Liquid diet plan for 7 days is the health-promoting dietary plan, which gives you the ultimate way to lose weight naturally. This is one of the best diet plans to achieve a weight loss and it needs fewer calories, especially calories from carbohydrates.
Liquid diet plan for 7 days provides you with inside information and tips on how to get started with a liquid food diet, based on real facts from industry-leading practitioners in the field.
How To Get The Most Out Of A 7-Day Liquid Diet
Talk to your doctor before starting a liquid diet.
Planning a seven-day liquid diet depends on what type of liquid diet you’re on and why. People on a liquid diet for medical reasons, such as an upcoming surgery or an intestinal illness, may have different restrictions than someone on a liquid diet for weight loss purposes, for example.
People on a liquid diet should be under the supervision of a doctor to make sure they get sufficient nutrients. Talk to your physician for a personalized meal plan.
Clear Liquid vs. Full Liquid
Depending on the reason for eating only liquids, you may have to follow a clear liquid or a full liquid diet. According to Stanford University Medical Center, a clear liquid diet includes foods that are liquid at room temperature, or foods you are able to see through. A clear liquid diet should not be followed for more than three to five days and under medical supervision.
A full liquid diet is less restrictive and includes all of the foods on the clear liquid diet, plus foods that are creamed, pureed and milk-based.
Breakfast Options
On a clear liquid diet, you can start your morning off with fruit juice without pulp. Nutritional drinks, such as Boost or Ensure, make products that are allowed for a clear liquid diet and are good for adding calories and protein. Tea and coffee, without milk or cream, are also allowed on this diet.
For a full liquid diet, depending on your doctor’s orders, you may be able to eat cooked cereal like oatmeal or cream of wheat or rice, especially if you thin it down with extra milk. Milk and liquid nutritional supplements are also included on this diet.
You can add variety throughout your seven-day diet by rotating different types of juices and cereals. You can also have fruit smoothies made with yogurt and pureed skinless and seedless fruits, or some kefir, which is a type of drinkable yogurt. If you need to add calories, include honey or maple syrup to sweeten your smoothie and cereal, and use a little melted butter on the cereal as well.
Lunch and Dinner
Clear broth or consommé are the main lunch and dinner choices for a clear liquid diet. Clear gelatin, sports drinks, and plain ice pops are also appropriate choices for meals.
On a full liquid diet, pureed soup is a good choice for lunch and dinner. You can make your own or use an already prepared soup. If you puree it yourself, you may need to strain it to catch any chunks. You can increase your protein intake by adding skim milk powder or protein powder to the liquids or using a meal replacement drink. Serve your soup with tea, milk or a glass of vegetable juice.
Desserts And Snacks
You’ll only be able to eat so much liquid food at one time, so have snacks as well as meals, especially if you aren’t trying to lose weight. Milkshakes, gelatin with whipped cream, pudding, sherbet, ice creams without any chunky add-ins, fruit juice bars, and custard-style yogurt are all allowed on a liquid diet.
Potential Considerations
Diet statistics show liquid diets for weight-loss may be very low in calories, typically containing 800 calories or less per day. This type of diet needs medical supervision or you could wind up not getting enough essential nutrients. While they can lead to rapid weight loss, people often have a hard time maintaining that weight loss once they go back to eating regular foods.
Some people also have difficulty switching back to regular foods and come to rely on liquid meal-replacement drinks, which isn’t particularly healthy. When the time is appropriate to start adding more solid foods in the diet, take your time and slowly add in solid foods to avoid gastrointestinal issues. Consult with a registered dietitian for help.
If you’re lactose-intolerant, avoid regular dairy products during your full liquid diet or take a lactase supplement before eating dairy to avoid undesirable gastrointestinal side effects.
Check with your doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist to make sure your diet includes all the nutrients you need and that it won’t interfere with any health conditions you may have, such as kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or swallowing difficulties. You may need to take supplements, especially if you’re on a liquid diet for more than five days.
What Is A Liquid Diet?
Liquid diets (also called clear liquid diets) are low-calorie foods that are liquid at room temperature (1).
You can either replace one or two meals of your day with liquid foods or go on a total liquid diet. In a liquid diet, you will be consuming calories in liquid form.
