Can you lose weight on a liquid diet? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean it’s a healthy or sustainable way to do so.
You might hear about liquid diets from celebrities who try them for rapid weight loss. Yet the truth is, there are risks with these programs and they certainly aren’t for everyone.
In this article, we’ll discuss what happens in your body when you’re on a liquid diet, whether they’re healthy or safe, and if there are any medical reasons to follow one.
What is a liquid diet?
A liquid diet means you’re getting all, or at least most, of your calories from drinks rather than solid food. There are different types of liquid diets. Some allow small amounts of solid food while others don’t. Some also contain dietary supplements as well as liquids.
- Your doctor may recommend a short-term liquid diet if you need to prepare for surgery or colonoscopy procedures
- Some people also use liquid diets to help detox the body, reduce inflammation and cleanse the colon
The effectiveness and safety of liquid diets depend on the type of diet, what you’re trying to achieve and your ability to stick with it.
A liquid diet provides most or all of your daily nutritional requirements from liquids alone. There are many different types of liquid diets, but most fall into the following categories:
- Low-calorie (also called very-low-calorie) liquid diets. These provide about 800 calories or fewer a day — generally as supplements in addition to water and some food. They may be useful for short-term weight loss in people who are medically supervised and need to lose weight fast before surgery or other health procedures.
- Full liquid diets. These provide all of your daily nutritional requirements without solid foods; they typically include milk, fruit juices, vegetable juices, soups, ice cream and pudding. Some full liquid diets include strained foods, such as yogurt and pureed cooked eggs. Full liquid diets are often used after surgery or after an illness that makes chewing painful, such as oral cancer treatment. They may also be recommended for people who have trouble chewing or swallowing, such as those with esophageal cancer or certain gastrointestinal disorders.
