Are Liquid Diets Healthy?
Liquid diets are considered fad diets because they can be followed only for a very short time and are generally unhealthy for long-term use. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are times when a liquid diet may be prescribed by a doctor and is then considered healthy. In spite of this, the Mayo Clinic refers to the liquid diet as short-term and definitely not recommended for weight loss.
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Fad Liquid Diets
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Liquid diet fads are unhealthy when used for anything but a very short period of time. If you're in good physical shape but just need to lose weight, a liquid diet is not the way to do it. The reason a lot of liquid diet shakes changed from the two-per-day-and-one-healthy-meal method to the current method of adding snacks and providing healthy eating tips is that people using them were starving themselves.
Any diet that restricts your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins and dairy products is not healthy. The four food groups provide vitamins and minerals the body needs for health and longevity.
Short-Term Use
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The Mayo Clinic contends that a clear liquid diet should only be used for a short period of time and with the supervision of a doctor. This diet is not high in calories or nutrients, so if using it for longer than recommended, it is not healthy, as your body will begin to starve. If the body believes it is starving then weight loss will not occur, and may even be gained.
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Benefits of a Liquid Diet
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Though there are not many nutritional benefits of a liquid diet, when using it to combat a stomach ailment or for other medical reasons, it does provide some necessary elements to the body. By following a liquid diet, the body is able to avoid dehydration. The foods taken in provide electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Clear liquids are easily digested and leave no undigested intestinal residue.
Pre- & Post-Treatment
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A liquid diet is often used to maintain healthy electrolyte levels before and after specific medical treatments and procedures, like a colonoscopy or surgeries requiring an empty stomach. It is also recommended for use when an illness, such as influenza or stomach ailments, causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Doctors will usually tell a patient how long it is healthy for them to stay on the liquid diet. When it is being followed because of a digestive tract illness, then it should be followed only until soft foods like egg whites and toast can be eaten without adverse effects.
Food Recommendations & Restrictions
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The Mayo Clinic staff approves water-based foods for a short-term liquid diet to maintain a healthy hydration level. Pure water, tea, broths, and fruit juices with no pulp are often recommended. Soft foods like gelatin and popsicles (without fruit pulp or fruit bits) can be eaten as well. Clear sodas can be drunk to help ease the discomfort of an upset stomach.
However, if a doctor puts a patient on a liquid diet to prepare for a procedure, she may choose to limit the colors of some of the liquids that are taken in. Always discuss a liquid diet with a doctor or nutritionist before attempting to go on one alone. A doctor or nutritionist can give helpful suggestions in order to make a more healthy diet plan.
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