Famous Australian cricketer Shane Warne passed away recently due to heart attack. The late cricketer was on a liquid diet before his death. Do you know the side effects of this diet? Just like the name suggests, a liquid diet means that you are getting all the nutrients and calories from drinks. There can be different types of liquor diet, mainly clear liquid and full liquid. A clear liquid diet is mostly advised by a doctor for a short time period, usually before a medical procedure or due to digestive problems. You will not get the calories and nutrients the body requires with any of these diets, thus you should not follow them for a long while and without an expert's advice and supervision. Onlymyhealth editorial team talked to Dr. Anjali Phatak, Director Nutripulse and Senior Clinical Nutritionist, Nutripulse, Jaipur, to know about the health risks of liquid diet.
Health risks of liquid diet
Liquid diets limit your calorie intake by controlling what you eat and restricting solid foods. Some liquid diets just include fluids such as fruit or vegetable juices and shakes, which can replace all of your meals of the day. Before following any type of diet, you should be aware about the pros and cons of the diet. According to Dr. Anjali, here are the health risks of liquid diet:
1. Low blood sugar
Without glucose, the body is not able to produce enough energy to function properly, which can cause low blood sugar levels. Not consuming enough amount of carbohydrates or high intensity exercise can make your blood sugar levels to drop drastically, even in non diabetic patients. A liquid diet can make it difficult to gain all the nutrients, therefore, causing a drop in low blood sugar levels.
2. Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure is a common side effect of taking liquids the whole day. If you suffer from high BP problems, your doctor might recommend taking this diet, but that too for a short while. Do not switch to this diet if you already have low blood pressure levels. Make changes in your diet only after speaking with an expert.
Also read: Liquid Diet For Weight Loss And Metabolic Syndrome: 4 Health Benefits Of This Plan
3. Stress
As per Dr. Anjali, another side effect of liquid diet is stress. Not getting comfort foods can cause mood swings and nutrient deficiencies can lead to recurrent headaches, even fainting and seizures in some cases. Stress is a major symptom of taking an unbalanced or unhealthy diet. If the liquids are not cutting off cartisol and adrenaline levels, then it can become a matter of concern.
4. Hormonal imbalance
Your diet plays a major role in managing hormones in the body. Liquid meals can cut many vitamins, minerals and nutrients from your diet which causes hormonal imbalance.
Also read: Thinking To Go On A Liquid Diet? These Fat-Burning Juices Are Must-Try
5. Muscle loss and low energy
Muscle loss and low energy levels are also two common health risks of liquid diet that can affect you on a long term basis. Both juices and broths can minimise your fibre and protein intake and these are rich sources of energy. They are good sources of several essential nutrients which cannot be managed if you are on a liquid diet. Nutrient rich solid foods are important to avoid this health problem.
6. Gastrointestinal problems
Most people follow liquid diet for weight loss, but a common side effect of this diet is constipation. Once your body gets used to liquids, it experiences mamy problems in getting back to the normal schedule of solids. In fact, while following a liquid diet, you will even suffer from constipation more often. Liquid diet should changed to semi liquid diet and then back to solid food eventually. It is also important that the body will not be able to make space for very heavy foods instantly.