The 3 Day Diet is a very-low-calorie, fad diet that allows you to eat 600 to 1,100 calories per day, which causes some weight loss in the form of water. While it promises 10-lbs. of weight loss in three days, most people will gain the weight back as quickly as they lost it. Eating so few calories should only be attempted under the supervision of your physician as there are many healthy risks when consuming less than 1,000 calories per day.
Beets contain many nutrients such as calcium and vitamins A and C. However, they can act as a natural laxative and eating too many may cause cramping and diarrhea.
Day 1
The menu for the first day starts with coffee, water or tea -- these same beverages are permitted for the entire three days. For breakfast, eat half a grapefruit and a slice of toast with 1 to 2 tbsp. peanut butter. For lunch, you can consume the same beverages along with 1/2 cup of tuna and a slice of dry toast. For the last meal of the day, you drink the same beverages with 3 oz. of lean meat, 1 cup of beets, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream and one small apple.
Day 2
The second day starts out very similar to the first: a slice of dry toast, a banana, one egg prepared to your choice and the usual beverages. Lunch consists of five saltine crackers and 1 cup of cottage cheese and the same beverages. Dinner is two hot dogs, 1/2 cup of beets, 1 cup of broccoli, one banana and 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream along with the same beverages.
Day 3
The last day also includes the same three beverage choices. For breakfast, you can have five saltine crackers, a slice of cheddar cheese and 4 oz. of apple juice. Lunch is a slice of dry toast, one small apple and a hard-boiled egg, with the usual beverages. A cup of beets, 1 cup of green beans, 1 cup of tuna, one small apple and 1/2 cup of ice cream round out the last day.
Risks
Other than a few pounds of temporary weight loss there are no health benefits to the 3 Day Diet. In fact, it actually increases health risks for those with heart disease or eating disorders. Foods high in saturated fat are required on this diet, complicating heart disease. This diet is inadequate in providing enough iron and calcium necessary for good health. In addition to encouraging yo-yo dieting, this diet increases the risk of gallstones, high cholesterol and hypertension. The 3 Day Diet should never be used for long-term weight loss due to its health risks. In addition, such a low-calorie diet can cause muscle wasting and should never be undertaken with medical supervision.
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