# "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" Juice Diet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793 "2011-08-15T17:03:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/21 "2011-08-17T16:06:57Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I think the diet is crap, BUT… > > An all juice diet is nothing like an all-sugar-water diet. > > Wikipedia’s page for V8 shows that a 40 calorie serving has 2.4 g of protein. Drinking 50 of those would put you at 2,000 calories and 120 g of protein - more than enough. There’s also far more than enough fiber. I’m not sure about trace nutrients and vitamins in V8 specifically, but I would be surprised if you couldn’t find the right mix of veggies to get a healthy amount of all necessary nutrients. True. But V8 is more blended than juiced. A _juicer_ takes all of the solids out. Putting a bunch of fruit and veggies into a _blender_ would be extreme, but potentially healthy given the right ingedients. It’s also true that juicing veggies results in more than just sugar water, but the fact remains that the sugar content will be high compared to the nutritional content, thus preventing ketosis, which is the whole point of any diet. A juice diet can be useful for a weekend as a jump start to a healthier diet, because it lowers appetite and makes smaller portions more filling going forward. But I can’t see any use to a long-term juice diet. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/22 "2011-08-17T19:06:10Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It’s also true that juicing veggies results in more than just sugar water, but the fact remains that the sugar content will be high compared to the nutritional content, thus preventing ketosis, which is the whole point of any diet. The whole point of any diet is to prevent fat-burning? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/23 "2011-08-17T21:31:35Z")
> [@furt](#): > > The “reboot diet” my wife wants to do is not meant to be a sustainable lifestyle. It’s a 5-15 day thing that claims to help “cleanse” your body. The big question here: if eating a diet loaded with fruits and vegetables is good for you (it is), then why not do it all the time, instead of going on a crash 5-15 day diet where you eat nothing else? Ben Goldacre [addressed this point](http://www.guardian.co.uk/befit/story/0,,1379231,00.html) in an article discussing whether such diets were useful: _“…if (a “detox diet”) makes us think healthy living is like purgatory, something to be ventured into very occasionally, and with much trepidation and forward planning, then the answer is clearly no. And is it an intellectually dishonest scam? Probably. Although it might be gentler to think of it as a voluntary, self-administered tax on scientific illiteracy and decadence.”_ You could show your wife umpteen articles by experts detailing why such dietary flings are useless for “detoxifying” one’s body, but I doubt if she’d be willing to change her mind. Instead, I’d offer to commit to a long-term healthier lifestyle instead of an unsustainable 5-15 day juice-vegan binge. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/24 "2011-08-18T02:34:56Z")
[QUOTE=furt;14148083I guess the question is whether or not there is any reason to stop my wife from doing this.[/QUOTE] Yes, there is. It encourages ignorance (which we’re trying to fight here): - ignorance about what is a healthy, continuing diet instead of occasional fads & purges. - ignorance about the body; the feeling that it is somehow ‘dirty’ and needs to be periodically ‘cleansed’. - ignorance about a sustainable lifestyle – that you can live all the time, without any need for ‘reboots’. (Frankly, I could not imagine living with a person this ignorant & gullible. But that’s your choice. Presumably she has other qualities that make you love her. Concentrate on those, and try to just ignore or tolerate this other nonsense.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/25 "2011-08-18T02:47:10Z")
I thought this was GQ? ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/26 "2011-08-18T04:02:51Z")
I have attended lectures where claims were made that an all juice diet was good for helping with fighting cancer. That it gives your body the much needed nutrients without the need to take all that energy to digest the food. But a reputable lecturer will also note that God created the doctor to help with healing, so use them. I have friends who have gone on this diet while fighting cancer, specifically 2 friends who had brain tumors. Did it cure them, I don’t know, they are all still around and doing better, but they did follow their doctors treatment plan as well. A fast of a week or so with just juice is not going to hurt you and it might actually allow you to learn a bit about appetite, in the sense of what you might crave that is controlling your life rather than you controlling it. But I would not go for longer than that. You need grains and beans at least in your diet to get a balanced diet. I know this seems anecdotal but the above is from lectures I have attended over the last dozen years. Let me tell you something better to talk your wife into. A fast from processed sugars for 40 days. It is hard but a better diet plan imho. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/27 "2011-08-18T04:33:45Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I thought this was GQ? Sorry. I should have left that parenthetical remark off. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/28 "2011-08-18T07:18:43Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > How do you ork a cow? > [@Hairy\_Bob](#): > > Pfffft! Best post so far! You guys know that “cow-orker” is kind of an SDMB tradition, right? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/29 "2011-08-18T16:48:42Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > The whole point of any diet is to prevent fat-burning? No silly, ketosis is the whole point of any diet, and the sugar content in this one would prevent it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/30 "2011-08-18T17:01:02Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > (Frankly, I could not imagine living with a person this ignorant & gullible. But that’s your choice. Presumably she has other qualities that make you love her. Concentrate on those, and try to just ignore or tolerate this other nonsense.) > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Sorry. > I should have left that parenthetical remark off. [Moderating] I am just posting to indicate that both the inappropriate remark and its retraction have been noted. No moderator action taken. