The Lemon Detox
The Lemonade Detox diet is a highly effective naturopathic detox and weight-loss programme, that can help your body cleanse itself of toxins. A mix of Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup, fresh lemon juice, water and a pinch of cayenne pepper provides the body with a balance of nutrients to support a short period of fasting. Download our leaflet here.
First conceived over sixty years ago by the legendary Hawaiin naturopath Stanley Burroughs and formalised more recently in the book The Lemonade Detox Diet by Dr KA Beyer, the Lemon Detox is now practised in over 30 countries around the world.
Supported by leading healthcare practitioners like Amanda Griggs at London’s famous Balance Clinic, and legendary naturopath Jan de Vries, and made popular by celebrities across the globe, its followers frequently report a variety of benefits including:
Cleansing the body of toxins
Weight loss if overweight
Increased energy & vitality
Shinier hair & stronger nails
Clearer skin and eyes
Better digestion
Greater sense of wellbeing
A true fast involves complete abstinence from food of any kind (usually practised with just water). The Lemonade Detox Diet is in effect liquid food – nourishing and energizing. It is important not to burden the body with solid food during the detox.Digesting solid food consumes much of the body’s energy and overrides many of its other tasks. In the absence of solid food the body can focus its energy on cleansing.
Throughout history, experience has shown a periodic abstinence from solid food to be a blessing for the entire organism, the best investment in improved health and a longer natural life span.
While the actual inner cleansing and rejuvenation is performed by the body itself, the Natural Tree Syrup & lemon drink fulfils important functions in assisting this process: It supplies the nutrients necessary for the body’s continuing alert functioning, assisting to restore the biochemical and mineral balance in tissues and cells and expediting cell regeneration. It is assimilated directly into the bloodstream, placing no additional burden on the digestive system. It provides a liquid medium essential for the efficient flushing of wastes from the system.
The acidity of lemon juice assists the cleansing process, acting like an internal detergent to dissolve excess fats and the cayenne pepper or ground ginger helps speed up metabolism, thus promoting circulation and the elimination of toxins.
Sweet or sour?
O'Neill, who conducted a scientific analysis of the diet, concludes: "It strips weight off, but there is a terrible, sinister downside." O'Neill says the diet is extremely low in protein, which results in loss of muscle mass. "Your metabolic rate is going to plummet. Chances are, when you go off the detox you are going to be fatter than when you started," he says.
Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton agrees, as does dietitian Susie Burrell, who says it is "quite dangerous" because it is not supplying the essential daily nutrients. But Carney says the detox is not long enough to cause loss of muscle or protein deficiency. "It's helped my clients achieve quick weight loss and kick-started lifestyle changes." He says his clients also report increased energy and improved digestion. He says the drink is consumed every two hours to ensure the body does not go into starvation mode.