Lemon Juice Diet

Battling to shift those pounds? Sipping on hot water and lemon and sprinkling the juice on your food might be the answer to long-term weight-loss according to a new book.

The Celebrity Followers:

Ashley Judd, Mischa Barton, Victoria Beckham

The Idea:

The Lemon Juice Diet was devised by health writer, Theresa Cheung, who believes that lemons combined with a healthy diet are the secret to long-term weight loss.

According to Cheung, the reason many of us struggle to shift pounds is down to an inefficient digestive system. A sluggish digestive system can inhibit our body’s ability to mop up the nutrients it needs, leaving you constantly craving more food as your body looks for those missing vitamins and minerals. You body also needs those missing nutrients in order to burn fat and calories. A less than perfect digestive system means your body is unable to flush out toxins properly, leaving you feeling sluggish, bloated and unmotivated. An inefficient digestive system will also slow down your metabolism, making losing weight almost impossible.

This is where lemons come in. This highly citric fruit, kicks start a sluggish digestive and detox system and enables it to work at full power.

The citric acid in lemons interacts with other enzymes and acids to stimulate stomach juices which promote a healthy gut and an efficient digestive system.

And it’s not just the juice that can do wonders for weight loss. The skin contains pectin which when eaten turns into a sticky substance that prevents the body absorbing too much sugar. Not only that, but it can keep hunger pangs at bay. A study by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that pectin can help you feel fuller for longer.

There’s more. Lemons are loaded with vitamin C, which is not only brilliant at staving off colds, but provides yet another boost to a beleagued digestive system. Recent research at Arizona State University discovered that those who eat fruit and veg high in vitamin C have better digestive systems and are more likely to lose weight than those that don’t.

The acid in lemons also increases the body’s capacity to absorb calcium, which is stored in fat cells. Research suggests that fat cells with increased levels of calcium burn more fat.

So in short, lemons are a nifty weight loss aid!