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/31 "2011-08-18T17:14:55Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > No silly, ketosis is the whole point of any diet, and the sugar content in this one would prevent it. Well, I guess it would depend on the total intake of sugar. I don’t know anything about this diet but if, say, you only took in 80% of the energy you need via juicing then the body will still burn fat in order to make up for the deficit. Hence, ketosis while on a high carb diet. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/32 "2011-08-18T17:21:15Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > You guys know that “cow-orker” is kind of an SDMB tradition, right? Well, yes, and I’ve always been tempted to make that joke everytime I see it. This time I actually did. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Joseph1867](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Joseph1867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joseph1867)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/33 "2012-08-03T14:03:30Z")
Its a documentary worth seeing all the way thru. Its not trying to get anyone to buy a juicer, it shows you what juicing can do for you. I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix, glad that I did. I bought the cheapest Juicer a G.E. from Wal Mart for $49. It works fine, I can take it back for a refund if I don’t like it, but i’m keeping it. The juice makes me feel more energetic, more alert and younger, no joke. In the Movie, they say that the Juice taste good, the way I make the juice, Its gross, but I still drink it, because nothing else makes me feel this way, I like who I am, when I drink the Green Monster. If I eat a Hambuger at McDonalds, thats a day wasted, because i’m all sleepy and slugish, but on the Juice, i’m not tired, full of energy,not just some of the day, but all day. People will always have something negative to say about anything, but with this, don’t listen to the negative comments. If you are looking for the Fountain of Youth, this is it. Its not a pill, its all totally natural, and you make it yourself, from Fruits and Vegatables. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/34 "2012-08-03T14:16:14Z")
> [@Joseph1867](#): > > Its a documentary worth seeing all the way thru. Its not trying to get anyone to buy a juicer, it shows you what juicing can do for you. I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix, glad that I did. I bought the cheapest Juicer a G.E. from Wal Mart for $49. It works fine, I can take it back for a refund if I don’t like it, but i’m keeping it. The juice makes me feel more energetic, more alert and younger, no joke. In the Movie, they say that the Juice taste good, the way I make the juice, Its gross, but I still drink it, because nothing else makes me feel this way, I like who I am, when I drink the Green Monster. If I eat a Hambuger at McDonalds, thats a day wasted, because i’m all sleepy and slugish, but on the Juice, i’m not tired, full of energy,not just some of the day, but all day. People will always have something negative to say about anything, but with this, don’t listen to the negative comments. If you are looking for the Fountain of Youth, this is it. Its not a pill, its all totally natural, and you make it yourself, from Fruits and Vegatables. You would see the same results by eating the foods in their solid form too, you know. Juicing doesn’t magically change the properties of these foods. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/35 "2012-08-03T14:35:38Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Thanks to all for the input. I need to clarify a few things that maybe weren’t plain in the OP. > > The “reboot diet” my wife wants to do is not meant to be a sustainable lifestyle. It’s a 5-15 day thing that claims to help “cleanse” your body. It’s also not an issue of whether or not this particular diet is “necessary” or not. It obviously isn’t, and left to myself I’d not do it. Realizing this is a zombie thread, but I doubt anyone with a functioning liver and kidneys needs any special diet to “cleanse” their body. The human body works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/36 "2012-08-03T17:23:53Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I think the diet is crap, BUT… > > An all juice diet is nothing like an all-sugar-water diet. > > Wikipedia’s page for V8 shows that a 40 calorie serving has 2.4 g of protein. Drinking 50 of those would put you at 2,000 calories and 120 g of protein - more than enough. There’s also far more than enough fiber. I’m not sure about trace nutrients and vitamins in V8 specifically, but I would be surprised if you couldn’t find the right mix of veggies to get a healthy amount of all necessary nutrients. I used to work an overnight shift at ADT back in the mid 90s, and my work buddy and I got really bored one evening and figured that you could actually manage a [seriously high sodium] reasonable diet from the stuff in the machines, and a large amount of the micronutrients were actually available in 3 V8s and 2 orange juices, combined with 1 packet of trail mix [can’t remember the brand but it was the one without the chocolate chips] 2 packets or chips or pretzels and a packet of beef jerky. I seem to remember it came out to 2000 calories. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/37 "2012-08-03T19:07:59Z")
Was that a drive by fruiting? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/38 "2012-08-03T21:54:41Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Was that a drive by fruiting? This post has been grape juiced by the… Nope, I can’t bring myself to do it. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/39 "2012-08-04T01:38:59Z")
I can see a short juice fast serving some psychological purpose, in a ritual kind of way. That might be important for some people. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793/40 "2012-08-04T23:03:40Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I can see a short juice fast serving some psychological purpose, in a ritual kind of way. That might be important for some people. It’s what my pastor does when he fasts–he says the point is to feel hungry, not to be deprived of nutrients. He used to also go lacto-ovo, but he found it hurt his stomach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-juice-diet/592793.md?page=3)