What to Know About Liquid Diets
Determining what to know about liquid diets can be a confusing process, as there is so much conflicting information and hype surrounding the subject. Liquid diets are primarily used for weight loss and medical purposes, and when followed properly, they can produce great results. The following article outlines what to know about liquid diets for weight loss purposes, including tips on how to begin and end your liquid diet. It's very important to consult your doctor before beginning a liquid diet or any other diet or exercise plan.
Types of Liquid Diets for Weight Loss
Liquid diets for weight loss are usually divided into two categories: those that allow food and those that don't. Many popular liquid diets replace one to two meals with a liquid substitute, such as juice or a nutrition shake. For the third meal (usually dinner) the dieter is allowed to eat a healthy, balanced meal. One of the most popularized liquid diets that follows this form is the Slim Fast plan. Other liquid diets don't allow the consumption of solid foods at all. These are also called fasts. Perhaps the most popular liquid fasting diet is the Lemonade Diet, also called The Master Cleanse. A dieter undergoing The Master Cleanse fasts by drinking a combination of lemon juice, water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Finally, there are liquid juice fasts, which usually permit the consumption of fruit and vegetable juices and water. These fasts provide more nutrition than other popular liquid diets.
Health and Safety of Liquid Diets
Liquid diets that provide very minimal calories are considered unsafe. If you plan to follow a liquid diet, make sure that you're ingesting 1,000 calories per day or more. Liquid diets that provide fewer than 800 calories can lead to dizzy spells, nausea, fatigue, headaches and more. Even if a liquid diet does provide 1,000 calories or more, it should not be followed for long periods of time. The body needs fiber from solid foods to properly cleanse itself, and it also needs protein to maintain healthy muscle mass. If you're planning on following an all-liquid diet, consult with your doctor to see how long you should abstain from food. For health and safety reasons, two weeks is generally the maximum amount of time people are advised to stay on liquid diets.
Beginning and Ending a Liquid Diet
If you choose to follow a liquid diet, one of the most important things you can do is to start and end your diet properly. Essentially, this means "easing into" and "easing out of" your liquid diet. If you don't ease into a liquid diet, you'll probably experience intense hunger pains and unbearable cravings. On the other hand, if you don't ease out of a liquid diet, you may experience severe stomach cramps and constipation. To ease into a liquid diet, many people gradually decrease food intake until they feel they are ready to fast. Dieters coming off of a liquid diet usually eat soups, broths, raw fruits and veggies and juices until their bodies adjust to solid foods again.
