It works, but it has the side effect that the opposite effect happens in the long run. Also, your hair and nails may start falling out if you follow such a diet for too long.
Did you know that when the potato famine occurred, flour was sent to Ireland, but the infrastructure to transport it, let alone process and bake bread and goods, meant that people starved despite what may have otherwise been an opportunity to eat had there been the technology in place at the time.