A high protein liquid diet is a diet that consist mostly of liquids that are high in (or only contains) protein. To help the dieter lose weight these shakes are also usually low in carbohydrates. Some examples of these diets are soup diets, meal replacement diets and other protein shake liquid diet variants.

Liquid protein diets are the newest craze. This is because they promise quick and easy weight loss. But is this new way of dieting safe, and what are the precautions you need to take before going on such a liquid protein diet?

You don't have to wonder about those questions any more. I have gone out and researched the protein liquid diets for you and I present to you Liquid Protein Diet FAQ - What You Should Know.

It all depends on the ingredients of the liquid that you are supposed to take in. To be healthy, a diet must include the minerals, vitamins and building blocks you need to build a strong and healthy body.

Drinking only liquids that contain mostly protein and very little other foods may not be considered as healthy. But if fruits, vegetables and some carbohydrates are included it may be considered as more healthy.

Every fad diet holds hidden dangers and risks that you usually only discover when you are already on the diet. It pays to be aware of the diet's risks before hand. The main dangers and risks that a liquid protein diet might have are:

• Unwanted side-effects: A diet that contains too much protein may lead to fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea. This is because the liquid diet protein shakes usually don't contain all of the minerals and nutrients that your body requires for healthy functioning.
• Constipation: High protein liquid diets usually contain little to no fibre. This may lead to constipation and if the diet goes on for too long, it can become very dangerous.
• Learning of bad eating habits: A fad diet like a liquid protein diet may teach you to eat unhealthy and you may become used to eating so irregularly. It may be very difficult to break free from these eating habits.
• Being caught in the yo-yo diet trap. Fad diets like a liquid protein shake diet may cause you to become reliant on yo-yo dieting. As you lose your pounds, you may resort back to your old eating habits. This may cause you to pick back all your weight - leading you to then go back on the diet yet again. This process can repeat itself indefinitely, and is called the yo-yo diet trap.

Before going on any new weight loss program, you must take certain precautions. And the same goes for while you are on any diet and also after being on a diet. Let's look at the necessary precautions you need to take:

• Always book a visit with your doctor (and attend it) before going on a new weight loss diet or an exercise regime.
• Make sure that you are aware of the dangers that are involved with following a liquid protein diet.
• Drink enough water while dieting to avoid becoming dehydrated.
• Don't exercise too hard while you are on a liquid protein diet plan.
• If you experience any funny side effects, take a break from your diet. If the adverse side effects happen again, consider stopping your diet altogether.

Now that you are aware of the dangers of liquid protein diet weight loss programs, and also the precautions you need to take, we can look at smart tips to help you make your liquid diet tastier and more healthy.

• Make sure your liquid protein diet contains all the vitamins, minerals and building blocks your body will need
• Include extra fruit and vegetables in your shakes. Fruits and veggies are low in calories and high in fiber, so they will keep you fuller for longer.
• Make sure that your breakfast and lunch shake contain healthy carbohydrates and lots of fiber
• Don't follow a liquid protein diet for more than 3 days.
• After your initial 3 liquid protein only days, you may substitute only 2 of your daily meals with liquid shakes
• An example of healthy liquid protein smoothies is beetroot, whey powder and celery, and banana, berry and fat free yogurt.
• For breakfast, include fruit, low-GI breakfast cereal and fat free yogurt.
• For lunch, you can use meal replacement shakes
• Finally, for dinner, soups are a great nutrient containing liquid.
• Once you have lost your unwanted pounds, don't go back to the eating habits that caused you to pick up that weight in the first place. You must maintain your weight loss by eating healthy and exercising regularly.

A liquid protein diet can help you to lose that unwanted pounds, but it is not a healthy long term weight loss and weight maintenance alternative. If you have the need to include liquid protein diet meals into your eating plan, try not to substitute more than 2 of your daily meals with such drinks.

The best way to lose weight is to do it the healthy long term way - by eating healthy and by exercising regularly. If you need help to learn how to eat healthy, you might want to check out "The slim habit" and "Program yourself thin" - they both aim to teach you healthy eating habits, and to help you deal with your cravings.