Clear liquid diets are eating programs that focus on fluids, such as broth, water or gelatin, that leave no residue in the digestive tract. Typically prescribed to patients who are preparing for surgery, the liquid diet has broken out from strictly medical to being a nationwide fad diet plan.
History
Liquid diets have been around for many decades and became especially popular after Oprah Winfrey mentioned her liquid diet in 1988 on her TV show. The use of the diet without medical supervision has come under fire after several deaths, including the 2008 death of 40-year-old Jacqueline Henson from the diet. Despite the risk, according to "Time" magazine, the diet has risen to a $100 million-a-year industry.
Process
The liquid diet consists of drinking only liquids to replace one or all of your meals during the day. Common liquids on the diet include water, fruit juice without pulp, black coffee, teas, broth and clear gelatin. In some cases, supplement shakes may also be used as part of the plan (such as with Optifast).
Function
Liquid weight loss plans work by cutting calories from your overall diet. Your body needs a specific amount of calories each day to fuel everything from your heart for blood flow to your lungs for breathing. When you do not get enough calories through eating, the body turns to burning stored fat for energy. As the fat is burned, you lose weight. The fewer calories you take in, the more the body will draw on stored fat.
Dangers
Liquid diets, when not monitored by a medical professional, can present certain dangers to the dieter. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, liquid diets are not able to provide the necessary nutrients and calories your body needs. This extreme calorie cutting can lead to serious health problems and may even encourage the development of an eating disorder. The over-drinking of fluids may also cause hyponatremia, otherwise known as water intoxication. This occurs when too much fluid interrupts the blood-sodium balance.
Rebounding
According to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, liquid diets may produce fast weight loss, but these results are often temporary. As the body struggles to obtain the necessary calories it needs, physical changes occur to limit the use of calories in the body. This includes slowing down your metabolism and storing the few calories that you do take in as fat. As you return to a normal diet, it takes time for your body to return to its normal metabolism and storage routines. This can result in your weight rebounding, in some cases leaving you heavier than when you began.
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