After six months of eating only boiled vegetables, a woman in China began experiencing unusual symptoms. When she went for a medical check-up, the results came as a shock.

A woman ate only boiled vegetables for six months

According to China News, a 25-year-old woman named Lin Hui from China recently went to the hospital after experiencing nausea, vomiting, and fever. A CT scan revealed pancreatic necrosis. Her condition was considered serious, and doctors admitted her for conservative treatment to preserve pancreatic function. She was shocked by the diagnosis.

During her medical history review, Dr. Liu Wensheng from the Oncology Hospital affiliated with Fudan University discovered that the patient had been following an extreme diet to lose weight. She had been eating only boiled vegetables and completely avoiding all other foods for six months.

Expert explanation

Experts explained that while a boiled-vegetable-only diet may seem low-calorie, healthy, and safe, it can actually lead to serious health consequences, including damage to the pancreas.

Dr. Liu Wensheng noted that the pancreas is a vital organ responsible for both digestion and metabolism. It produces insulin to regulate blood sugar and secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that break down food.

Normally, after food enters the stomach, pancreatic juice is released into the digestive tract to help break down nutrients such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. However, completely avoiding other foods and eating only vegetables can impair pancreatic secretion and disrupt its function, ultimately harming the organ.

In addition, such a restrictive diet leads to severe nutritional imbalance. The body becomes deficient in essential nutrients like protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. According to the doctor, serious deficiencies can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of infections, and negatively affect the pancreas.

Professor Fan Zhihong from the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, and Vice President of the Nutrition Society under the China Health Education and Promotion Association, emphasized that no single food can provide all the nutrients the body needs. Maintaining an extreme diet of only boiled vegetables for a long period can seriously harm overall health.

Expert recommendations

Extreme dieting not only disrupts digestion and metabolism but can also lead to serious consequences. Experts advise that weight loss does not mean completely eliminating fats or proteins. Instead, people should maintain a balanced diet that includes all essential nutrients—proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals—combined with appropriate physical activity for safe and sustainable weight management.