What is liquid diet; can it help you lose weight?
What's the story
Losing weight effectively and keeping it that way can be challenging.
And, with so many diet plans floating around these days, choosing the right one for yourself may not be that easy.
One such plan which is gradually gaining prominence is the liquid diet.
So, what really is it, and can it help you lose kilos? Find out here.
Details
Firstly, what really is the liquid diet?
Under a liquid diet, you get all or most of your calories from beverages.
This implies that you will consume nothing but homemade/store-bought fruit and vegetable juices, shakes and other drinks, three to four times a day.
Some liquid diets may only partially replace your solid food intake.
While one can follow most liquid diets on their own, some might require medical supervision.
Benefit
Do liquid diets work?
By significantly reducing your calorie consumption, liquid diets can help you lose weight.
They are also beneficial for people who may have trouble chewing solid food.
But more often than not, results from these diet plans do not last, because when you drastically cut your calories, your metabolism slows to save energy, and you may regain lost weight once you go off the diet.
Side effects
What are the potential side effects of liquid diets?
Liquid diets aren't foolproof.
They can be dangerously low on calories, and often fail to provide a good balance of nutrients.
This implies that they may not give you enough energy and essential nutrients, thus leading to undesired health effects such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches, hair loss, and heart problems.
A lack of fiber may also weaken your digestion, and lead to constipation.
Final word
To diet or not to diet?
Before throwing out all your food packets, talk to your doctor whether a liquid diet is meant for you or not.
Pregnant women, and people who take insulin or are suffering from other chronic illnesses are usually advised against such diets.
If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, also consult a dietitian, who will help formulate a diet plan that's particularly suitable for you.