This man transformed his body on the snake diet – but is it dangerous?
Phil Flock transformed his body in just two months by following the controversial snake diet – which involves fasting for long periods and fuelling your body with only water and a salt-based drink.
The 28-year-old from Germany, even followed the plan on Christmas Day last year, eating nothing all day and just consuming one drink in the evening.
The filmmaker decided to embark on the drastic diet change after realising that his busy work schedule didnt leave him much time to work out – but is this a healthy or safe way to get in shape? The experts are unconvinced.
Nutritionist Ruth Tongue, founder of Elevate, thinks the diet should definitely be avoided.
This diet sounds extremely dangerous and at best could leave you feeling horrendous, and at worst could cause serious health consequences, Ruth tells Metro.co.uk.
So what exactly is the snake diet?
Advertisement Advertisement
On this diet you basically fast for up to three days at a time, and consume only snake juice within a one-to-two hour window.
Snake juice is made up of water, salt, potassium chloride, baking soda and magnesium sulphate salts. Its claimed that it helps to deplete sugar levels in the liver, which then encourages the body to burn fat as energy.
Experts are keen to warn of the dangers.
The jurys out as to whether the benefits of fasting, even for short periods of time, are grounded in solid science, says Ruth. Yet we know that when we dont eat, our blood sugar levels drop dramatically, leaving us lacking energy, unable to focus and moody.
On top of this, all of our “non-essential” functions, such as fertility, will shut down as the body tries to conserve energy – so fasting is a no-no for anyone trying to conceive.
Anyone whos tried dieting will know that going to bed hungry affects sleep, and the combination of Epsom salts, and baking powder in the snake juice will leave you sitting on the loo when you should be enjoying your Christmas dinner. Doesnt sound much fun to me!
On the snake diet, Phil was existing on just one meal every few days. He said he started seeing results within just a week, but he also experienced vomiting as his body experienced carb-withdrawals.
I spent two Christmas dinners without food, so I could get back into ketosis as fast as possible, and they were the hardest days ever, but I made it, says Phil.
Advertisement Advertisement
Ketosis is the process when the body uses ketones out of fat for energy, instead of carbs – and it only happens when you cut out all carbohydrates entirely.
It was really hard to not eat anything all day and sit at the table, seeing all of the delicious food, knowing I had to wait 24 hours until I could eat again.
The longest Ive fasted for was eight days where I only drank water, which had sodium and potassium.
I am pretty lean right now, so I have one small no carb meal a day, unless the meal becomes bigger than I intended so then I fast for 48 hours to maintain my body weight.
What is snake juice?
Snake juice ingredients:
- Water
- Sodium chloride (Himalayan pink salt)
- Potassium chloride
- Baking soda
- Magnesium sulphate (food grade Epsom salts, optional)
The Snake Diet website encourages people to drink snake juice within a one-to-two hour window for as long as you feel good.
It recommends starting with a 48-hour fast and then repeating with a 72-hour one.
But experts are certainly not sold on the idea of fasting for long-term health and weight benefits.
Although I think many of us could benefit from going longer periods without eating in an attempt to control daily calorie intake, fasting for more than 48 hours is not a good idea, explains Matt Durkin MSC, expert nutritionist at Simply Supplements.
There are numerous reasons for this. Firstly, as you are not consuming food you will inevitably be low on energy and it will be impossible to meet all micronutrient requirements.
Advertisement
This is likely to negatively impact immune function, and metabolism as well as a whole host of other normal bodily functions.
This diet will certainly lead to weight-loss, but a significant proportion of this will be muscle mass, as the diet will provide no protein and therefore lack the essential amino acids.
In addition to the obvious effects of muscle loss, this will decreases metabolic rate and make maintenance of a healthy weight in the long-term all the more difficult.
So the physical risks seem pretty clear, but experts are also concerned about the emotional and psychological effects of long-term fasting.
As this diet is very extreme, it will likely lead to a poor relationship with food, Matt tells us.
Food shouldnt be seen as something to avoid and abstain from but seen as essential for health and wellbeing and something to fuel and nourish our bodies.
Any new diet should be looked at critically and carefully – particularly extreme ones. The best thing to do is talk to a qualified doctor or nutritionist if you want advice on losing weight safely and effectively.
MORE: Vegans warned lack of nutrients in some diets could lead to malnutrition
MORE: Why a soy sauce cleanse is a dangerous idea
MORE: Can you manage a chronic illness and be vegan at the same time?
Advertisement Advertisement
