Videos on fruit diets do regular rounds on social media, with many promising them to give 'quick' weight loss results. A common promise is that consuming only fruits for three days, i.e., 72 hours, can have amazing effects on physical health. Fruits are the best way to remove toxins from the body and lose weight. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. Eating fruits is essential for the smooth functioning of the body. But what happens if you eat only fruits for three days?
The claims
A diet containing only fruits is called a fruitarian diet. According to the proponents of this diet, digestion improves after 12 hours of eating just fruits. They say your body will start digesting and absorbing the nutrients contained in fruits. If you have abdominal pain, it will decrease during this time. The fruits are low in calories, and hence, the fat in your body burns on the second day of the fruit diet. It is said that by starting to use already stored fat, the body enters a state of ketosis. The promises go on and on.
The reality
Experts say that since fruits are rich in carbohydrates, not only does ketosis not happen in such a short time, but it can also lead to a lack of nutrients. While fruit detox promotion videos say that on the third day, the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in fruits can stimulate the immune system, ward off diseases, and give the skin a more youthful and glowing look, experts say this doesn't happen overnight, adding that the best way to consume fruits is to have low amounts of fruits regularly along with food.
Since most fruits are high in natural sugar content, consuming only these for a long period can increase your risk of weight gain as well. It can also lead to tooth decay, as fruits like oranges are high in acid and can destroy the enamel of the tooth. It can also lead to a lack of protein, iron, calcium, vitamins B and D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids in the body. This can also lead to an addiction to junk food. So instead of following such diets, the healthier way is to eat a balanced diet and increase physical activity.
