What Is The Function Of A Liquid Diet?

Liquid diets are beneficial for specific medical conditions, but they may also be fad diets or diets that include fasting for religious reasons, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition." On a liquid diet, no solid foods are eaten for a period, after which, the dieter can usually begin eating solid foods again.

Types

Medically ordered liquid diets may include only clear liquids or they may allow opaque liquids, depending upon the reason for the diet. Liquid diets intended for those with wired jaws or the inability to chew foods, may contain common foods pureed into liquids. A juice fast employs a juicer that extracts the liquid from fruits and vegetables but blocks the fibrous pulp. During fasting for religious purposes, the dieter may sometimes drink strained broths in addition to plain water.

Purposes

Your doctor may order a liquid diet before a scheduled surgery, especially if your digestive system is involved. This allows your intestines to rid themselves of solid fecal matter before the procedure. Liquid weight loss diets propose to work by reducing the amount of solid food you eat, hence reducing your caloric consumption. Juicing, fasting or juice fasts are fad diets that promote increased energy levels and/or weight loss by providing nutrients that digest rapidly, because no solid food is in the stomach. Clinical studies confirming the safety of fad liquid diets, however, is lacking.

Nutritional Needs

According to the Stanford Cancer Center, a clear liquid diet does not provide enough nutrients and calories to stay healthy, and it should be discontinued after five days. Commercial liquid diets may provide fortified liquids but these may not be sufficient to maintain health either. Diets of pureed foods for those who cannot chew may contain most of the nutrients available in a balanced diet. Consult your doctor before starting any new diet.

Allowable Liquids

On a clear liquid diet, you may drink only liquids that you can visibly see through. These include water, strained fruit juices, carbonated sodas and soft drinks, bullion or strained broth, clear gelatin desserts and some hard candies. Avoid milk, cream or fruit pulp when following a clear liquid diet, advises the Stanford Cancer Center.

A full liquid diet provides more food options, according to UCLA Health System. On a full liquid diet, you may have all the clear liquids you like, as well as strained cream soups, strained hot cooked cereals such as farina, custards, sherbet, ice cream, pudding, milk shakes, yogurt and eggnog.

Considerations

Fad diets that restrict the dieter to things like lemon juice or water with apple cider vinegar may not provide adequate nutrition. In addition, a medical professional should monitor liquid diets that provide less than 1,000 calories daily, according to the University of Michigan Health Services.