There is a new regimen that all nutritionists are talking about. We tell you what it is about and we tell you the pros and cons of it
If you are trying to lose weight and the tips to eat moderately and healthily have not worked for you or are not for you, it is more than likely that you are searching for crash diets on Google. Although the most intelligent thing is to readjust your diet to lose weight little by little, the truth is that it is not a bad idea to make a regimen to lose the first kilos and the accumulated liquid weight.
However, you have to choose well. Many people around the world are following the so-called ' snake diet ', and some nutritionists are sounding the alarm about its danger to health. We tell you what this regime is about and the pros and cons of following it.
The controversial 'snake diet'
The ' snake diet ' has been promoted by Cole Robinson, a food guru who boasts on his Instagram account how effective it is.
The initial phase of this regimen consists of making dinner as normal and then fasting for 48 hours and drinking only the snake juice that this man sells, which is basically a drink with water, sea salt and potassium chloride (a substitute of salt), and is intended to help replenish electrolytes in the body. During these two days, the user must remain inactive. That is, sofa, blanket, stroll and little else.
The second phase begins after the first two days of fasting, and consists of following a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat with vegetable dishes, meat or fatty fish. After about a week, a new fast should be done, this time for 72 hours. During these three days, the shakes sold by Robinson will also be taken, which cost $ 39.99 / 30 packages and have not been tested by the US Department of Health.
Ketosis is the secret of this diet
The objective of the 'snake diet', and the reason why it is so effective and fast, is because the body manages to 'enter ketosis’, that is, in a state of burning fat that can also be achieved with the keto or dukan diet, for example.
These types of regimens, in which carbohydrates are prohibited, cause fat stores to be converted into ketones, which feed the muscles and the brain instead of carbohydrates. The result is increased fat burning and relatively rapid weight loss compared to a traditional diet.
Snake Diet Health Risks
Although it is evident that it helps to lose weight in a short time, it is important to consider how following this type of diet can affect our health.
The creator of the regimen claims that when you eat more food than your body can easily burn or use, this excess is stored as fat. And this is true, but it is still not convenient to starve yourself or stop eating completely for days to lose weight.
Be careful with ketosis as it can lead to severe ketoacidosis, which can induce coma or lead to death.
Robinson assures that obese people can stop eating for days because they have excess fat reserves to survive, since they can convert it into energy and thus lose weight, but does not consider the dreaded rebound effect, which occurs when the user stops doing the severe regime and begins to eat normally, gaining a lot and suddenly.
When it comes to ketosis, it's also important not to push the limits. The greatest risk is reaching the state of ketoacidosis, which occurs when we prolong the state of ketosis for too long. When excess ketones build up in the body, the blood becomes acidic. Severe ketoacidosis can induce coma or even death; and acidosis, in general. It can trigger bad breath, headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, constipation, and loss of bone density. Rapid weight loss can also increase the risk of gallstones.
Conclusion: better eat in a balanced way
This plan, like the controversial Dukan diet, has both proponents and detractors. We recommend that if you are going to start a regimen, you first discuss it with a nutritionist or health professional specialized in food.
And, as always, it is better that you reduce your caloric intake progressively and eat real foods (vegetables, proteins, water ...), that you take less good carbohydrates (fruits) and fats (olive oil, nuts), as well as that you eliminate processed foods (carbohydrates without nutritional load) and loaded with trans fats (junk food).
The Ketogenic diets, also known as keto diet, has been snatching the limelight of the world ever since the “quick weight loss” industry started gaining momentum. Keto diet was initially invented to treat health conditions like epilepsy and seizures. Now, since celebrities started endorsing the keto diet for weight loss and management, it is now being widely used for weight loss and for the management of diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.