Lemon Cayenne Pepper Detox Drink

Detox is the new buzzword, isn't it? It takes care of all manner of sins, so it doesn't matter that you load up on the alcohol and fat units without much of a care, since you can just 'detox' and it'll all fade away. Special day coming up? Sip this lemon detox drink for a couple of days. Put on a few pounds? Cut back on all things nutritious and stick to a detox diet. I've never been a fan of crash diets and fads, and it's sometimes alarming to see the lengths people will go just to make up for some seriously unhealthy eating habits. Don't get me wrong, this diet is absolutely great - if you do it occasionally, and for short durations, like maybe a day or two. It's when you follow it for days on end, and collapse from sheer lack of nourishment that it's a bit of a put off. So what is all the brouhaha anyway? For some simple facts, and to learn how to make this drink, take a quick look below.

It's fairly simple to make this drink. The detox diet, also known as the Master Cleanse Diet, stipulates that you consume 6 -10 glasses of the drink, along with a laxative senna tea in the evening and a sea salt drink in the morning. No food is allowed in any form, and the recommended duration for the diet is 7 to 10 days, but not less than 4 days and no more than 14. In fact, this detox diet gained a whole lot of popularity following Beyonce Knowles' 20 pound weight loss when she took on the Master Cleanse for 14 days for her slim svelte look in the movie Dreamgirls.

Detox Drink Recipe

Ingredients

• Freshly squeezed lemon juice - 2 tbsp (1 fluid oz)
• Organic Grade B maple syrup - 2 tbsp (1 fluid oz)
• Cayenne Pepper - 1/10th tsp (add more or less to taste)
• Purified/filtered/spring water - 1 cup (8 fluid oz)

Method

1. Mix all the above ingredients in a glass pitcher, and consume warm or cold.
2. Makes one serving.

Some people suggest a slight variation in the recipe by adding honey instead of maple syrup, however, purists feel the best results are to be seen from the use of the standard recipe.

Lemon Cayenne Pepper Detox Diet

So how does the lemon cayenne pepper cleanse work? The premise behind its miraculous properties are that the acidic nature of lemon promotes cleansing whereas, the cayenne pepper speeds up metabolism. This allows the body to cleanse itself naturally, while you stay off solid food. After the detox, the body is supposed to regain its natural balance which will help it maintain its optimum weight. Now the pros are obviously fast weight loss - denial of any kind of solid food for the stipulated period (recommended as 7 to 10 days), while you consume copious quantities of the lemon detox drink, will inevitably result in quick weight loss. Additionally, if your regular diet consists of high levels of processed or refined foods and saturated fats, staying off them may bring out other benefits - clearer skin and better hair and nails for instance.

The cons? Weight loss is rapid and drastic, which isn't really the best way to go about it. There are a number of concerns like this diet being too stringent, and complete abstinence from food denies your body of essential nutrients and food groups which are necessary for normal functioning. In addition, most nutritionists are unanimous in their belief that this excessively low-calorie intake over the recommended duration, leads the body into starvation mode, wherein as a natural defense mechanism, the body stores fat and burns muscle and tissue for energy - counterproductive to say the very least. While this drink may aid in detoxifying your body, its use as a means to lose weight is unhealthy to say the very least. Still unconvinced? It isn't rocket science to figure out that returning to a regular diet after the Master Cleanse will mean you just gain all that you've lost. Plus, this diet isn't recommended for those with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney problems and other associated disorders.

Whichever method of weight loss you choose, make sure you're well-informed about the possible complications that could arise. Check with a doctor before you take on this diet and remember it is considered a serious health risk if continued for prolonged periods of time. I will say this though, that eating healthy and exercising regularly will work far better in helping you attain the shape and size you aim for, so give this diet a go if you must, but aim for fitness through the right means, and you'll reap the rewards for years to come!