Could a person survive on Ensure or Boost and nothing else?

[ashladdagirl75]

Could a person survive on an all liquid diet of meal replacement drinks like Ensure or Boost, that are full of protein and nutrients, for life?

[Buenchico]

The digestive system requires fats. Without them many vitamins can't be absorbed into the body.

It also requires roughage, to function efficiently.

Neither of those are present in the drinks you refer to.

Chris

[mike11111]

I think that what Chris is trying to say is that if you don't eat the fats you can't have a satisfying dump, which is one of the reasons why God created man.

[Buenchico]

Methyl must be living in the 1960s if he/she thinks that astronauts live on a liquid diet:
http://www.nasa.gov/c..._FS_SpaceFood508c.pdf

[Mosaic]

Can I ask the question before the question - ie they would somebody feel they needed to do this?
It's amazing what the human body will put up with in extreme conditions. But our physiology and dietary needs have evolved together, and it's cheapest, easiest and best to eat normally and live happily.

[sandyRoe]

I knew a few people who seemed to survive on little more than alcohol. One of them even developed beriberi.

[Buenchico]

I did indeed read it, Methyl.

Quote:
"The fresh food locker contains items such as tortillas, bread, breakfast rolls, fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas, oranges, carrot
and celery sticks"

[atalanta]

This is not to the point, but it may amuse. Years ago, a Panda had to have an internal operation, and was put on Complan to help its recovery. When it got better, it wouldn't touch bamboo again. It insisted on Complan, but didn't mind which flavour. It didn't seem to come to any harm. When you think about the amount of bamboo a normal panda has to eat to get its nourishment, you can't imagine a panda's insides could cope without the roughage, but apparently this one was fine.

[Cathyhuns]

I can't speak for the drinks metioned but many people who've had strokes or otherwise can't swallow properly have no choice but to live on liquid diets.