INSTEAD of fat-reducing pills, rigorous exercise or weight loss injections, many people are now using natural foods and juices to lose weight.

The fat flush diet, first introduced by American personal trainer Kim Lyons, who presented the concoction on The Biggest Loser, is said to be loaded with fat-burning fruits and vegetables that will get your metabolism revving.

General, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon Dr Alfred Dawes said the diet does work, but there’s a caveat.

“The vitamins such as Vitamin C are needed for the maintenance of general health but do not speed up our metabolism or cleanse the body. The diets do work, but this is mainly because they go along with a decrease in carbohydrates and fat intake which would make anyone lose weight,” Dr Dawes said.

Popular flavours of the juices used in the diet include grapefruit mixed with tangerine, cucumber, peppermint leaves, as well as cranberry water and green tea.

According to Lyons, the mix tastes best when it is left to sit for long hours.

Dr Dawes added that because the diet requires that one drinks lots of water, they would feel full and thus crave and eat less.

But all that glitters isn’t gold, and Dr Dawes said persons with health-related problems might suffer rather than benefit from the fat flush diet.

“The drawbacks are few as these natural juices provide nutrients we need. However, patients with kidney disease or heart conditions may be negatively affected by the increased intake of fluid,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Dawes said the weight loss might not be ideal, as with any crash diet you will lose muscle and not necessarily a significant amount of fat.

“So you may lose 10 pounds in a week, but that is mostly water and muscle. The fat supposedly flushed out is still present and with less muscle to burn the fat, you regain weight easier once you come off this unsustainable diet,” he warned.

He maintained that it is better than some of the other pills and supplements on the market, but it is not a ‘cure all’ for obesity.