Fruit Juice Diet for Weight Loss

A short-term fruit juice diet might kick-start a new diet, but to lose weight permanently, eating a well-rounded diet that includes whole vegetables, fruits, low-fat protein, whole grains and non-saturated fats is best.

Some well-known diets have a beginning phase of eating only certain low-sugar fruits. This is believed to increase weight loss. By consuming only fruit juice, you cleanse and detox, losing water weight. Fruit juice does not provide fiber, protein and other nutrients needed for long-term health.

Short-term Fruit Juice Diet

If you're going to juice to lose weight, it is best to juice fresh whole fruits. Avoid canned, frozen, or processed juices: they lack the vitamins and enzymes found in freshly extracted juice.

If you have no serious health issues, you could try a short juice diet by consuming five to six 8-oz. glasses of fruit juice and another six 8-oz. glasses of filtered water for two to four days. Consume at least 1200 to 1500 calories per day. To move your bowels, use Epsom salts (two tsp. in water, once only).

If you feel dizzy or weak, or are unable to function normally at work or at home, discontinue the juice-only diet and gradually add steamed vegetables, whole grains and low-fat proteins.

Health Hazards of Crash Dieting

Following a fresh-fruit juice diet for a few days should be okay, but do not undergo heavy physical exercise that would be counterproductive. If you consume less than 1,000 calories per day, for example, your metabolism--the rate at which your body burns calories--slows down.

If you eat too few calories, your body begins to metabolize its own muscle tissue. This is counterproductive to long-term health and permanent weight loss. To lose weight, build and preserve lean muscle tissue.

To do that requires eating lean protein and a balanced diet that does not eliminate any food groups: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, low-fat dairy, low-fat proteins and non-saturated fats.

Fruit juicing for three to four days is generally safe for most people but once you return to eating solid food, the danger is overeating and gaining back more weight than where you started.

What Can I Eat to Lose Weight Quickly?

There are no safe, quick fixes to weight loss: it is a lifestyle change. Only under direct medical supervision is it safe to follow a fruit juice diet for more than four or five days.

Instead, consult reputable sources such as My Food Pyramid designed by a team of nutritionists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They emphasize getting no more than 30 percent of your calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of that from saturated fats (fats that are solid at room temperature). They also have food pyramids for vegans, vegetarians, women in menopause and people over 55.

Fruit juicing for three to four days is generally safe for most people but, once you return to eating solid food, there is a danger of overeating and gaining back more weight than you lost.