Thus, it is an ally in the prevention of colds and flu.
However, because it is called a diet, it is imagined that one of the main goals of those who do it is to lose weight. Really, this is one of the biggest attractions of the lemon diet. However, this is not a diet that helps in burning fat if there are also other changes in habits.
The consumption of water with lemon without other efforts, such as food reeducation and physical activities, does not interfere with weight.
If all of these factors are allied, then it is possible to see a change in the balance and measures. But it is important to emphasize that no diet is miraculous and that it is always a health risk to go on radical diets without nutritional guidance.
There are other variations of the diet, with high consumption of lemons, but the ideal is to avoid overdoing it. To learn how to adapt this diet to your daily life, talk to a nutritionist or nutritionist.
How is the lemon diet made? In a quick search it is already possible to observe that there are many variations of the lemon diet. There is no official model to be followed, therefore, each nutritionist can guide the patient in a different way.
Nutritionist Angela Federau, in her clinical practice, recommends the consumption of half a lemon juice squeezed in water (cold or warm) per day.
“There are some variations in the lemon diet, one of which is the consumption of the diet of 10 lemons (from 1 to 10 lemons in the first 10 days and from 10 to 1 lemon in the rest of the days), but this model is quite avoided by the excess” .
There are still more outdated versions of the diet that lasted 21 days, which should be done gradually, each day 1 extra lemon. In this variation, at the end of the diet, the person would have to consume more than 20 lemons a day.
This model, which has fallen out of favor for some time, indicates very high doses of the fruit and can cause side effects, such as hypervitaminosis, intoxication, ulcers and further aggravate gastritis in patients with the disease.
Some variations also suggest taking lemon water half an hour before every main meal, which could help inhibit appetite and facilitate weight loss.
However, the most classic version of the diet consists of fasting half a lemon squeezed in water, upon waking up, that is, before breakfast.
This habit is healthier and more balanced, as it does not suggest very high doses of the fruit. Thus, the person can benefit from the nutrients without having risks of side effects.
To be more secure, the ideal is always to talk to a nutritionist. For the purpose of losing weight, this is the professional who will know how to evaluate which is the best menu.
The duration of the diet is also an important factor. Ideally, it should be kept for short periods of 20 days, taking breaks.
Nutritionist Angela explains:
“It is important to take a break from the diet. It should not be used continuously so as not to end up intoxicating the body, even though it is a healthy food. It must be cyclical. However, as there are variations, each professional nutritionist can guide differently ”.
As there is no defined menu in this diet, the orientation is that the person maintains a balanced diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, proteins and carbohydrates . To lose weight, you should avoid ultra-processed foods, rich in sodium, fats and sugar.
To make the drink even healthier, some people add ginger and chia to lemon juice, reinforcing the nutritional content.
What are the benefits of the fasting lemon diet? The lemon diet, when done correctly, can provide several health benefits due to vitamin C and other substances present in the fruit.
In relation to weight loss, unfortunately it is not possible to say that water with lemon is capable of significantly impacting weight loss.
This benefit is only possible when there are also other changes in habits, such as the practice of physical activities and an adequate diet.
But for the body, in general, the lemon with water can bring many benefits. Because it is a tool that increases and stimulates water consumption, the person reinforces the hydration of the body.
It also does well to help detoxify and decongest the body, strengthen the immune system’s response and, as a source of potassium, stimulate brain and nerve functions.
According to nutritionist Angela Federau, the lemon diet is beneficial because the fruit is an acidic food, but with great alkaline potential. This means that it is able to balance the acidity (pH) of the body.
It is an important factor because the acidity in the body can end up reducing the absorption of vitamins and minerals, which can cause a hormonal imbalance or weaken the immune system.
Lemon is also good for being rich in vitamin C. In addition to helping to improve immunity, it contributes to better absorption of iron and collagen synthesis.
As an antioxidant, it also helps to fight free radicals, being good for the maintenance of the body as a whole.
It is also a good option for beauty, as its consumption also reflects benefits for the health and aesthetics of the skin, nails and hair, says the expert.
Is the lemon diet bad for you? It depends. In excess everything is bad, so this applies to the lemon diet. High consumption of fruit juice can cause some side effects. Therefore, models of the diet in which up to 10 lemons were consumed per day fell out of favor.
“In excess, the person can feel even a dental wear (more porous teeth), a greater gastric burning and, in extreme doses, it can even cause sores in the mouth”.
In addition to these adverse reactions, high doses of vitamin C can also cause hypervitaminosis, intoxicating the body even though it is an important nutrient.
Therefore, people should shy away from diet models that recommend a gradual increase in lemon consumption daily.
In addition, to avoid health problems, the lemon diet should be done under the guidance of a professional and monitoring is essential.
It is also important to pay attention to the time of the diet, as it should not be continuous. It is necessary to take breaks.
Maintaining a healthy diet, rich in essential vitamins and minerals, also helps to prevent complications.
Does the lemon diet lose weight? Just doing the lemon diet does not lose weight. Lemon juice with fasting water can even influence weight loss, but alone is not able to provide significant results.
It contributes to weight loss by helping to ease fluid retention, by detoxifying the body and decreasing appetite. Some people also report that drinking the drink helps to reduce the urge to eat sweets.
In addition, because it is a change of habit, making this diet can be the starting point for other healthy changes, such as when starting to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
If the goal is weight loss exclusively, the lemon diet may not be the best option. However, the most competent person to advise on eating habits is the nutritionist.
Talking to this professional it is possible to come up with a menu that fits your routine and that helps you lose weight in a healthy way.
Should the lemon diet be with warm or cold water? In the lemon diet, there are people who consume lemon juice in warm water and others in cold water, in both cases on an empty stomach. Each side advocates a benefit.
For example, when drinking in cold water, the drink could increase the body’s thermogenesis and accelerate the metabolism for burning fat.
“With the cold water, there is speculation that the organism accelerates the metabolic speed, due to the temperature issue. In the case of warm water, the hypothesis is that the body absorbs nutrients better. However, there is no scientific proof ”.
The practice of drinking water with lemon on an empty stomach becomes more and more frequent. Because it is a fruit rich in nutrients like vitamin C, it can offer several benefits. Therefore, including this habit in the routine can be very valid for health.
However, everything in excess is bad. Excessive consumption of lemon and continuously can cause some side effects.
Therefore, before starting any diet, talk to a nutritionist or doctor and understand what is the right way for you.
Thanks for reading and keep following our articles on healthy eating!