Monodiet diet: everything you need to know

November 25, 2022December 1, 2022 Stephen PaulNUTRITION & FOOD

In the 2010s, the mono diet became very popular, especially thanks to Penn Jillette. This American comedian and magician has indeed written a book based on his personal experience of weight loss thanks to a monodiet ⁽¹⁾ . He would have lost 8 kg (18 lbs) in two weeks, at the rate of 5 boiled potatoes a day. But is the founding principle of the mono-diet diet to lose weight, or something else? And above all, is this dietary practice really good for your health?

Index

What is the monodiet diet?

A monodiet diet , also known as a monotrophic diet or monodiet, is a diet that involves eating only one food or type of food for a set period of time . This period can correspond to several consecutive days, one day per week or even one meal per day. The food or type of food chosen can be eaten at will, whatever the preparation (although often the raw version or “healthy” cooking is preferred).

The founding principle is as follows: the monodiet is not so much envisaged with a view to weight loss (although many adopt it as such) but rather with a view to detoxifying the body . It is therefore a detox practice . The body would accumulate toxins, both “self-produced” and from outside – pollution, excess, drug treatments, consumption of tobacco or alcohol, pesticides… The emunctory organs would then no longer be able to properly eliminate these wastes and certain physical signs, such as digestive problems, skin imperfections or repeated colds, would reflect this overflow of toxins. It would therefore be a question of relieving the kidneys, the liver and the intestines, by adopting a simple and healthy diet.

The fact of ingesting only one type of food would therefore facilitate digestion, because the digestive system would not have to metabolize food combinations that are inadequate, complex or even toxic. Some naturopaths also encourage the practice of the monodiet diet at each change of season, to:

Cleanse the body
Restore the acid-base balance of the body
Prevent fatigue
Regain energy – digestion while being voracious
Calm inflammatory conditions

It should also be noted that the monodiet diet encourages the consumption of water, tea and infusions, to detoxify the kidneys and drain as well as possible.

What are the classic monodiet diets?

Of course, the monodiet diet is rarely based on an “all chocolate” or “all deli” diet. The most common mono diets are based on a plant-based food :

The grape cure, antioxidant and purifying of the colon
The apple mono diet , to regulate transit and optimize liver function
The brown rice mono diet, to regain energy and “cleanse” the blood
The green juice cure, regenerating and appetite suppressant
The carrot monodiet, to calm inflammation and regain beautiful skin

Some well-known diets, such as the cabbage soup diet , the cucumber diet , or the cottage cheese diet , are also considered monodiets.

For several days – in general, followers of the mono diet count on 3 days, the time necessary for the intestinal flora to renew itself – the food is consumed at will, without seasoning, but in various forms: raw , mashed, baked , in soup, in juice… Other foods are banned.

The monodiet is getting ready . It is strongly advised, the previous week, to lighten your diet and stop consuming foods deemed difficult to digest:

meat and fish
Dairy products
Industrial foods
Sugar and sweet products
The alcohol

It is also advisable to start hydrating more, favoring water , herbal teas , broths and soups, homemade juices of fresh fruits and vegetables.

When leaving the mono diet, it is preferable to opt for a healthy, natural and balanced diet, based on vegetable proteins, whole grains and vegetables.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the monodiet diet?

Advantages

The monodiet diet is inexpensive, since it involves eating only one type of food.
Depending on the food chosen, it leads to weight loss.
The fiber intake is often interesting, because the food chosen for the monodiet is most of the time of vegetable origin.
The monodiet diet often stimulates intestinal transit.
The hydration that the monodiet presupposes makes it possible to respect the daily recommendations.

Disadvantages

The mono diet is difficult to stick to because it is monotonous and frustrating.
Energy intake is often insufficient and leads to fatigue, migraines and nausea. Difficult then to carry out his days or to practice a sporting activity (strongly discouraged).
The metabolism is slowed down. Also, the monodiet diet encourages weight regain and the yoyo effect .
Fruit-based mono diets lead to insulin spikes and blood sugar dysregulation – fruits contain fructose.
The monodiet diet is deficient in protein (with the exception of monodiets based on a protein source, such as the egg diet or the cottage cheese diet). This leads to muscle wasting.
Deficiencies in mono – diet diets (in fats, carbohydrates , vitamins , and minerals) can cause serious damage to the body, especially if the diet is followed long-term.
A mono diet can be a trigger for eating disorders.
Feelings of hunger and satiety are disturbed.

It is easy to understand that the harms of a mono diet are greater than the benefits, especially if the diet is adopted over a long period. Moreover, the National Agency for Food, Environment and Work Health Safety (ANSES) calls into question dissociated type diets , of which monodiets are a part, because they are harmful to health and ineffective for lasting weight loss ⁽²⁾ .

Example of a typical mono-diet day

Let’s take the example of a single-diet diet based on carrots. A typical day will go as follows:

When you wake up, drink a cup or two of tea, preferably green .
For breakfast, a bowl or two of mashed carrots, which can be seasoned with a little cinnamon .
As a morning snack, a raw carrot, to be eaten by hand.
At lunch, a bowl or two of grated carrots, seasoned with a little ground ginger.
As a snack, some boiled carrots.
At dinner, a carrot soup (water and boiled carrots, mixed together), seasoned with a little ground cumin.
In the evening, a herbal tea.
After each food intake, drink water to boost dietary fiber and increase satiety .

Conclusion

The monodiet diet, practiced several days in a row, is not recommended . It causes much more harm to the body than health benefits. It may possibly be possible, according to some dieticians , to make a mono diet for a week, at the rate of one meal a day. For example, eat a vegetable soup every evening , for a maximum of one week, but only if you feel the need for it – for example after a period of heavy and repeated overeating. In addition, the monodiet diet is strongly discouraged for diabetics , pregnant and breastfeeding women ., children and adolescents, person with a chronic disease, person suffering from eating disorders…

Stephen Paul

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Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.