For all those who love citrus fruits, and want to get rid of extra pounds, the right choice is the citrus diet. This diet is said to be one of the most effective fruit diets.
From ancient times, citrus fruits have had an epithet of a champion of health from nature, so the citrus diet is full of healthy ingredients, juicy drinks and delicious dishes.
Besides having an abundance of vitamin C, ripe citrus fruits also contain beneficial organic acids, which makes the citrus diet suitable for all ages.
Citruses are known to be effective in fighting fever, colds, headaches, are used to strengthen gums, against asthma attacks, bronchitis, atherosclerosis…
So, even those who do not aim to lose weight, can adhere to these diets to cleanse the body, strengthen immunity and improve overall health.
Nature has given us the choice to consume and enjoy the taste and smell of these amazing fruits, so citrus fruits are not only present in the diet, but are also increasingly used in cosmetics, as the main ingredients of perfumes and various hair and body care creams.
The basic ingredients of citrus diet
Basic citrus or agrumes include:
Lemon
Of all citrus fruits, lemon is the least caloric, and thanks to citric acid, it has an extremely refreshing effect.
Lemon contains all the necessary elements for breaking down fat in the body, and is therefore a favorite ingredient for all those who want to lose weight.
Citric acid contributes to more intensive production of stomach acid and thus improves digestion, which is another important parameter of every diet.
Lemon peel contains pectin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Lemon can help you cleanse the body, blood, lymph, lose weight and prevent various diseases.
Orange
Oranges are rich in minerals, vitamin C and water that refresh us, which makes it perfect in the fight against excess weight.
In addition to vitamin C, oranges are rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium and quickly saturate the body. From one orange, we get as much as 90 ml of juice, which is necessary for losing weight.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit also contains a lot of water like oranges, and is a fruit with a high percentage of water that stimulates drinking liquid, which gives more energy and speeds up metabolism. The chemical properties of this agrume reduce the level of insulin in the blood and promote weight loss.
To start a healthy day, it is enough to drink a glass of lukewarm water in which lemon, orange or grapefruit juice is squeezed on an empty stomach in the morning. Also, the menu should be supplemented with at least some piece of this fruit.
Who is the citrus diet for?
Everyone knows that the healthiest ways to lose extra pounds are a healthy nutrition and a healthy diet. The rule we should adhere to every day is that the menu must contain citrus fruit.
It has been scientifically proven that citrus fruits speed up metabolism, help burn fat deposits easily, cleanse the body of harmful toxins (detoxify the body), so women have declared the citrus diet one of their favorites.
There should be one citrus in every woman’s bag, which can serve as a good snack, but also as a drink that can be prepared quickly and easily.
All those who decide to try the citrus diet, will soon be convinced of its results. In addition to losing weight and fat deposits, this diet allows the body to gain and maintain flexibility and elasticity.
There are several types of citrus diet, and we will present two.
Citrus diet for fast weight loss
This diet is intended for people who want to get rid of extra pounds quickly. It differs from other types of citrus diets in the choice of foods, i.e. in limiting their amount.
The advantage of this diet is the great weight loss (those who have tried it say that the results are excellent and that it is possible to lose up to 26 pounds per month).
Of course, this result is not always the same, but the average is about 17 pounds, which is a great stimulus for all those who want to lose weight fast.
What is recommended for this citrus diet is not to follow it constantly, because it is quite demanding, so it should not be used for more than 5 to 7 days. After that you can take a break of 3 days and then, if you want, you can repeat the cycle.
Breakfast
A glass of freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice
Lunch
One grapefruit and two kiwis
Dinner
Two boiled eggs and lemonade without sugar
This type of weight loss is recommended
To all those who want to lose weight fast. Especially because you do not have to exercise while following this citrus diet, the excess weight will begin to disappear after the first cycle (after 3 days).
There is no cooking during the diet, so for those ladies who do not like the kitchen, this is the right solution.
This type of citrus diet is not recommended
For people who have a stomach problem or hyperglycemia. It should also be noted that losing weight quickly can create the effect of sagging skin in overweight people.
Citrus fruits are a low-calorie fruit, so you can feel tired or have a headache, but considering that the diet lasts only three days and the beauty is priceless, it is negligible.
This is a very challenging diet to try, but only for a few days. It is best to start before the summer, when we want to get rid of extra pounds quickly, or before some important dates for us.
If it is kept in several cycles, it is recommended to consult a doctor or other medical staff who deal with healthy nutrition.
15-day citrus diet
This type of citrus diet is not as rigorous as the first one, but represents a healthy and balanced menu. Meals should be eaten at the same or approximate time each day.
