The cotton ball diet is a fad that was supposedly started in the modeling industry. Whenever women are looking for a get-thin-quick scheme, they look to the ultra-thin models to see what works. However, far too many of these models have a "get thin at any cost" mentality, which endangers health. A perfect example of this is the fad cotton ball diet.
Cotton ball diet: a dangerous trend among models and teenagers
What Is the Cotton Ball Diet?
The pressure to go beyond slender is often so great in the modeling world that young women will resort to eating non-edible items in an effort to get and stay as thin as possible. Some models have been suspected to dip cotton balls in orange juice or other liquids, such as lemonade or smoothies, and eat them in an effort to feel full without consuming any calories. The orange juice is so minimal that it doesn't provide any real nutritional value. It's just a device to make the cotton ball easier to swallow.
The Dangers of the Cotton Ball Diet
Eating non-food items is never a good idea. Your body can't break them down, and you could get serious intestinal blockage and constipation. A serious blockage can lead to the death of healthy tissue and infection. In the most serious of cases, you could even require surgery to unblock the intestinal tract. In addition, cotton balls can damage your esophagus or become lodged in your throat, and you could choke.
Cotton ball diet is considered to be an eating disorder
Finally, cotton balls are processed with bleach and other chemicals, all of which you are digesting when you swallow a cotton ball. These chemicals can damage your immune system, disrupt hormones and even cause cancer. Dioxins such as these can stay in the human body for 7 to 11 years.
Our bodies need nutrition to operate properly. Eating non-food items does not provide any nutrition, and your body could go into starvation mode. Malnutrition is a very serious condition that many ultra-thin models suffer from. Malnutrition from restricting your calories to the point of starvation can leave lasting damage to your body that will follow you for the rest of your life.
Try These Methods for Weight Loss Instead
You should never, ever try the cotton ball diet! This is a dangerous way to try to lose weight. You could cause serious long-term damage to your body. In addition, any weight you lost would be quickly regained as soon as you started eating normally again.
If you are serious about weight loss, the best way to achieve it is through a sensible cutting of calories and regular exercise. See a nutritionist or your trusted family doctor for a recommendation for a safe and healthy weight loss diet and workout plan.