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There's only one reason a diet like this keeps coming back: It works. People who have done the diet report losing weight in record time. But when you're eating nothing and drinking only a special mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper several times a day, plus perhaps a glass of salt water and an herbal laxative tea, who wouldn't lose weight? There's also no exercise prescription in this diet, making it popular among people who don't want to work to lose weight and seek instant, not long-term, weight loss.
Here's how the diet works: About six to 12 times a day, or whenever you feel hungry, depending on what variation of the diet you're following, you swig this liquid drink to drop weight and rid your body of toxins. Why these ingredients? The lemon juice cleanses your body, the cayenne pepper dilates blood vessels which accelerates the detoxification process, and the maple syrup provides sugar for energy and necessary minerals (the darker the syrup, the more minerals it contains), according to the book's author Peter Glickman.
Although this low-calorie diet does produce dramatic weight loss results, as you're taking in only 600 to 1,200 calories a day, it offers no nutritional benefits. Nutrition experts, after all, recommend a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats in each meal, and this diet offers none of these. The diet also lacks key nutrients that keep the body functioning for optimal health. Note, too, that outside of anecdotes from people who have tried this diet, there's no science to support this weight loss method.
As for the claims about detoxifying the body, nutrition experts say the body detoxifies itself effectively without outside help.
Is the diet healthy?
No -- in fact, it's extremely unhealthy, as you're not getting the nutrients you need to maintain optimal health. Also, because you're consuming so few calories a day, you'll no doubt wind up irritable and fatigued, which could put the kibosh on any plans you had to exercise.
What do the experts say?
If you care about your health, don't go near this diet. "This is a fad diet with no scientific background that's not safe for anybody," says Marisa Moore, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Any kind of fasting diet like this can wreak havoc on the body." By consuming so few calories, you're essentially putting your body into a starvation mode, which means that along with losing fat, you're also losing muscle and slowing your metabolism. As a result, you'll eventually regain any weight you've lost. Plus, you'll set yourself up for nutritional deficiencies, which could lead to further health problems. And the whole idea about detoxifying your body? "Your body does that well enough by itself," Moore says.
Who should consider the diet?
Nobody, as it's not safe and could jeopardize your health.
Bottom line
Ignore the celebrity hype and avoid this diet. For long-term success losing weight and keeping it off, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Foods
There are no foods, just a liquid concoction of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper that you drink several times a day. Some variations of the diet also call for drinking salt water and an herbal laxative tea daily.
Here's how the diet works: About six to 12 times a day, or whenever you feel hungry, depending on what variation of the diet you're following, you swig this liquid drink to drop weight and rid your body of toxins. Why these ingredients? The lemon juice cleanses your body, the cayenne pepper dilates blood vessels which accelerates the detoxification process, and the maple syrup provides sugar for energy and necessary minerals (the darker the syrup, the more minerals it contains), according to the book's author Peter Glickman.
Although this low-calorie diet does produce dramatic weight loss results, as you're taking in only 600 to 1,200 calories a day, it offers no nutritional benefits. Nutrition experts, after all, recommend a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats in each meal, and this diet offers none of these. The diet also lacks key nutrients that keep the body functioning for optimal health. Note, too, that outside of anecdotes from people who have tried this diet, there's no science to support this weight loss method.
As for the claims about detoxifying the body, nutrition experts say the body detoxifies itself effectively without outside help.
Is the diet healthy?
No -- in fact, it's extremely unhealthy, as you're not getting the nutrients you need to maintain optimal health. Also, because you're consuming so few calories a day, you'll no doubt wind up irritable and fatigued, which could put the kibosh on any plans you had to exercise.
What do the experts say?
If you care about your health, don't go near this diet. "This is a fad diet with no scientific background that's not safe for anybody," says Marisa Moore, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Any kind of fasting diet like this can wreak havoc on the body." By consuming so few calories, you're essentially putting your body into a starvation mode, which means that along with losing fat, you're also losing muscle and slowing your metabolism. As a result, you'll eventually regain any weight you've lost. Plus, you'll set yourself up for nutritional deficiencies, which could lead to further health problems. And the whole idea about detoxifying your body? "Your body does that well enough by itself," Moore says.
Who should consider the diet?
Nobody, as it's not safe and could jeopardize your health.
Bottom line
Ignore the celebrity hype and avoid this diet. For long-term success losing weight and keeping it off, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Foods
There are no foods, just a liquid concoction of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper that you drink several times a day. Some variations of the diet also call for drinking salt water and an herbal laxative tea daily.
