Water & Vegetable Diet

A water and vegetable regimen is one of the most extreme forms of diets. Typically it is used for fasting, cleansing, detoxing and extreme weight loss. Because of the implications and health risks of the diet, you should always consult your doctor first, letting him know the duration and strictness you are planning to follow.

Daily routine

Drink a glass of water upon arising, and have an all vegetable and water drink for breakfast. Have another glass of water midmorning. Drink a fourth glass of water at lunch with a salad without croutons or dressing. At midafternoon you drink another glass of water and snack on crunchy vegetables such as celery and broccoli. Evening is another glass of water and some lightly steamed or stir-fried vegetables. In the strictest versions of the diet, corn, carrots and potatoes are not counted as vegetables, and therefore not allowed, because they are relatively starchy compared to other vegetables, and fruits are excluded because of their higher sugar content. In the least strict versions, dieters are allowed to include non-animal proteins such as nuts and seeds during the day, particularly during snacks and lunch.

Juicing

In this variation of the diet, fresh vegetables and water are combined in a food processor to make juices that you sip on all day---typically three or four 8-ounce glasses a day. The juices are most often made from vegetables including cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, lettuces, sprouts and celery. The thought behind it is that the blending will make digestion and the absorption of nutrients easier for your body.

Cabbage soup diet

This regimen typically lasts seven days. Dieters are encouraged to drink at least four glasses of water a day, take a multivitamin and eat as much of the cabbage soup as they want. The cabbage soup recipe can vary, but typically includes cabbage, green onions, green peppers, tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, soup mix and vegetable juice.

Raw food diet

During a raw food diet, you are recommended not to eat items that have been cooked above 115 degrees. Water and vegetables make up a huge portion of this diet, as they naturally don't need to be cooked. Raw foodists claim they get their protein from the raw vegetables, which have twice as much protein as cooked vegetables, as well as from nuts and seeds. This diet also typically consists of grains and fruits, and non-vegan versions can even include raw fish, cheese and meat.

Health effects

Long-term consumption of an all water and vegetable diet will not give your body the range of nutrients it needs, and can lead to the same health symptoms of anorexia nervosa and starvation. Health problems can include an irregular heartbeat, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, constipation, bloating, infertility, depression and death. Physical side effects may consist of loss of hair, rough, sunken eyes and rough and scaly skin.