You can juice fruits and veggies, make smoothies, or have soup. This diet is most often used for weight loss, but how good is it?
How Do Liquid Diets Help In Weight Loss?
Liquid diets are the go-to diets for many dieters. This is because they help save time, improve metabolic rate, detoxify the body, and support the digestive system, resulting in weight loss and better overall health. Listed below are the ways liquid diets could aid weight loss.
1. Low In Calories
Liquid diets are low in calories as they consist of watery-clear fluids. Studies in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that very-low-calorie diets, including a liquid diet consisting of no more than 500 calories a day, could be effective in reducing weight. This type of diet could work better compared to a low-calorie diet or a restricted normal food diet (2).
When you consume fewer calories, your body will start using up the stored glycogen or fat as the source of fuel. This, in turn, could lead to weight loss.
A study published in The International Journal of Obesity showed that a low-calorie diet or very low-calorie diet resulted in muscle glycogen depletion for a short period. Body fat also decreased, resulting in weight loss (3).
2. Detoxify Your Body
Liquid diets are an excellent way to detoxify your body.
The juices/broths/smoothies are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Rat studies have shown that fruit or vegetable juices are rich in antioxidants and can prevent oxidative damage (4).
The dietary fiber helps cleanse the digestive tract and improves gastrointestinal health (5). Both these actions could have a beneficial impact on weight loss.
3. Nutritious
Liquid food in the juice or smoothie form offers rich nutrition. Remember to drink the juice/smoothie immediately if you are using a centrifugal blender.
Replacing your dinner meal with low-calorie liquid foods improves body composition parameters and may also aid weight loss. In a study, the group of subjects who took a liquid meal replacement seemed to have better weight parameters (6).
Maintaining a balanced calorie intake along with a liquid diet throughout the day can help provide the required nutrients to the body.
4. Easy On The Digestive System
Juices/smoothies/broths are easy on your digestive system. They aid proper digestion, absorption, and excretion. Moreover, the little dietary fiber and water in the liquid diet (by including pulp in juices or smoothies) can keep you full for a long duration. As per one study, a liquid meal replacement was found to have more fiber than a solid meal replacement (7).
5. Convenient
You don’t have to wait for the pan to heat up or scroll through recipes online.
You may simply toss all the ingredients into a blender, and your breakfast/lunch/dinner is ready.
This is a major advantage, more so if we tend to skip a meal or order unhealthy food as cooking could be a time-consuming process. Starving or eating unhealthy could only lead to weight gain in the long run.
These are the many advantages of a liquid diet. The diet is available in different types, and in the following section, we will explore those.
Types Of Liquid Diets For Weight Loss
For beginners, following a liquid diet can be tough. Also, if you are not comfortable going on a complete liquid diet, you have an alternative. Here, we have discussed the different types of liquid diets. Remember to talk to your doctor/dietitian before trying any of these.
1. Detox/Cleansing Liquid Diet
Detox or cleansing liquid diets have gained popularity in the recent past. They may help to detoxify your body, and you may see some results when you go on a detox liquid diet once a week for a month.
In this diet, you will only drink vegetable/fruit juices with herbs for a day. It will not only be a new experience but also can feel refreshing. A few examples of detox/cleansing liquid diets are water fasting and the Master Cleanse.
However, research on detox diets is very limited. We suggest you speak to your doctor about the safety of such diets.
2. Meal Replacement Liquid Diet
Meal replacement liquid foods or shakes are low in calories and could be effective in weight loss.
Certain liquid meal replacement products are high in protein and fiber and low in fat. These could be more effective in regulating appetite and curbing hunger pangs. Some research suggests that liquid meal replacement diets could be as satiating as solid meal replacement diets (7).
The shakes or juices that you take in the place of a full breakfast or lunch are usually low in calories. They can also contain all the macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat) and most micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)
These products are specifically designed to replace solid foods (which may have a higher total calorie count per serving).
3. Medical Liquid Diet
This diet is not for weight loss. You need special attention and supervision by a doctor. This liquid diet is prescribed by a doctor to prep a patient for surgery in the near future or help them recover from an injury. This diet could also be prescribed to ease digestion issues.
