How to Diet by Consuming Water

Healthy - There are various diets that can be chosen to lose weight, one of which is the water diet or water fasting. However, although it looks simple, this diet is actually quite difficult to do.

Not only does it meet the body's fluid needs, losing weight is also one of the benefits of water. The reason is, meeting fluid needs can increase the body's metabolic performance in burning fat.

So, what is the right way to do a water diet so that your weight can drop quickly? Let's see the full explanation below.

What is a Water Diet (Water Fasting)?

A water diet or water fasting is a diet that is done by not consuming anything other than water. Someone who is on a water diet is only allowed to drink water. In fact, consuming electrolyte drinks is also not recommended.

By only consuming water, the body will not get calorie intake. Given that water does not contain any calories at all. Over time, weight will certainly decrease. However, if done carelessly or not following the right guidelines, this type of diet can actually cause nutritional deficiencies.

Benefits of a Water Diet

If done correctly, the benefits of a water diet in the short term can be felt directly by people with heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity (overweight), and diabetes.

Here are some of the benefits of a water diet:

• Helps the body's regeneration process.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
• Helps manage stress.
• Is a Water Diet Safe?
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It should be noted that a water diet is actually only recommended for a short period of time, namely 1-3 days. If more than that, the body is at risk of experiencing several health complaints, such as:

Dehydration

Dehydration is a condition when the body lacks fluid intake. So, how can a water diet actually cause dehydration?

The reason is, data from Nutrition Reviews states that as much as 20-30% of the body's water intake is obtained from the food consumed. So, if you only drink water and don't eat any food, then the risk of dehydration remains.

Nutritional Deficiencies

A water diet does not allow the consumption of any food, except water. On the other hand, water is not only calorie-free, but also does not contain the nutrients the body needs, such as protein, fat, and vitamins.

In just 24 hours, this diet can slow down brain performance. As a result, several symptoms of health problems appear, such as being prone to migraines, difficulty concentrating, confusion, being easily emotional, and even hallucinating.

How to Do a Safe Water Diet

It should be noted that the water diet program is not intended to be carried out in the long term, but can only be done for 24-72 hours or 1-3 days and followed by a refeeding phase. If this is your first time, start preparing 3-4 days in advance by gradually reducing your food portions.

The following is a complete explanation of how to do a water diet correctly and safely.

1. Start by Reducing Food Portions

Before starting water fasting, first determine the right time to start the diet, namely when the body does not need a lot of energy. If you have set a time, start preparing your nutritional intake well in advance of the diet.

Then, start reducing your food portions little by little for a few days before the diet. However, during this phase, make sure your body still gets enough nutrients. Choose foods that also contain a lot of energy.

On the first days of fasting, try consuming drinks that are rich in nutrients and filling, such as smoothies or fruit juices. Once you are used to it, then do water fasting without eating anything.

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2. Drink Water When You Feel Hungry

While on a water diet, immediately increase your consumption of water when you feel hungry. You can also get used to drinking water at least every two hours. This habit can help ensure that your body gets the intake at the right time.

3. Avoid Heavy Physical Activity

Because during water fasting the body does not get enough nutrients, avoid exercising too hard so as not to become dehydrated or exhausted. Doing heavy physical activity also tends to cause the desire to drink excessively.

The reason is, drinking too much water can actually have a negative impact on your health. Drinking too much water can cause overhydration and water poisoning. Remember, don't push yourself too hard, stop your diet immediately if you feel sick or too weak.

4. Getting to Know Food Again (Refeeding)

After undergoing a water diet, the desire to eat large portions must be restrained first. This is because immediately eating large portions after only drinking water can cause refeeding syndrome.

Refeeding syndrome is a condition that can cause fatal health problems because the body experiences changes in fluid and electrolyte balance too quickly. Symptoms of refeeding syndrome can vary from mild to severe symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, lethargy, to respiratory problems, heart failure, hypotension, arrhythmia, delirium, coma, and death. That is why the refeeding phase should not be done too quickly and must be done gradually.

In addition to implementing some of the methods above, you can also consult a doctor before undergoing water fasting, especially if you have certain medical conditions. In addition, a doctor can also help determine the right diet for you according to your health condition.