The citrus diet supplies our body with a large amount of vitamin C, detoxifies and speeds up digestion, which greatly helps in achieving good results when using this diet.
Breakfast
Breakfast is the same for all 15 days of the diet. It consists of one fresh orange, one slice of wholemeal bread and a cup of tea or coffee as desired, but without sugar.
Day 1
Lunch
1 orange, 1 cup of sour milk, 1 boiled egg
Dinner
Boiled chicken breast with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and one citrus as desired
Day 2
Lunch
1 boiled egg, cucumber salad in yogurt or sour milk sauce and one citrus as desired
Dinner
120g minced veal or beef, 1 orange, 1 slice of wholemeal bread, 1 cup of tea without sugar or lemonade
Day 3
Lunch
1 orange, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 boiled egg, 1 head of lettuce or 2 cucumbers, a drink of your choice without sugar (lemonade)
Dinner
120g minced veal or beef, 1 orange, 1 slice of wholemeal bread, 1 cup of tea without sugar or lemonade
Day 4
Lunch
125g low-fat cheese, 1 slice of wholemeal bread, 2 tangerines
Dinner
1 minced beef burger, 1 fresh orange, 1 slice of wholemeal bread and 1 cup of tea or coffee as desired, but without sugar
Day 5
Lunch
200g of boiled meat or fish, 1 slice of wholemeal bread, 2 cucumbers
Dinner
1 pound of a mixture of boiled vegetables (carrots, potatoes and peas), 1 boiled egg and one citrus as desired.
When the 5-day cycle is over, return to the first day and repeat the cycle two more times (the diet lasts a total of 15 days).
If you stick to all the rules, you can lose 13 to 15 pounds and your body will have all the necessary vitamins it needs.
Citrus diet experiences, results and tips
The citrus diet is a simple and fast way to lose weight and allows you to lose up to 26 pounds in a relatively short period of time. The success of this diet is precisely in its main ingredients: orange, lemon and grapefruit, which improve digestion and melting of fat deposits.
As with any type of weight loss, the key here is to change your diet and lifestyle. In a citrus diet, these changes are not as huge as they may be in some other diets, but they are present and noticeable.
In addition to the correct choice of dishes and foods and the obligatory consumption of citrus, physical activity also plays an important role. More walking, staying in the fresh air and moderate physical activity will lead to even better results.
The experiences of those who have followed this diet are positive. With minor dietary corrections and adherence to the prescribed menu, it is possible to lose up to 22 pounds in two weeks.
Of course, depending on which of the two recommended diets is implemented, the results also depend. A diet for fast weight loss will lead to weight loss much faster, but it is also much more rigorous, so not everyone will be able to adhere to it.
The results of each and every diet are individual. Experiences vary, so there are those who may have lost less than the usual number of pounds. This means that the citrus diet is still effective and that the results are there.
Although fast, a citrus diet is not a long-term solution. It should be used if your goal is to lose weight fast. If you want to maintain the achieved results, you need bigger changes in your diet, but also in your lifestyle.
Of course, the advice is that the citrus diet can be repeated from time to time, because it will have a great impact on the overall condition of your body. One orange a day, or squeezed grapefruit juice, can do no harm.
Orange and toast diet
This diet is very similar, only it includes oranges as citrus fruit. It lasts for 15 days, more precisely, it counts 3 times 5, such is the cycle. It is expected to lose about 15 pounds.
Of course, the menu is respected, and nothing can be eaten in between.
It is important to follow this menu by days:
Day 1
Breakfast :
- 1 orange
- 1 toast
- 1 cup of tea or coffee without sugar.
Lunch:
- 1 orange,
- 1 boiled egg,
- 1 cup sour cream (with a lower percentage of milk fat)
Dinner:
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 boiled eggs,
- 1/2 lettuce (or 1 cucumber)
Day 2
Lunch:
- 1 orange,
- 1 boiled egg,
- 1 cup of sour cream,
- 2 pieces of toast
Dinner:
- 125 grams of ground beef,
- 1 tomato,
- 1 orange,
- 1 toast,
- 1 cup of tea or coffee.
Day 3
Lunch:
- 1 orange,
- 1 boiled egg,
- 1 cup of sour cream,
- 1 lettuce (or 2 cucumbers),
- 1 cup of coffee or tea without sugar.
Dinner:
- 125 grams of minced meat,
- 1 orange,
- 1 toast,
- 1 cup of coffee or tea without sugar.
