An experiment that many would like to try. Find out what happens to your body when you only eat vegetables for 7 consecutive days.
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your body if, for seven consecutive days, I renounced meat, dairy products, eggs and even the processed products, entrusting you only to what grows from the earth? An extreme food experiment for some, a stimulating challenge for others. Still, the benefits – and also some side effects – begin to be felt immediately.
Eating only vegetable means completely eliminating food of animal origin and relying on fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seeds and dried fruit. It seems simple, and perhaps it is, even if what happens in our body is much more complex, surprisingly positive in certain aspects, annoying for others.
Day 1: a full of fiber and mental lightness
The first impact is mental. You feel virtuous, light. A sort of symbolic “cleaning” that involves the head before even the intestine begins. On a physical level, the body is immediately flooded by a quantity of fibers that it rarely receives in an omnivorous diet. A abundant salad, a plate of lentils, perhaps a smoothie with black cabbage and banana. In one day, 30 grams of fiber recommended per day can be exceeded.
Be careful though: taking so much fiber all together, for those who are not used to, can cause swelling, meteorism and changes in intestinal transit. In short, the first day could be a bit … turbulent.
Day 2-3: the metabolism accelerates, but the body settles itself
From the second day on, the body begins to adapt. The intestine reorganizes, the metabolism wakes up, digestion becomes faster. The soluble fibers (those contained in apples, oats, legumes) feed the good bacteria of the intestine and start a beneficial fermentation. According to a study published in Nature, a vegetable diet modifies the intestinal microbiota already after 48 hours, promoting the growth of anti-inflammatory bacterial species.
In the meantime, many people report a sense of widespread lightness. You sleep better, you feel less weighed down. No magic, but simple physiology: without foods rich in saturated fats and/or complex proteins, the liver and the digestive system work more easily.
Day 4-5: the skin changes, the energy increases
In the mid -week the most visible changes begin. The skin appears brighter, the pimples disappear and/or are reduced. This phenomenon is linked both to the elimination of dairy products, often implicated in acne reactions, and the increase in antioxidants present in fruit and vegetables.
In addition, the amount of water ingested through vegetables such as cucumbers, courgettes, spinach and tomatoes helps internal hydration. The kidneys work better, water retention is reduced. And a new feeling comes: the energy does not drop in the middle of the day. Indeed, it tends to keep more stable. Merit of the lowest glycemic index and the gradual release of sugars from whole grains and legumes.
Another research published on Frontiers in Nutrition has confirmed that a plant -based diet improves energy levels, reduces the symptoms of chronic fatigue and facilitates sleep.
Day 6: Attention to the lack of protein
So far, so good. But on the sixth day, if the vegetable diet was faced without criteria, the first signs of imbalance could emerge. A drop in muscle strength, a slight tiredness, difficulty concentration. In the absence of legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan and correct combinations of cereals and seeds, the body could begin to miss essential amino acids.
Eating only vegetables does not mean feeding in a balanced way. A well-structured vegetable diet must include at least 50-60 grams of proteins per day, otherwise the risk is to lose lean mass, with negative effects on basal metabolism.
Day 7: cleaner body, clearer mind
On the last day of the experiment, you feel changed. Not so much because some hecto has been lost – the drop in weight is often modest and tied more to liquids than in fat – as for the feeling of internal cleaning. The mind also seems more lucid, a consequence of the reduction of systemic inflammation and the best glycemic balance.
Several studies confirm that a plant -based diet can reduce inflammatory markers in the blood, improving mood and brain health. For example, an Australian study highlighted a link between plant nutrition and less incidence of anxiety and depression.
An experience that changes the perception of food
Seven days are not enough to transform long -term health, but they are sufficient to start a change. For many, it is the beginning of greater awareness. You learn to read the labels, to cook more variedly, to listen to your body.
The return to the usual diet, after a week of plant nutrition, often brings out dormant intolerances. Milk, for example, can be heavier, while some too salty or processed foods may seem suddenly annoying. It is the sign that something, in those seven days, has really changed.
Is it worth it?
Yes, it is worth trying, but with intelligence. A week of vegetables only can be an opportunity to rebalance the body, experiment with new flavors, reduce inflammation and improve intestinal health. However, it is necessary to pay attention to variety and quality, it is not enough to binge on salads: the body needs complete nutrients, even by vegetable sources.
So, yes to cabbage and carrots, but also to chickpeas, hemp seeds, quinoa and unsweetened soy milk. An experiment that, if faced with curiosity and common sense – perhaps after talking to doctors and/or nutritionists – can leave a lasting sign.
