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A liquid diet is often required before medical procedures, but can also be used for weight loss. It includes water, gelatin, broth, and certain juices, but lacks nutrients and calories. It should only be used under medical supervision and instructions must be followed correctly.
A liquid diet generally consists entirely of liquids and is generally required before certain medical tests, surgeries, and medical procedures. This diet can help clear the stomach and intestines of all food products before a procedure. Often this type of medical diet can be used to relieve other digestive complications such as nausea and vomiting. People with certain medical conditions may also be required to use the liquid diet. In non-medical cases, some people use liquid diets to help cleanse their systems and to lose weight quickly.
The typical liquid diet includes water, plain gelatin, and broth. As a medical diet, it allows patients to have no undigested residue in the intestinal tract after consumption. While the diet provides adequate hydration, it generally does not provide a sufficient supply of nutrients or calories. For this reason, it is generally recommended that it be used only for a limited period of time.
Common liquids that can be included with this type of diet include fruit juices that do not contain pulp. Regular coffee, tea, sports drinks, and soft drinks can generally also be consumed under the liquid diet guidelines. Fruit-free and pulp-free popsicles can also be included in the diet to provide a change in the eating routine without deviating from the basic requirements.
After a person has been on the liquid diet, their digestive and intestinal tracts should remain free of food residue. This allows the strain on the digestive system to be minimal while keeping the body adequately hydrated. Most often, a normal diet can be resumed after medical tests, procedures, or surgeries have been completed.
While a liquid diet can be beneficial under certain circumstances, it can also cause harm if used for an extended period of time. Because the diet lacks the proper calories and nutrients the body needs to survive, rapid weight loss can occur, which could lead to serious health complications if not corrected quickly. In general, this medical diet should only be used under the supervision and consultation of a certified healthcare professional.
If a healthcare professional has ordered a patient to be on a liquid diet, it is usually vital that the instructions are followed correctly. In some cases, the exclusion of red dyes from the liquid diet is required, as is the case with most colonic examinations. Incorrect or abnormal test results or complications during surgery can occur if the diet is not followed properly.
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