Medically prescribed liquid diets require the patients to be on a clear liquid diet. They can only drink water, broth, apple juice, popsicle, syrup, and teas.
Takeaway Point: If you are comfortable, you can go on a detox diet for a day. But for weight loss, it is recommended to go on a meal replacement diet. This will ensure that you get the benefits of solid food as well as liquid juices/broths. If weight loss is your goal, you may want to skip the medically prescribed liquid diet.
Liquid Diet – A Menu Plan To Lose Weight
Detox Liquid Diet Chart
| MEALS | WHAT TO DRINK |
|---|---|
| Early Morning (6:00 a.m.) | 1 cup water with the juice of half a lime |
| Breakfast (7:00 a.m.) | Orange, pomegranate, melon seed powder, and a mint smoothie |
| Mid Morning (10:00 a.m.) | Apple juice |
| Lunch (12:30 p.m.) | Cucumber soup + 1 cup chicken broth |
| Post-lunch (3:30 p.m.) | Buttermilk or Herbal tea |
| Dinner (7:00 p.m.) | Blended squash or Mushroom soup |
Tip: Drink flavored water to keep your hunger at bay.
We have an alternative liquid diet chart that may suit your needs.
Meal Replacement Liquid Diet Chart
| MEALS | WHAT TO DRINK |
|---|---|
| Early Morning (6:00 a.m.) | 1 cup water with the juice of half a lime |
| Breakfast (7:00 a.m.) | Blueberry, oatmeal, dates, 2 almonds, and milk smoothie/meal replacement low-calorie shake |
| Mid Morning (10:00 a.m.) | 1 glass egg nog + 1 cup green tea |
| Lunch (12:30 p.m.) | Mushroom or lentil soup + 1 glass vegetable juice (with pulp) |
| Post-lunch (3:30 p.m.) | Buttermilk with nut powder |
| Dinner (7:00 p.m.) | Vegetable broth with grilled fish/chicken/meal replacement low-calorie shake |
Since the diet is low in calories, you may find it hard in the beginning. But it’s just for a day, and you will soon get used to it.
Tip: Do not do vigorous exercises on this day. You may do some light stretching, go for a slow-paced walk, or meditate.
Are you thinking these are the only foods you are allowed to eat? Well, no. In the following section, we have listed out the foods you can consume while on a liquid diet.
Foods You Can Eat
- Fruits and veggies
- Soy/almond/full-fat milk
- Yogurt and low-cal frozen yogurt
- Raw or scrambled eggs
- Tea/coffee
- Popsicles
- Water
- Cold-pressed juices
- Honey/syrup
- Sports drinks
- Ice cream
- Flavored water
- Broth
- Creamed soup
- Lean protein like fish, chicken, lentils, beans, tofu, mushroom, and soy
- Sorbet
- Herbs
If you are on a detox diet, avoid all types of food in the solid form. You can instead juice them or make a smoothie and consume them. If you want to opt for meal replacements, you can include solid foods (but do ensure you have at least two liquid meals).
Who Should Avoid The Liquid Diet?
Though the liquid diet is good for weight loss, it should be avoided by:
- Pregnant and lactating women
- Children
- Older adults (unless their doctor recommends)
Benefits Of The Liquid Diet
- It could help in detoxification.
- If the liquid diet is low in fiber, it can give the digestive system the required rest (9).
- It improves skin quality.
- It is helpful for those with a painful wisdom tooth.
- It may be useful for those with cancer of the mouth, esophagus, or gums.
- It reduces stomach ulcer pain.
- In some cases, the liquid diet could be useful for people who have undergone surgery of the stomach. It may help them transition to solid foods, though it may not be necessary in majority of the cases (10).
Like any extreme diet, a liquid diet can also turn dangerous if you follow it continuously for days. Take a look at its possible side effects.
Possible Dangers Of The Liquid Diet
Here are the dangers of being on a liquid diet continuously for too long:
- Your immunity will become weak.
- You will feel light-headed and dizzy.
- Cravings for food may increase, leading to overeating.
- It can lead to muscle loss and weaken your bones.
- It may prevent proper brain functioning.
