Juices, soups, shakesa liquid diet replaces all your meals with, well, liquids.
It’s promoted as a fast way to lose weight, reduce bloating and ease digestive woes.
But is it safe?
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Liquid diets promise weight loss, detoxing and cleansing.
But are they really the answer?
Should you try a liquid diet?
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Can they really deliver on their promises?
Here we break down what a liquid diet is, including any potential benefits and many of the downsides.
What Is a Liquid Diet?
Featured Recipe:Ginger-Beet Juice
A liquid diet consists only of liquids in place of solid food.
Some companies have specific “juice cleanses” with different phases you’ve got the option to buy.
Others offer a variety of liquid meal replacements to choose from based on your goals.
These, however, can be expensive and usually must be purchased and mailed to you.
Liquid meal replacements provide a convenience factorgrab your shake and go.
Liquid diets have pros and cons, regardless of your reason for doing them.
“But, they can also gain them back quickly, too.”
In addition to feeling hangry, you might be missing important nutrients, too.
Drinking juice alone can lead to “debilitating headaches, overwhelming hunger and diarrhea,” says Pojednic.
“Your liver has very specific enzymes to ‘detoxify’ your body.
One final downside to liquid diets?
Subsisting on liquids alone gets expensive.
Nutrient Absorption
There is a difference in how your body absorbs liquids and solids.
Solids come with an extra step in the digestion process: chewing.
Chewing your food increases your fullness factor.
Fiber also slows down digestion, helping you stay full longer, but juices lack this key ingredient.
Who Should Never Do a Liquid Diet?
Liquid diets can be difficult enough, but there are certain people who should never consider a liquid diet.
The Bottom Line
Not sure if a liquid diet is right for you?
Talk to a dietitian, who can guide you through the pros and cons based on your goals.
Swapping juices for smoothies can help.
Consider having one liquid meal per day instead of all three.
And don’t stay on a liquid diet for long.
“In the meantime, though, prepare to feel like crap.”
