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What is Fruit Fasting?

Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke

Fruit fasting is a weight loss plan that consists primarily of raw fresh fruit. Advocates of the diet believe that eating only fruit will cleanse the body of any toxins from unhealthy or processed foods, as well as help a dieter lose weight quickly. It is generally only recommended for short periods of time, often three days to a week, because fruit may not be a sufficient source of all the nutrients a person needs.

The beginning phase of a typical fruit fast usually allows a participant to eat a serving of fresh fruit for each of the first two meals of the day. He or she may also be permitted to blend chopped fresh fruit with ice to make a blended drink to replace eating whole fruit. Some plans may call for the last meal of the day to consist of a serving of raw fresh vegetables, while more stringent plans only allow fruit. A participant is usually advised to drink water only and to avoid caffeine, alcohol, or any beverages containing sugar.

Cara cara oranges, which can be eaten on a fruit fast.
Cara cara oranges, which can be eaten on a fruit fast.

Since fruit fasting is generally intended to significantly decreases the amount of calories in a participant’s diet, he or she may experience some symptoms while following the plan. Common symptoms that occur during a fast include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, nasal discharge, and sore throat. Although these symptoms are usually not considered dangerous, the majority of fruit fast plans do not recommend that participants engage in physical activity because they may not be ingesting enough nutrients to safely exercise.

Food fasting may cause abdominal cramping.
Food fasting may cause abdominal cramping.

Once the initial phase of the fruit fasting is completed, many plans also contain instructions for gradually introducing vegetables, protein, and grains back into the diet. After only eating raw fruit for an extended period of time, participants’ digestive systems may not be as used to digesting other types of food. Rapidly reintroducing the digestive system to completely new food after a fruit fast may cause stomachache, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, or constipation. To transition participants back into a more balanced diet, fruit fast plans may recommend adding broth-based soups or small salads into the eating plan for a period of time before allowing participants to resume a more balanced diet plan.

Someone on a fruit fast is usually told to drink water only.
Someone on a fruit fast is usually told to drink water only.

Critics of fruit fasting believe the plan is dangerous because it does not allow participants a sufficient amount of nutrients. They also tend to believe the plan is not as effective at weight loss as it claims to be. Since participants usually lose weight quickly on the plan, critics often argue that they are only losing water from their bodies and not burning actual fat.

Discussion Comments

Animandel

@mobilian33 - I'm not a food expert or a biologist, but I think your goals were too lofty. Most people who normally eat meats, bread and other foods in their diets aren't going to immediately adjust to eating only fruits.

A 3 day fruit fast is more inline with what the experts recommend. Trying to start out with an entire week of nothing but fruit is going to be a stretch for anyone. Even going 5 days when you have not tried the fruit diet or fruit cleanse previously is going to be a challenge. I am not surprised that you began getting severe headaches.

mobilian33

I did a fruit fast with my sister once. I like fruit and I know it is healthy, but after a couple of meals with only juice my body didn't feel the same. I didn't feel right. I think a fruit diet where you eat the whole fruit instead of only drinking the juice from the fruit would be much easier to stick with, and better for your body.

I think the plan was for us to stay on the diet for five days or a full week, I'm not certain which it was supposed to be. Either way, I started getting really bad headaches after two days of nothing but the juices. After three days I gave up on the diet. My sister stuck with the juices for the full length of time, and she said she felt much better.

Laotionne

I have a friend who is doing a fruit cleanse at the moment. She tried to get me to be her partner, so we could help one another stick with the program. Honestly, I am not sure I feel safe doing a fruit cleanse when this is all I am taking into my body. I have tried many fad diets without much success, so I am skeptical in general of diets, including a fruit fasting diet.

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    • Cara cara oranges, which can be eaten on a fruit fast.
      By: andriigorulko
      Cara cara oranges, which can be eaten on a fruit fast.
    • Food fasting may cause abdominal cramping.
      By: Dessie
      Food fasting may cause abdominal cramping.
    • Someone on a fruit fast is usually told to drink water only.
      By: Andrey Kuzmin
      Someone on a fruit fast is usually told to drink water only.
    • In some versions of the fruit diet, raw vegetables can be eaten for the last meal of the day.
      By: Photographee.eu
      In some versions of the fruit diet, raw vegetables can be eaten for the last meal of the day.
    • People undergoing a fruit fast may replace a normal meal with a fruit salad.
      By: natalyka
      People undergoing a fruit fast may replace a normal meal with a fruit salad.