The Dangers of the New Snake Diet

Have You Heard of the Crazy Snake Diet?

According to the Snake Diet founder and fasting coach, Cole Robinson, he describes this new form of dieting as an “evolutionary approach to eating.” Sure enough, the new diet has obtained its unusual name following the way real snakes eat-- not what they eat, but how they eat.

Most snakes live off of eating one huge meal that’s packed with fat and protein and then don’t eat for another 22 hours or so. Robinson has created a diet similar to how snakes eat which involves fasting for “as long as possible” after having one giant meal in order to lose weight.

How the Snake Diet Starts

It begins with a 48-hour fasting period where you can only drink a “meal supplement” that consists of water and salt, called Snake Juice. After those first two days of fasting, you’ll eat low-carb, high-fat meals that help bring your body into ketosis-- the same state your body goes in during the keto diet to burn fat.

Then, Robinson says to fast for another 72 hours, only drinking the Snake Juice when needed and an apple cider vinegar and a lemon juice concoction that will help get you through your eating addiction. He says this will help rid you of toxins, reduce your desire for sugar, and shift your body into fat-burning mode. He also suggests that if you’re not losing the weight you want to in the given amount of time, then you should fast for even longer.

The Risks of the Snake Diet

After the first week of fasting, Robinson says you’ll notice a substantial decline in your weight. Well, of course you will, you’re not eating food and all you’ve been consuming is water and salt for days at a time. This level of fasting is way too powerful and can negatively affect your body and well-being in different ways.

You’re Basically Starving Yourself

Many believers of the Snake Diet think it’s a great way to lose weight and live a healthier life. This is because there’s actually a lot of research that backs up fasting and proves it can provide great health benefits. However, this research supports temporary fasts that last between 24 to 72 hours-- not fasting for days on end until you’re happy with your weight.

Although you’ll likely see immediate weight loss results when you follow a strict “diet” like the Snake Diet, there’s a higher risk of regaining your lost weight at a quicker rate and more powerful than ever. Robinson says if you’re not seeing the results you want to see, even after three days of fasting, then you should keep going and only drink Snake Juice until you absolutely need to eat.

One guy who followed this diet only ate five meals in a month-- that sounds more like starvation. Your body needs a balance of nutrients from different foods that help your body function and allow your mind to think properly. Omitting these nutrients from your daily diet for a long period of time can result in low energy and frequent mood swings.

Your Energy Levels Will Shift

Founder Cole Robinson states that the Snake Diet will give you loads of energy because you’re “not lazy and fat anymore.” Although losing weight can provide you with high energy, depriving yourself of calories, and food in general, will eventually result in feeling lethargic and can lead to worse eating habits.

Your body won’t be able to properly operate without food for several days or weeks as the Snake Diet often suggests. This type of diet can make your daily routine feel like a lot of work and will eventually impact your mood in a negative manner.

Increased Risk for Disordered Eating

Unfortunately, the Snake Diet is equivalent to an eating disorder. No matter how many good things you may read or hear regarding this crazy diet, not eating for days on end is not good for the human body. This diet sounds very much like anorexia and can encourage people to believe this abnormal way of eating is good for you.

Additionally, it can even be bad for those who have previously suffered from disordered eating. The Snake Diet can guide them back into their old eating habits which can result in poor overall health.

Too Much Sodium is Bad for You

Living off of no food at all while only drinking a sodium liquid is not a preferable way of living and is overall bad for your general health. It’s recommended that we should only have 2,300mg of sodium per day, but with the Snake Diet, that number is nearly doubled.

"A day's worth of Snake Juice contains a whopping 4,000 mg sodium. That could exacerbate health problems like high blood pressure or pre-existing kidney issues," St. Louis-based registered dietitian, Sarah Pflugradt, stated.

“Eating a diet with a lot of sodium could weaken your teeth, form cavities, and may even lead to tooth loss,” says Ontario dentist, Dr. K. Ashraf. In order to maintain a healthy smile, your diet is a huge contributor, so when you stop eating altogether, your teeth will be more susceptible to infection and decay due to their decreased daily function.

Would You Want to Try the Snake Diet?

If you’re looking to lose weight, following a fad diet isn’t always the best answer. Although the Snake Diet has proven to help people drop excess amounts of pounds in a fairly quick amount of time, the way it’s done is not good for your overall health and well-being.

The best way to lose weight while maintaining good health and taking care of your body is by balancing the types of foods you eat and discovering what your body can benefit from the most. Everyone is different so one diet that might work well for one person may not work for you. When you listen to your body, eat foods you love, and exercise regularly, you’ll see that this will likely be the most effective “diet” there is.

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