- It may lead to mood swings and irrational thoughts.
- It makes you prone to cough and cold.
- Causes nausea.
There is little research substantiating these side effects. But as per anecdotal evidence, following the liquid diet for several days could cause any of the above-mentioned side effects.
A liquid diet involves replacing all or some meals in a day with clear fluids like broths, juices, and soups. A liquid diet for weight loss can work by drastically cutting down the number of calories consumed in a day and detoxifying the digestive system. However, it is not a plan that should be used long-term as it can cause loss of muscle mass and manifest in other side effects and health concerns. Avoid this diet if you are pregnant, lactating, underage, or above 60 years of age (unless prescribed by your doctor).
Diet Chart For Liquid
Losing weight has become a concern for people suffering from obesity. The increased weight has resulted in various heart related and other body problems. Some health conscious people also wish to lose weight. There are various means of losing weight which include workouts, skipping meals, or following a low calorie diet etc., People have their own remedies, but in the end, everyone tries to find minimal ways to reduce the body weight.
Liquid diet, which as the name suggests, means procuring liquids as a part of the diet. Most of the calories or, in some cases, all of it comes from the liquids. The liquid diet is a customisable diet, it could replace all the meals with fruit, vegetables or milkshakes taken in a few intervals. Or, the diet could skip few meals for the day with liquids.
Consuming this diet means consuming less calories. This will help in reducing weight. But, drastically shifting to such diet will create an imbalance in the body metabolism. Therefore, liquid diets need to be consumed in proper proportion and should be a complement to the daily meals.
Diet Chart
| Sunday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup mix fruit juce |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup clear vegetable soup |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup coconut water |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup rice water |
| Monday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup clear tomato soup |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup thin banana shake |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup dal soup |
| Tuesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup almond milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup buttermilk |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup thin custard |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup pomegranate juice |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup clear mushroom soup |
| Wednesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup almond milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup vegetable juice |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup clear chicken soup |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup coconut water |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk |
| Thursday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup orange juice |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup clear egg soup |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup moong dal soup |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup clear vegetable soup |
| Friday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup barley water |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup buttermilk |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup redgram dal soup |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup clear sweetcorn soup |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup chicken stew |
| Saturday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup oats water |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup lassi |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup vegetable (potato + carrot + beetroot) stock |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup clear okra soup |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk |
Food Items To Limit
- Mashed fruits and vegetables, such as mashed avocado
- Nuts and Seeds
- Hard and soft cheese
- Soups with noodles, rice, or other chunks in it
- Ice cream with solids in it
- Bread
- Whole cereals and other grains
- Carbonated beverages, such as sparkling water and soda
- Meat
Do’s And Dont’s
Do’s:
- For optimal results from your juice fast, elect a wide variety of vegetables and fruits.
- Seven or more days before the fast, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, dairy, wheat, animal meat, fish, and eggs are typically reduced or eliminated from the diet.
- Approximately 6 glasses of room temperature or warm filtered water is often recommended in addition to the juice.
- Organic fruits and vegetables are usually recommended.
- Green vegetables and sprouts contain the pigment chlorophyll, which juice proponents believe are especially beneficial during a juice fast.
Don’ts:
- Pregnant or nursing women or children should never attempt a juice fast.
- People with diabetes, low blood sugar, eating disorders, kidney disease, liver disease, malnutrition, addictions, underweight, anemia, impaired immune function, infection, nutritional deficiency, low blood pressure, ulcerative colitis, cancer, terminal illness, epilepsy, or other chronic conditions shouldn’t try a juice fast or should do so only under strict medical supervision.
- People shouldn’t try a juice fast before or after surgical procedures.
- People taking prescription medications should consult a health professional skilled in detoxification before trying a juice fast, and should never discontinue or reduce their medications on their own.
Food Items You Can Easily Consume
- Fruits and Vegetables : All fruits or veggies juices
- Soups : Clear broths, strained and pureed vegetable soup
- Dairy : All types of cow’s milk (whole, low-fat, reduced fat, fat-free)
- Fats : Butter, Mayonnaise
- Beverages : Coffee, tea, lemonade
- Deserts : Sweetners