Day 4
Lunch:
- 125 grams of cow’s cheese,
- 1 tomato,
- 1 toast
Dinner:
- 125 grams of minced meat,
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 apple,
- 1 toast
Day 5
Lunch:
- 200 grams of boiled meat or fish,
- 1 tomato,
- 1 toast
Dinner:
- 1/2 kg of boiled vegetables (carrots, peas, broccoli),
- 1 boiled egg,
- 1 tomato.
This cycle of 5 days is repeated two more times for five days.
It starts again from the first day, with the same menu and so on until the fifth day.
After 15 days, you should stop this diet and continue with a more varied diet, but again there you should avoid sweets and white flour so that the yo-yo effect does not occur.
It is further recommended, in order to maintain weight, to eat at least one day a month according to the following instructions:
Breakfast:
- 1 glass of lemonade without sugar
Lunch:
- 1 apple,
- 1 toast.
Dinner:
- 1 boiled egg,
- 1 tomato,
- 1 toast.
This is a kind of “guarantee” that the weight will not return.
Citruses for a healthy life
If you do not have weight problems and still want to try a diet and a healthy meal with citrus, here are some delicious recipes that you can prepare.
Marinated chicken with citrus
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of dill
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated horseradish
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 3 – 4 pounds of chicken
Preparation:
- Mix garlic, rosemary, dill, orange peel, horseradish, lemon and orange juice, soy sauce, salt, oil and combine in a blender (until you get a mushy mixture).
- Separate 1/4 of the obtained porridge for the side dish when serving at the end, and pour the remaining amount over the chicken, wrap it in a plastic bag and leave it to marinate for about half an hour.
- Then place the meat in a refractory dish and place in a preheated oven (cover the refractory dish with aluminum foil).
- Bake at a high temperature until it gets a slightly yellow color. Then reduce the temperature and leave the chicken to cook for another 15-20 minutes.
- When the meat is done, serve it with the remaining marinade. Serve cold.
Note:
Chicken can be marinated up to 2 hours in advance.
Orange detox drink for every day
- 2 oranges
- 1/2 grapefruit
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon of ginger
- tea or water as desired
Preparation:
Squeeze and mix all the fruit, add ginger, leave for a minute or two for the ingredients to combine and pour into iced tea without sugar (or water).
It is advisable to consume the drink in the morning, although it can also be used during the day.
Lemon – a natural remedy for cholesterol
Everyone who has problems with cholesterol and triglycerides knows that the organism is in an alarming state at their elevated values.
Here is a traditional, folk, natural and effective recipe that can help lower their values is a mixture of lemon and yogurt. More precisely, a glass of the least fatty yogurt (0.00% – 0.05% milk fat) and one half of a lemon.
Preparation:
Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of yogurt in the evening and leave it in a cool place – the refrigerator.
In the morning, on an empty stomach, drink this mixture and continue to do so every morning for the next month.
It is desirable to check the values of cholesterol and triglycerides before consuming this drink, as well as at the end of the 30-day cycle. The results will be better than expected.
Note: This drink is not recommended for people who have a stomach problem.
Benefits of citrus diet
The main advantage, if you follow any of these diets, is that you will really lose weight. With the help of citrus fruit and abstinence from high-calorie food, pounds will be gone at the speed of light.
It is good when you need some purposeful weight loss, for example, for a special event, such as wedding, photography and the like. You lose weight fast when you need it.
Another advantage is that you take vitamins from the fruits, so you will not harm your body. You will cleanse it of toxins. You will even notice that the skin, thanks to vitamin C, got a new glow.
Hair and nails will also be strengthened. Vitamins that you take in plentifully, as well as a large amount of unsweetened liquids, will do you great.
Disadvantages of citrus diet
This diet is quite rigorous for those who are gourmets and who are used to eating a lot. Sugar drops and collapse can occur. So be careful!
This diet can be very restrictive for those who have chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Care should be taken not to get into some kind of hypoglycemia.
This means that it would not be bad to do a blood test before starting this diet, just to check if you are allowed to get involved. It would not be good to have a condition that will do more harm to the body than help.
When it comes to losing weight with effects that will last longer, this diet may not fulfil that.
If you continue to eat as before, you will quickly regain weight. So, a lot of care must be taken after it.
Final word
Diet alone can be problematic if not carried out thoughtfully and with moderation.
Citrus diets are good because you get a lot of vitamins that are important for the body. On the other hand, the restriction is great. So you have to be careful.
All taken into account, be careful and choose what pleases your body the most. Maybe it’s just the citrus diet, who knows. Try it to make sure.
