While Americans are bagging leaves, Australians are bagging lemons. Bikini season is nearing in Australia, and the lemon detox diet is ramping up in popularity. Kilos are reportedly dropping like crazy Down Under, and Hollywood celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles and Mariah Carey have shed pounds on the diet, but is this detox healthy?

On the diet, you're drinking six to nine glasses per day -- for five to 14 days -- of a special concoction of Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and pure water. No solids. Here are a few lemon detox dangers cited by nutrition experts:

• It's been labeled a starvation diet -- you know what that means -- dizzy, moody, hungry (there goes vigorous exercise). Also, like a squirrel gathering nuts, your body will start storing fat for emergency survival.
• Should you be solely nourishing yourself with a drink containing nearly zero protein, little fat and few vitamins/minerals?
  
• Be prepared to lose lean body mass, a real metabolism-slower, making future weight loss more difficult.
• Critics contend the diet puts you at risk for a quick re-gain of fat, not muscle.
• Detoxing for more than three days can rob your bod of vitamins/minerals.
  
  

Sounds like a bunch of unhealthy, sour lemons to me. I'd rather avoid the need to detox entirely by eating loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking tons of water and keeping processed foods to a minimum.