Juice diet

Question
My mother has began seeing a new doctor who has told her to go on a juice diet. She washes fruits and vegetables in vinegar to clean them off and then juices them. He advices 48 oz of veggie juice each day and only 2 glasses of water. His explanation is that water only fills you up so it is better to eat fruits instead. She has cut down on meat and basically all cooked things. I told her about how cooked tomatoes are best (lycopene) and how zinc is hard to come by but she doesn't listen. The whole 2 glasses of water a day thing sounds scary. Please tell me the dangers of going on a juice/raw fuit and vegetable diet. I've tried to persuade her to seek another opinion but it seems like she doesn't want to listen. Apparently this doctor was cured from cancer because of the new diet. I'm in another country right and thus can't help her as much

Thank you


Answer
Lindsey,
Of course fruits and vegetables are healthy and have lots of antioxidants, phytochemicals, etc... that MAY help ward of certain illnesses.  However, ONLY eating fruits and vegetables without balancing out your diet with other food groups can be detrimental.  She would be missing other nutrients from her diet such as protein and healthy fats. In addition, these types of diets are usually so low in calories they can be close to a fasting diet, which can be dangerous because you are getting too few calories. Just because this doctor was cured from cancer does not mean his "diet" will work for everyone!  In addition, there is no way to know if it was actually his "diet" that cured him!!  She needs to ask him what besides himself proves that this works and is safe!! I would let your mother know that a second opinion is extremely important and the best thing she can do is see a dietitian in her area to help her out and give her some facts.  There are so many different types of "diets" out there and very few are scientifically proven in any way.  I too don't think two glasses of water daily is enough!
She really does need to do some more research into what she is doing and to get a second opinion!  She needs to keep in mind that a healthy diet is one you can live with for life!!

Here is an article that may help you out:
http://www.ivillage.com/diet/features/dietsaz/articles/0%2C6883%2C165513_42061%2...

Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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