Liquid fasting diets have become more popular in recent years despite their restrictions and possible side effects. One of the reasons for their increased popularity is the success stories from celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey who lost 67 pounds on a liquid fasting diet, according to Time Magazine. Although the aspect of drinking only liquids and not eating solid foods for a lengthy period of time does not appeal to most people, liquid fasting diets can be very effective for some people when they are medically supervised.
Purpose
One out of every three Americans is classified as obese, according to Vanderbilt University. There are many serious risks of obesity, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and some cancers. The purpose of liquid fasting diets is to help people lose drastic amounts of weight in fairly short time, such as three months or less. Since these diets are very low calorie diets and can cause quick weight loss, many people go on liquid fasting diets to improve their health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
What's Included
There are many different types of liquid fasting diets. The types of liquids you are allowed to drink on the diet depends on the specific diet, such as if it is a homemade liquid diet or a purchased one such as Optifast or Medifast. According to the New York Times, one popular liquid diet, the master cleanse diet includes only a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water. Other diets such as Optfast include pre-mixed drinks or powder mixes that you blend with water to make your drink. These shakes usually include a variety of vitamins and minerals as well as some protein from a source such as whey powder or casein. They also usually come in a variety of flavors such as chocolate and strawberry.
Effectiveness
Although liquid fasting diets may not be effective or appropriate for all people, they can be very effective in helping some people to lose weight. The effectiveness of liquid fasting diets is limited by the dieter in a sense because it is difficult for most people to find the will power to not eat solid food for extended time. Vanderbilt University reports that liquid diets can be very effective in helping people lose significant amount of weight. Unfortunately, liquid fasting diets are not effective in helping people keep off the weight, and most people who lost weight on a liquid fasting diet regained the weight when they resumed their normal eating habits.
Cost
The cost of liquid fasting diets depends on the type that is done. A person can create his own liquid fasting diet at home for a relatively inexpensive amount using ingredients such as juices, but it may not be nutritionally sound. According to Time Magazine, the average cost for packaged liquid fasting diets such as Optifast and Medifast is about $100 per week, though part of that cost may be reimbursed by insurance companies if the diet is deemed medically necessary by a doctor.
Safety
It is very important that all liquid fasting diets be medically supervised by a doctor. If they are not supervised, there could be serious risks involved. Vanderbilt University states that since liquid fasting diets are very low in calories, they could actually lower a person's metabolism and cause them to lose muscle mass. Other possible side effects include muscle cramps, dizziness and constipation.
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