Tamil Nadu teen dies after alleged 3-month juice-only diet he saw on YouTube

Summary

A 17-year-old boy from Colachel in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district died of suspected suffocation at his residence on Thursday after following a juice-only diet for three months, reportedly inspired by a YouTube video. The boy, identified as Saktheeswaran, had not consulted any medical or nutritional expert before adopting the diet and had been avoiding solid food entirely. He collapsed at home after complaining of breathlessness and was declared dead shortly afterward. His family held a ritual involving solid food for the first time in months, which neighbors claimed may have contributed to his sudden collapse. Doctors are examining the autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death, with improper diet planning cited as a possible factor. A similar incident occurred in March 2025 in Kerala, where an 18-year-old girl died from health complications linked to severe dietary restrictions and starvation.