How Do Fruit Diets Work?

What is a Fruit Diet?

Fruit diets are a type of detoxification program that involves consuming large quantities of fruits. Some types of fruit diets also allow for consumption of limited quantities of protein drinks, vegetables, lean meat, eggs and juice. Fruit diets generally do not include grains, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and dairy products. They are usually followed for a period of a few days.

How Fruit Diets Work

Because fruit diets involve consuming almost solely fruits, they flush out the system. Fruits contain a high concentration of water, and that extra water combined with a diet that's low in sodium helps to release water weight from the body. This can reduce puffiness and swelling throughout the body. Fruit diets also are generally very low-calorie, with the average daily intake ranging from about 900 calories to 1,500 calories. This is, in some cases, far below the normal caloric intake for an average adult. Proponents of all-fruit diets generally claim that, despite the low caloric requirements of such programs, the body's metabolic rate does not drop because it must digest the fruits, which are more complex than the liquids that many detoxification programs are based around.

Dangers of Fruit Diets

Because of the low caloric intake that most fruit diets call for, they are not ideal for long-term use. For this reason, most fruit diets last no longer than three days. Fruit diets should never be attempted by those with specialized nutrition needs, such as diabetics and pregnant women. You should always consult a doctor before embarking on a new diet plan, and the fruit diet is no exception to this rule. A doctor will be able to tell you whether or not a fruit diet is a safe option for you.