The Melon Detox: What's the Deal?

You know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But apples aren't the only fruit that holds this coveted distinction. Watermelon—a tasty, refreshing, healthy and inexpensive fruit—falls into that category, too! This week I'm doing the melon detox / cleanse as I continue to focus my yoga practice around the Wood Element and cleansing my liver, blood and qi. The melon diet is attributed to Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, a yoga practitioner who goes by the name Yogi Bhajan.

The invigorating summer fruit is high in water—about 92 percent—making it a good option for people looking to lose our CoVid weight gain. Water promotes weight loss by flushing out toxins and curbing your appetite because chewing and swallowing it helps you feel like you're eating more calories than you are.

This detox is suitable in the warmer weather of the spring and summertime. It will thoroughly cleanse the large and small intestines, which otherwise cannot be properly cleansed. Consuming melon's will ensure you're hydrated. And when you're getting plenty of water, your body can work optimally. Also, when you're hydrated, you won't mistake thirst for hunger and overeat unhealthy fare. Plus, this low-calorie fruit contains a natural sugar that helps curb a sweet tooth. This fruit that's a carb has 1.1 grams of fiber, which will help you feel fuller longer.

Research shows that eating watermelon may improve lipid profiles and lower fat accumulation, plus watermelon juice helped reduce muscle soreness. That's great news if you're just returning to a fitness and yoga routine. The melon cleanse is a five-day fast. You're allowed to eat only papaya, watermelon and cantaloupe on the detox. The detox is designed like a palindrome and claims to detoxify and heal your organs.

Thanks to all of melon's health benefits, if your like me and have been sitting around a little more than the usual due to unrelenting Melbourne lockdowns, before I head back out onto the yoga floor, I think it's time to do a little healthy cleanse. Since watermelon has such a high water content, this cleanse claims it can boost weight loss and help get rid of your body's excess water, toxins, salts and other impurities.

So, you follow the detox all day for five days to a week. Most like that format because it's structured without requiring a lengthy time commitment. And people are willing to try a diet eating something they love all day. It's not like being forced to munch on melon's is a tough sell!

So here is our daily cleanse.

Days 1+5: Eat only cantaloupes (warming and laxative, prepares the kidneys to cleanse)

Days 2+4: Eat only watermelons (cooling, prepares the liver to cleanse) Watermelon is about 92 percent water, so it can help keep you hydrated and feeling full.

Day 3: Eat only papayas (works on the intestines and digestion)

Anytime: Lemon and honey dissolved in water (clears the system of excess mucus)

That's it. Eat as much as you need. Simple.

I've done this cleanse before and I've slightly twicked it based around my energy needs, so your welcome to do the above, but if you are freaking out about only eating melon's for 5 days.

Watch my blog and I will update you with a daily menu plan and recipe idea's.

Like all detox's, the melon diet isn't a good long-term weight-loss solution. The diet is restrictive and doesn't include any dietary sources of protein. And since you're consuming so much water, you may suffer from diarrhea or bloating. That's why it's not recommended that pregnant women or anyone with a compromised immune system try this diet. However, if you're generally healthy, you likely won't harm yourself if you follow the diet for a few days.

Happy meloning xox