People may opt for liquid diets for a variety of reasons. Some use it as a quick way to lose weight, others may use it as a temporary body cleansing method or as part of a pre- and post-surgery medical treatment plan. Having positive and negative effects, in this article we will reveal to you the truth about liquid diets.
What are liquid diets?
A liquid diet is a type of diet where people eat mostly liquids, such as juices, soups, and shakes. They are usually followed for a short period of time and are used as a temporary method of weight loss or body cleansing.
Liquid diets are usually composed of foods that are easy to digest and that do not require much effort from the digestive system, because it already cuts the chewing process, which is very important in grinding food into smaller particles, to facilitate the work of enzymes. the nutritionist maribel melo¹, Explain: "While we are chewing, our enzymes are preparing to act. Thus, the brain is informed that food is coming, which helps with satiety and prevents us from eating more than we need", then let's talk about the satiety of this type of diet, see?
liquid diets help with weight loss?
If you Google it quickly, you'll find endless menus and recipes for liquid diets that help you lose weight quickly, because in reality it works in the short term, the big problem is when we look at the long term.
The people can lose weight on liquid diets for many reasons. First of all, liquid diets are usually very restrictive and limit your calorie consumption, so you will obviously lose weight.
In addition, as this type of diet is composed of foods that do not require much work from our digestive system, such as, for example, a traditional lunch (rice, beans, meat and salads), this can lead to a decrease in swelling and fluid retention, whichHow to make weight loss happen quickly.
What are the risks of a liquid diet?
As we have already said: the problem is when we look at the long term. Doctors and nutritionists² do not indicate for a long time why liquid diets cannot provide all the macro and micronutrients needed to perform vital activities. They have a low caloric value, are not rich in protein, fiber, good fats, among other essential nutrients for our physical and mental health. These nutritional deficiencies can lead to serious health problems, including:
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Anemia: a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. This can cause fatigue, weakness, and difficulty concentrating.
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Osteoporosis: a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle. This can increase the risk of bone fractures, especially in the elderly.
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Organ failure: in extreme cases, prolonged use of liquid diets can lead to organ failure, which can be fatal.
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): liquid diets can worsen IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
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Diabetes: Liquid diets can affect blood sugar control and increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In addition to these more serious illnesses, general malaise is evident: you will experience more headaches and nausea. Another side effect is fainting in some people, because by consuming fewer calories without balancing them with other nutrients, there will be a decrease in energy production, which can cause fainting.
Are liquid diets recommended for pre and post surgery?
liquid diets³ are very common before surgery. Doctors often recommend liquid diets before surgery to clean out the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the risk of complications during surgery. Anesthesia can cause discomfort, and interrupting the surgery to vomit is almost impossible. Therefore, the medical recommendation is the consumption of liquid diets so as not to harm the procedure.
Right after surgery is a super sensitive moment, and defines, in most cases, the success of the surgical procedure. You may still feel nauseous, feel unwell, and eating food that requires chewing is very difficult (it even makes you more nauseous), so in these cases opting for liquid diets helps the patient's recovery.
The most common case is when you have teeth problems, chewing your food can cause even more mouth sensitivity. Therefore, consuming more liquid foods helps you not to get hungry.
But all these cases have a beginning and the end is clear. Katherine Basbaum, clinical nutritionist at UVA Health, comments that it's not smart to go on this type of diet alone. According to her: "Someone can put themselves on a diet of liquid juice or whatever for two or three weeks and lose 20 pounds, and the next thing you know you're in the hospital for various reasons related to nutritional deficiencies".
How to make a liquid diet?
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Fruit juice: you can prepare fresh or frozen fruit juices without added sugar.
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Protein shake: you can prepare a shake with milk, yogurt, coconut protein and fruits or frozen ones. Add a little water to make it more liquid and easy to consume;
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Rice or oat drink: Rice or oat drinks can be made with water or milk and sweetened with honey or brown sugar. It's a rich source of carbohydrates and helps keep you full while on a liquid diet;
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Smartfoods: Despite still being a little known word in the out-of-home food market, especially here in Brazil, smartfoods work as alternatives to the traditional dish that is eaten with a knife and fork, except that different from those listed above, they have all the nutrients of a full meal.
Foodz is an option for liquid diets
We've reached the end… and I couldn't stop talking about Foodz meals. It is a ready-to-eat, nutritionally complete meal with up to 25g protein, up to 8g fiber, carbohydrates, fat and 25 essential vitamins and minerals for your daily activities. It is an option for you who need to undergo pre or post surgery and who do not want to be left with sequels of traditional liquid diets. I recommend that you present it to your doctor or nutritionist for an opinion on your real needs. It will give a better north, for better results.
