What is Liquid Diet & How it Helps in Weight Loss

The rising popularity of a liquid diet for weight loss is making many contemplate starting one. If you’re willing to lose weight and are looking for some effective methods to achieve the desired results, you must have come across the concept of a liquid diet. To help you determine whether it is the right weight loss approach for you or not, we’ve curated this epic guide featuring all the crucial information about a liquid diet. If you want to start a liquid diet and lose weight, make sure you read until the end.

What is a Liquid Diet?

As the name suggests, a liquid diet plan for weight loss is a plan consisting of nothing but drinks. It can be juices, soups, smoothies, or any other meal in a liquid form. A liquid diet mainly involves juices of fresh fruits and vegetables, tea, soups, etc. These drinks are extremely low on calories and have little to no fat content. It helps people lose weight in the short run. Also know about diet to reverse prediabetes.

Types of Liquid Diets

Knowing all the different types of liquid diets will help you pick the best liquid diet for weight loss. You can start with any one from the following:

• Detox/Cleansing Liquid Diet

A detox/cleansing diet helps you remove toxins from your system, indirectly aiding your weight loss. Only vegetable and fruit juices are allowed in this diet. You can consider following this liquid once a week every month to see visible results. However, you should not be on this diet for more than a day to avoid health complications. 

• Medical Liquid Diet

The name makes it clear. It is not the regular liquid diet observed to lose weight. A medical liquid diet is conducted according to a doctor’s instructions prior to a surgery or any other medical procedure. It is also suggested to patients who are recovering from a medical procedure. Water, tea, apple juice, and broth are mainly consumed in this diet.

• Meal Replacement Liquid Diet

If you’re trying to efficiently lose weight, you can start with a meal replacement liquid diet. This diet can be helpful if you experience frequent hunger pangs and have difficulty regulating your appetite. You replace your regular meals with a low-calorie shake or drink in this diet. Thick juices can replace your breakfast and lunch without leaving you feeling hungry. 

If you are just starting a liquid diet, do it for a day. Begin with a meal replacement liquid diet and monitor how it makes you feel.  Also know about diabetic diet chart

How do Liquid Diets Really Help in Weight Loss?

A liquid diet is the best way to detoxify your system, boost your metabolism, and support your digestive health. A liquid diet can easily help you lose weight in the following ways:

• Lower Calorie Intake

Liquid diet items low in calories effectively helps in weight loss. Consumption of watery-clear fluids leads to lower calorie intake, resulting in using stored body fat as the only fuel source. The more fat is used to generate energy, the more weight you’ll use.

• Body Detoxification

If you begin your 5-day liquid diet weight loss journey, you can undoubtedly detoxify your body. Try to pick smoothies, juices, broths, and other liquid items high in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. These drinks help improve gastrointestinal health, cleanse the digestive tract, and assist in weight loss.

• Easy on Your Digestive System

Liquid food items are easy to digest, absorb, and excrete, making your digestive system feel light and clean. Once you improve your digestive health, you can eventually notice a visible weight loss. 

Besides the points covered above, a liquid diet is highly nutritious. It is easy to make and can be the best meal replacement. Also know about prediabetes diet.

How Long Should You Be on a Liquid Diet?

A prolonged liquid diet can make you malnourished and weaken your body. Irrespective of the items you choose for your liquid diet, they will not be as nutrition-dense as your regular meals. Hence, you should consult your doctor before adopting a liquid diet for more than 24 hours. Know about is honey good for diabetes?.

Things to Consume & Avoid on a Liquid Diet

Irrespective of the duration of your liquid diet plan for weight loss, you must be aware of particular items that should be consumed and the items that should be avoided to get the desired results. If you’re planning to begin a liquid diet, you can consider including the following:

• Honey/syrup
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Broth
• Herbs
• Sorbet
• Popsicles
• Flavored water
• Tea/Coffee
• Yogurt
• Sports drink
• Creamed soup
• Cold-pressed juices
• Soy milk

You can add other items that have little to no fat and are low calorie. Now let’s quickly check the items that should be avoided. The following items should always be excluded from a liquid diet:

• Mashed fruits and vegetables
• Soups with noodles
• Ice cream with solids in it
• Meat
• Carbonated beverages
• Nuts and seeds

Try to avoid any solid food items during your liquid diet. It will prevent you from getting the maximum benefit from a liquid diet. Also know about muscle strength foods.

Is a Liquid Diet Good for You?

A liquid diet doesn’t always provide the necessary nutrients and calories, so it isn’t feasible in the long term. You can take a liquid diet for a day to detoxify your system, but it shouldn’t be extended beyond that without any doctor’s guidance. Prolonged adoption of a liquid diet can make you feel weak, deprive your body of essential micronutrients, and deteriorate your health. Pregnant women, older adults, and children should avoid taking a liquid diet.  Also know about plant based diet for diabetes.

5-day Liquid Diet Chart for Weight Loss

If you’re ready to take a 5-day liquid weight loss challenge, you can consider following the below-shared diet chart. People with any health concerns should get it checked and approved by their doctor to prevent any health hazards. 

Not everyone has the same health condition; hence, it is recommended to get this diet chart approved by your doctor for safety purposes. 

Bottomline

Following a liquid diet for weight loss can give you quick results. It is one reason behind its soaring popularity. But not everyone should try it for a longer period because of the associated health risks. If you’re having any pre-existing health conditions, we suggest not following a liquid diet without a doctor’s guidance. Also read about diet chart for diabetes and how it can help to manage diabetes. Also know how to reverse prediabetes.

FAQ

Can You Lose Any Weight Fast with Liquid Diet?

In the short run, people can lose weight with a liquid diet, but it isn’t healthy and sustainable. You can increase weight gain faster than before if you adopt a liquid diet for some time and then return to the usual diet. Moreover, a liquid diet can make you feel weak. 

How Much Weight Can You Lose Through Liquid Diet?

Not everyone’s body will react similarly to a liquid diet, so the amount of weight loss can significantly vary and will vary from one individual to another. But generally, you can expect to lose approximately 1 to 2 kg a week. Most liquid diets are in the calorie range of 400 to 800, eliminating fat consumption. It leads to visible weight loss.  

What Happens If You Go On a Liquid Diet for a Month?

Depriving your body of solid food translates to not giving your body the required nutrition. According to various studies, a liquid diet can leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied. It can also increase your  sensitivity to fatigue, constipation, heart problems, brittle nails, cold, and even give rise to malnutrition symptoms.