Influencer Zhanna D’Art died at the end of July 2023 at the age of 39 and would have “starved to death”, according to her family. For 4 years, she ate only fruits, seeds. Is a fruit-only diet healthy? Dangerous?
Influencer Zhanna D’Art died at the end of July 2023 at the age of 39 and would have “starved to death”, according to her family, reports the New York Post. For 4 years, this follower of raw food ate only fruits, sprouted sunflower seeds, fruit smoothies and juices. Although the reasons for his death have not been officially communicated, it is likely that his diet had something to do with it.
Can we only eat fruit?
Eating only fruit is deleterious to health. The body needs many nutrients it will lack with a diet consisting of fruits only.
What are the benefits of fruit?
The fruits will bring many vitamins (A, C, B2, B6, K), fiber and some minerals but this will not be able to counterbalance the deficiencies caused by such a diet. “There is no benefit in eating only fruit”says Raphaël Gruman, nutritionist.
Does eating fruit make you lose weight?
Weight loss is very fast because fruits are low in calories. “Above all, muscle is heavy and, without protein intake, after a week, you can have lost at least three kilos. But, you can’t survive by eating only fruit“, repeats Raphaël Gruman. Several slimming diets have been popular, such as the famous Hollywood diet or the apple-based mono diet, but these diets generate many frustrations and are harmful to health.
What are the dangers of eating only fruit?
The dangers of such diets are those linked to malnutrition. It will start with a overall loss of energy and great fatigue, asthenia. “We feel this fatigue from the second day“, specifies the specialist. Then, the severe lack of proteins will cause:
- a sarcopenia either rapid muscle wasting
- of the digestive disorders (diarrhea)
- of the edema
- there hair loss
- hormonal deficiency (thyroid hormones, sex hormones, insulin, etc.) harmful to health and can cause death
Eating only fruit will cause other deficiencies, including:
- vitamins B6, B9, B12
- minerals like zinc and selenium
“All of these deficiencies will cause many physiological disorders, anemia, lack of immunity, cognitive and nervous disorders and motor difficulties.“, explains our expert.
Eating only fruit in the morning: good idea?
“I don’t recommend it. The fruits are sweet enough foods and if not eaten with other foods, they make blood sugar levels rise rapidly. If we only eat fruit in the morning, we will be very hungry, very early in the morning.“, develops the nutritionist. This is called reactive hypoglycemia. So, Eating fruit in the morning is a good eating habit if it is supplemented with cereals or wholemeal bread and dairy.
Eating only fruit in the evening: good idea?
Again, it’s a red card. “Unlike vegetables, the majority of which are not very sweet, eating only fruit in the evening consists of absorbing a large amount of sugar as one prepares for sleep“, notes Raphaël Gruman. The energy consumed will not be spent but stored by the body.
Eating only fruit for three days: good for your health?
Apples, grapes, cherries are among the most popular foods for monodiets, these fashionable cures in recent years, which consist of eating a single and same food for several days. “Glycemic intakes are too high. You don’t even get the detox effect that you could possibly get with vegetables. I recommend this kind of diet over a single day and only with vegetables, especially not with fruits“, concludes the nutritionist.
Thanks to Raphaël Gruman, nutritionist in Paris and Deauville.