0
en
US
Free Shipping on Orders Above $25
Free delivery from $25 purchase
× Supersmart Learn by health topic New articles Popular articles Visit our shop My account Smart Prescription Blog Loyalty program Language: English
Slimming and weight control Guides and tutorials

Mono diets – apples, bananas, etc. What results can you expect?

Eating one type of food (apples, bananas, grapes, wholegrain rice, etc.) for several days in order to lose weight and detoxify the body? Discover whether the monodiet is worth following or not.
Detox monodiet of green apples
A monodiet consists of eating a single food for several days in a row.
Rédaction Supersmart.
2021-07-20Commentaires (0)

Monodiet: definition

As the name suggests, a monodiet, or monotrophic diet, consists of eating just one food for several days at a time.

In practice, those following a monodiet eat enough of a single food throughout the day to sate their hunger, usually for a maximum of 3 days .

The monodiet is accompanied by increased consumption of teas, infusions, flavored waters, etc, the only proviso being that these extra fluids do not contain added sugar. So in theory, this means no kefir or kombucha.

The most common food choices for a monodiet are apples, bananas, grapes and wholegrain rice but you could theoretically choose any basic non-processed food (potato, sweet potato, peach, apricot, quinoa, etc.)

The monodiet for weight loss?

Monodiets became popular in 2016 after an American magician published a book describing how he lost 10 kilos in 5 weeks by only eating potatoes (1).

Since then, this type of diet has grown in popularity among those wishing to achieve rapid weight loss – despite warnings from nutritionists.

In actual fact, the monodiet is similar to fasting, in that after the first 24 hours, the body draws primarily on its reserves of glycogen, a form of carbohydrate found mainly in the muscles and liver, to meet its needs. It also draws on muscle – its major protein reserve, and to a lesser degree, adipose tissue (2-3).

In addition, a monodiet usually triggers a significant loss of water. On balance then, the weight loss achieved as a result of following a monodiet for 2 to 3 days is essentially related to loss of glycogen, water, muscle and, to lesser degree, fat. It is therefore not a good diet for achieving weight loss.

To lose weight, you need to eat a balanced diet which both provides all the macronutrients and micronutrients you need and at the same time, induces a slight calorie deficit. Taking exercise as well will obviously help too.

Risks associated with a monodiet

This is all the more important as a monodiet poses a number of risks to health. The first of these is excess fructose when the chosen food is apples, bananas or other fruit.

In fact, to stay fit and have enough energy, you need to eat 1600 kcal a day which would mean consuming, for example:

Yet the adverse effects of too much fructose start to appear at 100g a day in a healthy adult, and at just 60g a day in a type 2 diabetic.

What’s more, digesting fructose can often cause diarrhea, flatulence and bloating, particularly in people who have trouble absorbing it and in older individuals, as digestibility of fructose decreases with age (5).

Most importantly, fructose consumption leads to the production of fatty acids by the gut which results in raised triglyceride levels in the blood. In addition, excessive fructose consumption promotes fatty liver (6).

It’s clear then that relying exclusively on fruit to meet your calorie needs produces the same effects as alcohol consumption. Not exactly what you want from a detox …

What’s more, a monodiet does not provide the macronutrients or micronutrients necessary to maintain good health: protein, fats, minerals, trace-elements, omega-3, etc.

There’s no problem with occasionally following a monodiet for the odd meal or two, or for a whole day, in order to give your digestive system a rest. But to eat one type of food for several days, even if that food is intrinsically healthy, amounts to dietary madness.

Is the monodiet a good way to detox?

It’s claimed that a monodiet offers the additional benefit of detoxifying the body. The reasons given are that a monodiet allows the gut and liver to rest and to get rid of toxins produced as a result of digestion.

But when your body’s functioning well and you’re eating a balanced diet, there’s absolutely no need to follow a ‘detox’ diet.

And as we’ve seen, fruit-based monodiets actually have an adverse effect on the liver and blood triglyceride levels.

Yet again, the best way of thoroughly ‘cleansing’ your system and detoxing your body is to eat a healthy, balanced diet free from processed foods and low in refined sugars. An acid-base diet is perfect in this respect.

