According to Australia's Channel 7 on April 13, a woman from Queensland in Australia claimed that she lived on orange juice for only 40 days and was doing very well. However, medical experts warn about the risks of this behavior.
The woman, Anne Osborne, is a fruit eater who is said to have been on a whole fruit diet for 32 years. She is from Atherton Tablelands, near Cairns.
Osborne claims to have eaten only oranges during the 40-day Lent and has enjoyed a variety of benefits, including emotional, physical and spiritual uplifts. In a video posted on social media, she said it was like giving her body a makeover.
It is estimated that Osborne consumed about 800 oranges during these 40 days and also drank between 1 and 1.5 liters of orange juice per day most of the time. She also wrote a book about Fruitivoreism and said that her children were Whole-Fruitivores as well.
However, medical experts warn about the risks of a single-food diet. Brisbane-based dietitian Amber Sewell-Green, from The Green Mind, says she doesn't approve of a "single food diet".
In an interview with Channel 7 News, Sewell-Green said that a vegetarian diet is safe to accommodate all ages if the diet is planned properly. However, orange juice alone does not constitute a balanced vegetarian diet, or even a complete food.
Sewell-Green points out that if someone sticks to this diet, they need to be supervised by a doctor and need to change some behaviors, such as exercising less.
She stresses that it is almost impossible to meet the body's daily calorie needs by relying on orange juice alone. A glass of orange juice is only about 110 calories, while most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day, which means that 20 to 30 cups of orange juice are needed a day to meet the demand.
Sewell-Green also warns that this way of eating can lead to refeeding syndrome, a condition that can occur when you start eating again after a long period of starvation, which can trigger severe electrolyte imbalances and can even lead to hospitalization or even cardiac arrest.
She stresses that there is a reason for the diversity of food, so it is not recommended. When asked what should be considered before trying a monofood diet, Sewell-Green advises against it.
She says you need to ask yourself why you're considering this way of eating, whether you've consulted relevant health information or consulted a qualified professional. Honestly ask yourself if you're in a healthy relationship with food and your body, or if you're trying to control something.
Despite Osborne's claim that she lived well in 40 days of orange juice, warnings from medical experts remind us that a single-food diet can pose serious malnutrition and health risks. Although orange juice is rich in vitamin C and some other nutrients, it does not provide all the nutrients that the body needs. A balanced diet should include nutrients from a variety of food sources to ensure that the body gets the energy and nutrients it needs.
Therefore, if someone is considering trying a single food diet, they should do so in consultation with a doctor or professional dietitian. They can provide the necessary advice and supervision to ensure that the diet plan meets the body's nutritional needs and reduces potential health risks.