have started this diet, it is important to take ample water the full day.
● While an individual is on this diet, it is important to eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. This is because most of the fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in minerals, fiber, vitamins and other nutrients.
● High blood sugar level is a reason causing excess weight gain. It is important to control rise of blood sugar level during this diet. Squeeze lemon juice on your food before eating. It has been seen that it helps to lower the impact of blood sugar level in body by 30%.
● Another thing that you have to do while following this diet is to cut down on the intake of sugar and sugar rich foods. This is because sugar consumption promotes the production of insulin which shoots up the blood sugar level in the body drastically.
This indirectly gives rise to weight gain. So, if you want your diet to work, it is important to limit the consumption of sugar as well as foods containing artificial sweeteners.
● Most people think that one can lose weight only by cutting down the fat intake. However, this is actually not true, rather, the body needs some essential fatty acids for losing weight.
Hence, it is important to consume foods that contain unsaturated fats because they help in controlling the body's blood sugar level. However, one must avoid the consumption of saturated fats that are found in foods like pastries, cakes, candies, red meat, etc.
● Other than these foods, it is also important to consume whole foods which include whole grain cereals and breads, brown rice, brown pasta, vegetables, legumes, fresh soups, fruits, etc. on a daily basis. This is because whole foods are unrefined foods which are a rich source of essential nutrients.
● Apart from the food you eat, it is also important to know how you should eat while following a diet. While having meals, one should chew the food slowly as eating food too fast can add stress to the digestive system. Always eat food when you are calm and relaxed, and not when you are stressed, tensed or angry about something.
If you are hungry even after having your meal, wait for twenty minutes before eating again, as it usually takes twenty minutes for the brain to receive the message that the stomach is full. Another important thing is that one has to exercise at least for half an hour everyday while following this diet.

Lemon Mojito Cocktail with Lime Mint
There are many people who have gained positive results with this diet. However, it is extremely crucial to consult your physician before beginning this diet, because it may not be beneficial for people who are suffering from certain health problems.