Snake Diet is an extreme intermittent fasting diet founded by self-proclaimed fasting coach Cole Robinson. (Supplement: This is not really a problem as you are not qualified as a designated fasting coach. Based on publicly available information, Robinson is not qualified for medical, nutritional or health coaching.)
In addition to weight loss, the Snake Diet website argues that this form of fasting can lead to tighter, clearer skin, recovery of metabolism, and reversal of type 2 diabetes. In addition, when appearing on the television show The Doctors, Robinson claimed that he used this fasting protocol to heal himself from herpes and help shrink female brain tumors.
The snake diet health transformation and 6-pack abdominal muscle claims are fascinating, but there are many danger signals. Now let’s unpack what a snake diet is, what it can (or can’t) help, and how it differs from other forms of fasting.
What is a Snake Diet?
Simply put, a snake diet promotes a long fasting period. Among other forms of fasting studied, people usually have a 16-hour fasting time frame or fast (or eat very lightly) two consecutive days a week. The Snake Diet, on the other hand, suggests fasting for days at a time. On days when meals are allowed, the meal time frame will be shorter. Meal times are only 1-2 hours, compared to up to 8 hours for a more flexible fasting plan. Other than that, the guidelines are very simple. The Snake Diet recommends limiting varieties to facilitate dietary planning and seeks snake juice, a mixture of water, sodium and other minerals. The website lists recipes for making snake juice, but you can also buy 30 packets for about $ 40. This can be summed up quickly, given that it is advisable to drink 1-3 glasses of snake juice a day.
Is Snake Juice Healthy?
Snake juice is designed to provide electrolytes to maintain adequate hydration during fasting. However, each packet of a commercial product contains 1,045 mg of sodium, out of the 2,300 mg daily limit recommended by dietary guidelines. According to the American Heart Association, the ideal daily goal is around 1,500 mg per day. Therefore, drinking up to 3 packets a day of this beverage can promote high blood pressure beyond the healthy range. Ultimately, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In addition, as your body tries to get rid of excess sodium, calcium rides on the vehicle. Because you are fasting, you do not maintain adequate calcium intake, which can lead to frail bones and osteoporosis over time.
In addition, each packet of snake juice contains 100 mg of magnesium citrate. Magnesium is an important mineral involved in the regulation of heart rhythm, blood sugar, blood pressure, nerve function and stress hormones, and supports a healthy sleep cycle. However, this form of magnesium can draw water into the colon, causing cramps, bloating, and laxative effects.
All this points to that you can harm your body to lose weight.
Does the Snake Diet Work?
If you are accustomed to eating multiple meals a day and switch to a snake diet, you will probably lose weight. But don’t say that’s a good idea. As a registered dietitian, I recommend avoiding a snake diet for two main reasons.
Snake diet claims have no scientific validity
Robinson points out his Facebook community as evidence, but Facebook anecdotes do not provide evidence of security or effectiveness. Scientific evidence is a much higher standard than comments and photos from Facebook groups. The best evidence comes from randomized trials in which one set of people follow one diet and another group follow another. Scientists investigating weight loss then compare the groups to see if there was a difference between the two diets and if the difference was significant. They may also look at indicators such as waist circumference and metabolic health markers to see if the intervention affected people’s health. Finally, they will see if diet causes side effects and how many people drop out because of those unwanted symptoms. This type of data helps healthcare professionals make appropriate recommendations.
On the other hand, other forms of intermittent fasting have been rigorously studied, so something can be stopped to determine their potential safety and effectiveness. For example, in a review of people with type 2 diabetes, scientists evaluated three fasting protocols. Alternate fasting / feeding protocol, two discontinuous fasting day protocols, and a time-limited meal time of 4-12 hours. They concluded that all three plans could lead to weight loss, improve insulin sensitivity, and help treat type 2 diabetes. (If you have a medical condition, see a doctor before attempting an intermittent fast.)
Snake diet can be harmful
Meet your nutrient needs with a once-daily diet is difficult and probably unlikely. In studies of fasting and type 2 diabetes, researchers have expressed concern about meeting nutritional requirements with a limited dietary time frame and recommend consulting a registered dietitian for counseling. And if you’re wondering, supplements aren’t a substitute for a balanced, plant-rich diet.
The Snake Diet also proposes to limit the types of meals to simplify grocery shopping and meal preparation. However, this strategy can also have unintended health consequences. This is because a diet containing more than 30 unique plant-based foods can lead to a more diverse microbial flora. Because a healthy microbial flora affects inflammation, weight, mood, and immunity, limiting diversity can promote health and mood problems.
In addition, unpleasant side effects such as dizziness, headaches, fainting, constipation, and other potentially serious symptoms of extreme fasting can occur.
In addition, food is more than fuel. It is the center of most celebrations, essential to many religious ceremonies and promotes social ties. If you are willing to give up the joy of food to participate in an extreme diet, it may be a sign that you have an unhealthy relationship with your body and food. In that case, the snake diet (or extreme diet) can do more damage.
Other concerns about the Snake Diet include using photos before and after weight loss to market the plan and Robinson’s fat-shameful words. These can help reduce physical dissatisfaction and social pressure, which is a major cause of eating disorders.
The best meals are summarized to be realistic for you
A snake diet can help you lose weight, but it’s not worth the real risk. If you’re looking to lose weight, it’s better to find a more practical approach that supports you physically, socially and emotionally, even if it leads to milder weight loss. ..
On the other hand, other forms of intermittent fasting may help some people. However, if you have a medical condition such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or digestive disorders, or if you are 65 or older, check with your healthcare provider before attempting an intermittent fast. In addition, if you are exercising hard, think twice before attempting an intermittent fast. Fasting is not appropriate on active days. Finally, pregnant or lactating women, people with an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders, and people under the age of 18 should avoid intermittent fasting.
