Fruit improves metabolism and makes the burning of fat more effectively
The lemon diet is known for allowing a healthy weight loss and, for this reason, it has attracted many followers in the last years.
Weight loss is only one of the benefits of this diet. However, it is essential to be careful.
Next, understand how the lemon diet works, the precautions to take, and the risks it can cause to your health.
How It Works?
There are several types of lemon diets. Some simpler ones involve consuming a squeezed lemon in the water right after waking up fasting. Others consist of eating a squeezed lemon before each of your main meals. Some methods require that the water in which the lemon will be squeezed be lukewarm.
There are also more extreme versions of the lemon diet, in which the proposal is to increase every day the quantity of lemon juice ingested during fasting, to the point that, on the 15th day of the diet, the person may consume 15 lemons; in 24 hours!
Besides the lemon, a common point among all these diets is to have a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, greens, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates and reduce the number of calories eaten.
Benefits of The Lemon
Diet
Lemon Diet Is Weight Loss: Nutritionist Rita de Cassia Novais explains that ingesting lemon in the morning while fasting is excellent. "Doing these 10 to 20 minutes before breakfast decongests and detoxifies the body."
Fights the Flu: Lemon contains several nutrients that can fight the common cold.
Controls Blood Pressure: It's also a source of potassium, which stimulates nerve and brain function, and regulates blood pressure," she explains.
Reduces Anxiety and Hunger: Lemon also helps reduce stress and impulse hunger due to the pectin present in it.
Reduces Cravings for Sweets: This fruit also decreases the body's acidity. "Lemon helps improve the metabolism, contributes to digestion, especially of fats, and water with lemon also helps reduce the desire for sweets," notes nutritionist Talitta Maciel, from Food Reeduction Space.
Burns Calories: Warm water with lemon can also provide some health improvements. When it is ingested, it increases body temperature. To balance the heat, the body needs to work, which causes the burning of calories to be accelerated.
Helps Digestion: It is recommended to eat lemon not only before breakfast but before the main meals. In general, it is suitable for digestion because it helps produce saliva and hydrochloric acid and stimulates the liver to produce bile that participates in the digestion of fats; the lemon also helps clean the body, helping to eliminate toxins.
Improves Immunity: The fruit is also rich in vitamin C, a great ally of immunity.
Caution When Following
This Diet
The first point is to be aware that lemon does not work miracles. Just because you drink lemon water in the morning, you will not eat a cake or some fried food. A balanced diet is essential for the success of any diet. "Always try to follow a balanced diet rich in nutrients because lemon alone won't bring any benefits," says Talitta Maciel.
It is also essential to talk to a nutritionist or neurologist before starting the weight loss process. Therefore, do not abuse the quantity of lemon. Ingesting one lemon a day is ideal, but a person can consume up to three days without health complications.
Risks of The Lemon Diet
Know that the excess consumption of lemon will not increase its benefits but will harm health. "The person may have stomach problems, gastritis, and may even get an ulcer with excessive and repetitive use of this fruit," warns Talitta Maciel. Therefore, versions of the lemon diet that gradually increase the fruit consumption to the point of daily ingestion of quantities equal to or more fantastic than four lemons a day are not recommended.
The lemon diet must always be associated with a balanced diet, with the introduction of whole food, lacking in bad fats, without added sugar, and always followed by a nutritionist to establish safe amounts for your own needs.
Following a diet based only on lemon consumption can lead to nutrient deficiency, weakness, and even weight gain in the long term. Likewise, heart and kidney problems may occur due to a lack of vitamins and minerals.