6 Extreme Diets That Are Bad for Your Health

October 6, 2025 | 10:12 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Efforts to lose weight often lead people to try extreme eating patterns. However, extreme and nutrition-restrictive diets can potentially pose serious problems for the body in the long run. The body will lack many essential nutrients needed for optimal functioning, such as protein, iron, vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D.

Here are six extreme diets and their health risks:

1. Fruitarian Diet

This diet requires caloric intake solely from raw fruits. According to Verywell Fit, the impact of this diet on the body carries a very high risk of malnutrition due to excessive nutrient restriction. The body will experience critical nutrient deficiencies such as protein, healthy fats, calcium, vitamin B, and vitamin B-12, which can lead to serious complications such as anemia, osteoporosis, and immune system disorders. Additionally, consuming large amounts of fruit sugar can exacerbate conditions for diabetes sufferers, and the high levels of acid and sugar can increase the risk of tooth decay.

For example, The Sun reported on October 1, 2025 that a Polish tourist, Karolina Krzyzak, was found dead in her lodging in Bali after adopting a fruitarian diet in December 2024. The 27-year-old woman weighed only about 22 kilograms, her nails were yellowing, and her teeth were decaying. Often, behind such tragic deaths, there are severe mental health issues or eating disorders resulting from excessively extreme diets.

2. Juice Diets

This diet involves consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices for several days, often promoted as a detox method. According to the British Heart Foundation, this diet causes an imbalance of nutrients in the body. This means the body does not receive essential macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein, and essential fats, as well as vital minerals like calcium. The apparent weight loss is actually just fluid and muscle mass loss, not fat. If this diet is practiced over a long period, the risk of anemia and bone health issues increases. Common side effects include low energy, fatigue, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, and bad breath.

3. Raw Paleo Diets

This diet imitates the eating patterns of ancient humans but only allows uncooked food and excludes grains, legumes, and dairy products. According to the British Heart Foundation, this eating pattern can cause nutritional imbalances that potentially increase the risk of osteoporosis due to calcium deficiency. Additionally, consuming raw meat increases the high risk of foodborne illnesses. Low fiber intake can also trigger constipation. A diet high in protein and saturated fat can raise cholesterol and burden the kidneys, posing a risk of kidney disease.

4. Sugar Free Diets

This diet aims to eliminate all sugar intake, both added and natural, and sometimes even starchy carbohydrates. Eliminating all carbohydrates is unrealistic and unhealthy, leading participants to risk anemia, constipation, fatigue, and low energy. If dairy products are avoided without a substitute, the risk of osteoporosis can increase. Furthermore, by excluding fruit, the body will miss out on important health benefits proven to protect the heart and prevent cancer.

5. Single Food Diets

This extremely strict diet allows only one type or group of foods. The main consequence is the failure to provide all the essential nutrients the body needs. If practiced over the long term, the risk of anemia and osteoporosis will drastically increase, while common side effects include low energy, fatigue, irritability, bad breath, and digestive disorders.

6. Food Combining Diets

This diet focuses on separating specific food groups, such as not combining carbohydrates with protein or meat. According to the British Heart Foundation, there is no evidence that this method effectively improves digestion or aids weight loss. Since this eating pattern is difficult to consistently apply, participants often lack dairy intake, which can potentially increase the risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, this diet is dangerous for diabetes sufferers, as separating carbohydrates from protein and fat can cause blood sugar levels to rise very quickly after meals.

MELIKA AYAZA

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