Is juice only diet risky? Here's what experts warn

uice-only diets may seem like a shortcut to health, but doctors say they can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and even organ failure if not medically supervised (Image: Pexels)

A 17-year-old from Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, died under suspicious circumstances, allegedly having survived for nearly three months on a fruit juice-only diet, which has again brought into emphasis the dangers of extremes in online diet fads.

The teenager stopped eating all solid food after watching a YouTube video promoting the liquid-only way of life. He had also allegedly started working out and taking some unknown supplements quite recently, according to reports.

On July 24, after finally eating solid food during a family ritual, he fell ill, throwing up, losing his breath, and collapsing. He was declared dead just a few minutes after. While doctors are still to uncertain of the exact cause, suffocation is suspected, and whether his extreme eating habits led to his death is being examined by experts.

This isn't the first time that a liquid diet ended in tragedy. Back in March of 2025, an 18-year-old from Kannur, Kerala, starved to death after having followed mostly online directives to consume water and exercise excessively.

Globally, just weeks before his death in 2022, cricket legend Shane Warne was also following a fluid-only detox diet based on green and black juices. News of his extreme diet had only served to strengthen concerns about juice cleanse fads, despite the cause of his death being heart-related.

A 17-year-old boy from Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, died under suspicious circumstances, allegedly having survived for nearly three months on a fruit juice-only diet, which has again brought into emphasis the dangers of extremes in online diet fads.

The teenager stopped eating all solid food after watching a YouTube video promoting the liquid-only way of life. He had also allegedly started working out and taking some unknown supplements quite recently, according to reports.

On July 24, after finally eating solid food during a family ritual, he fell ill, throwing up, losing his breath, and collapsing. He was declared dead just a few minutes after. While doctors are still to uncertain of the exact cause, suffocation is suspected, and whether his extreme eating habits led to his death is being examined by experts.

This isn't the first time that a liquid diet ended in tragedy. Back in March of 2025, an 18-year-old from Kannur, Kerala, starved to death after having followed mostly online directives to consume water and exercise excessively.

Globally, just weeks before his death in 2022, cricket legend Shane Warne was also following a fluid-only detox diet based on green and black juices. News of his extreme diet had only served to strengthen concerns about juice cleanse fads, despite the cause of his death being heart-related.

What is Juice-Only Diet?

Fruits and vegetables are essential components of a balanced diet. It is always recommended that one consumes a lot of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet in whatever manner possible-sautéed, cut, boiled, in smoothies, or juiced- these are all good sources of nutrition and can help detox the body and aid in weight loss.

Fast diets have become popular due to this generation's present focus with being healthy quickly. The juice-only diet is one example of such a trend. Although a healthy diet is always recommended, doctors caution against the "Juice-only" diet plan and warn of its negative effects.

According to Medical News Today, while there are inefficient health benefits of such liquid-only diets, there are many risks associated.

Health risks of prolonged juice-only diets:

• Unsustainable Weight Reduction: Excessive calorie restriction frequently causes short-term weight reduction that is quickly followed by weight gain. Additionally, it might slow down metabolism and make people more susceptible to eating disorders.
• Low Blood Sugar: Those who continue to be physically active may experience weakness, dizziness, fainting, and dehydration as a result of consuming insufficient calories.
• Malnutrition: The majority of juice cleanses are deficient in vital proteins and lipids, which are necessary for healthy muscles, hormone balance, and the brain.
• Electrolyte Imbalance and Dehydration: Laxative-based juice cleanses and excessive bowel stimulation can lead to fluid loss and upset the electrolyte balance of the body.
• Kidney Risks From Oxalates: Even in otherwise healthy people, oxalate nephropathy, a condition that can result in kidney failure, may be made more likely by juices high in spinach, beetroot, and other high-oxalate foods.

Lose weight mindfully:

• Balanced Diet: Limit your intake to minimally processed, unprocessed foods. Long-term health is maintained by eating balanced meals that include healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• Plant-based Diet: Vegetarian or vegan diets provide full nutrients and promote healthy weight loss when properly planned.
• Intermittent Fasting: Restricting meals to certain windows of time, without avoiding whole food groups, has demonstrated encouraging effects in enhancing insulin sensitivity and metabolism.