And if you’re looking for a helping hand when it comes to the health of your liver, you’re best off taking Liver Support Formula, which contains artichoke (Cynara scolymus), Chlorella algae and milk thistle (Silybum marianum), all of which are good for liver health (7-9) as well as Picrorhiza kurroa royle, recognized for its liver-protective effects (10). You could also choose a supplement containing desmodium, part of the Fabaceae family, also recognized for its hepatoprotective properties (11).

References

  1. Penn, Jillette, « Presto ! How I made over 100 pounds disappear and other magical tales »
  2. MAUGHAN, R. J., FALLAH, J., et COYLE, E. F. The effects of fasting on metabolism and performance. British journal of sports medicine, 2010, vol. 44, no 7, p. 490-494.
  3. JENSEN, Michael D., EKBERG, Karin, et LANDAU, Bernard R. Lipid metabolism during fasting. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology And Metabolism, 2001, vol. 281, no 4, p. E789-E793.
  4. http://ceed-diabete.org/blog/le-fructose-ange-ou-demon/
  5. DORNAS, Waleska C., DE LIMA, Wanderson G., PEDROSA, Maria L., et al.Health implications of high-fructose intake and current research. Advances in nutrition, 2015, vol. 6, no 6, p. 729-737.
  6. WANG, D. David, SIEVENPIPER, John L., DE SOUZA, Russell J., et al.Effect of fructose on postprandial triglycerides: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled feeding trials. Atherosclerosis, 2014, vol. 232, no 1, p. 125-133.
  7. KRAFT, K. Artichoke leaf extract—recent findings reflecting effects on lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts. Phytomedicine, 1997, vol. 4, no 4, p. 369-378.
  8. SHIM, Jae-Young, SHIN, Hye-seoung, HAN, Jae-Gab, et al.Protective effects of Chlorella vulgaris on liver toxicity in cadmium-administered rats. Journal of medicinal food, 2008, vol. 11, no 3, p. 479-485.
  9. SUCHÝ, P., STRAKOVÁ, E., KUMMER, V., et al.Hepatoprotective effects of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed cakes during the chicken broiler fattening. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 2008, vol. 77, no 1, p. 31-38.
  10. VAIDYA, A. B., ANTARKAR, D. S., DOSHI, J. C., et al.Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutaki) Royle ex Benth as a hepatoprotective agent--experimental & clinical studies. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 1996, vol. 42, no 4, p. 105.
  11. KALYANI, G. A., RAMESH, C. K., et KRISHNA, V. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Desmodium triquetrum DC. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2011, vol. 73, no 4, p. 463.
SharePinterest

Commentaires

You must be connected to your account to leave a comment
Be the first to review this article
Our selection of articles
Drink green tea to lose weight
Green tea for weight loss: does it really work?

It’s been said that it cleanses and detoxifies the body, burns fat and suppresses the appetite … In short, it’s credited with many benefits, due in particular to its high content of powerful flavonoids called catechins. But can green tea really help you lose weight?

Woman who has taken a natural appetite-suppressant
What is the most effective natural appetite-suppressant?

Prone to cravings? Unable to control your sweet tooth? Discover the best natural appetite-suppressants for effortlessly curbing your hunger pangs.

Ultra-processed foods
What are processed foods? How can they be replaced?

There are more processed foods in our cupboards and fridges than you might think. Learn how to recognize them and replace them with healthier options.

Dark, white and milk chocolate
What’s the best type of chocolate for your health?

Milk, dark, white, fruity or spiced chocolate … What are the pros and cons of chocolate in terms of our health? Which type should you choose and which should you avoid?

Fat cells (adipocytes) under the microscope
That’s what happens to your fat cells when you put on weight

If you’re overweight or have developed a paunch, you’re probably suffering from chronic inflammation of your adipose tissue. This is a silent pathological process which sooner or later will become a ticking time bomb, so it makes sense to read up on the latest findings and take action fast.

Ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph
The 3 types of metabolism: which is yours? What can you do to optimize it?

Which is your morphotype and metabolism according to William Sheldon’s characterisation? Discover how to gain, stabilise or lose weight, depending on your particular classification.

Products which must be of interest

© 1997-2023 Fondation pour le Libre Choix. All rights reserved
© 1997-2023 Fondation pour le Libre Choix. All rights reserved
Nortonx
secure
We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using this website you agree with our privacy policy I accept cookiesx
Warning
ok