Losing weight might be challenging & time-consuming, but there is no reason to starve yourself. Despite this, around 22 million Americans participate in fad diets each year.
Still, people cut out food groups or skip meals, leading to disordered eating. Others include consuming baby food or juice-soaked cotton balls.
Yes, the cotton ball diet is used by several models and teenage girls to help them lose weight. In 2013, this bizarre eating plan started to gain traction.
The cotton ball diet purports to decrease hunger, hence facilitating weight loss. You should dip the cotton balls in fruit juices or smoothies and consume them individually.
Because cotton is indigestible and has a sponge-like effect, it may cause an initial feeling of fullness in the stomach.
This procedure may, however, result in deadly intestinal obstruction. Dieters may also acquire bezoars, or lumps of undigested material in the intestines.
ABC News also warns that most cotton balls have undergone extensive processing and may contain hazardous substances.
Furthermore, dioxins, a class of substances linked to cancer, infertility, and hormone disturbances, have been found in cotton balls, as reported by Healthline.
Lastly, malnutrition is a possible outcome of this dietary pattern. Fruit liquids are poor in protein, fiber, and lipids, while cotton balls have none.
Fad diets aren't sustainable and can cause electrolyte imbalances, cardiac problems, muscle loss, infertility, or death. Cotton ball diet is also dangerous.