The snake diet is an extreme diet for weight loss. Though it might be effective, but it’s not healthy or sustainable in the long run. Know its principle and method.
The snake diet
The snake diet is a fad diet for weight loss. It is an extreme diet and is projected as a lifestyle. But it is not healthy or sustainable in the long term. The principle of this diet is to have a very large meal. And after that fast as long as possible until you have the next meal.
The creator of this diet is Cole Robinson and he is not a health professional. He calls it proactive eating. The idea is to narrow your eating period to one of two hours in a day. This is intentional and deliberate. The dieter can have snake juice during fasting period. And then fast as long as he or she feels good with it.
The Snake diet (Source: Amazon)The diet starts with a supper the night before the fast. Then you fast and refeed and the cycle continues. The duration between fasting and refeeding would vary and depend on the individual’s capacity and will power. But first fast period is of 48 hours. And during fasting, the creator advises to have snake juice. But what is the snake juice?
The snake juice
The snake juice is not sourced from snakes. But it is an electrolyte drink. It has to be made at home. It has water, a sodium-free potassium chloride, Himalayan pink salt, baking soda, and food-grade edible Epsom salt. But prepackaged versions of this juice are also now available. The dieter is advised to take three packets of these commercial product in a day. This is an unresearched product and its efficacy and safety is unclear.
The snake juice (Source: Today)During the refeeding period, one can eat. Nothing is mentioned on what to eat. But emphasis is on simple meals with no gorging but with consistency. This sounds difficult to follow after a period of long fasting. Because a person will binge eating after a long fasting.
Once you reach your weight goal, you enter the maintenance phase of fasting of 24 to 48 hours and refeeding. Urine testing for ketones is part of this diet plan. The diet moves the body into ketosis and this is checked via urine. Daily weighing is a must. One can join online motivation groups and post photos of their weight loss journey on it.
Health risks
The diet is extremely restrictive and rigorous. It could lead to binge eating and eating disorders. Moreover, there might be nutritional deficiencies creeping in with this diet. The gut and immune system might be affected worst.
The creator wrongly states that an obese person needs only salt water because he or she has fats for burning and energy. Having said that, what about the other nutrients that one needs for body growth and energy?
The snake juice of Snake diet (Source: Health line)Read here: What is the Ikaria diet? Foods and meal details, secret of longevity!
And the diet could turn lethal with severe ketoacidosis. Additionally, it can cause a bad breath, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, constipation, and bone loss. Rapid weight loss is a risk factor for gallstones. Also, with fat, lean muscle mass is also lost. This can cause weakness. The diet lacks scientific backing. And Cole on his YouTube channel makes derogatory remarks such as calling obese people fatties. His medical knowledge is zero and inaccurate.