Diet Fads
Diet fads claim that they make you lose fat, but actually it is the water loss which actually happens after diet fads. So, most of the diet fads make false claims that they make you lose fat, in fact they just eliminate the water retention.
Diet fads also limit the food intake and one is able to eat only one kind of food, which makes the food extremely uninteresting to eat. Due to this people usually fail to carry on with this kind of diet plan for a longer period of time.
If you come across a diet plan, ask yourself below mentioned questions to yourself so that you are able to distinguish between a fad and a fact.
Watch out for below mentioned points and if you find them, then most likely it is a fad:
- Whether a diet plan claims to have a quick weight loss?
- Does that diet plan is a realistic diet plan?
- If a diet plan is selling some product?
- Are there enough scientific claims to prove it?
- Is the diet plan listing “good” and “bad” foods?
Examples of Fad Diets
High-protein diets
High protein (meat, eggs, etc.) diets are usually proposed in this kind of diet fads. These diet fads can be extremely dangerous as they pose excessive pressure on the kidneys and liver to metabolize the proteins.
Diets that focus on protein-rich foods may be missing specific nutrients , which are essential to keep the body healthy.
Liquid diets
Such diets propose to drink lots of liquids to lose weight.
Just for example if you start taking this kinds of diets you may lose essential substances like phytochemicals ,which are plant substances (found in vegetables and fruits) .They protect the body against many diseases. Also, losing weight through liquid diet may result in only temporary effect and once you stop on them, you may actually quickly gain the lost weight.
Grape fruit diet
This kind of diet plan proposes to eat only one kind of fruit i.e grape fruit. This type of diet plan is extremely low in calories and results in the loss of essential vitamins and minerals. This results in extreme weakness in the body.
Juice or broth fasts
In this type of diet fads, dieters try to lose weight by drinking only juice and/or broth for a period of time.
Not eating solid food for a longer period of time can result in extreme weakness and fatigue. Also it leads to a lower basal metabolic rate, which leads to minimal loss of calories from the body, thereby causing less weight gain.
Food-combining diets
These diet fads claim to lose weight by eating a combination of foods. However, it only results in loss of vital nutrients and as of now, there is no scientific proof which claims the same.
Cabbage diet
This diet fad claims that eating cabbage for a longer period of time can make you lose weight, however eating cabbage continuously can lead to gastrointestinal problems and loss of essential vitamins and minerals from the body.
Complications from diet fads:
Lost weight is usually returns back
Most of the diet fads result in quick weight loss and eating a boring food for a longer period of time can make the dieter feel depressed. As soon as the dieters return back to their normal diet, it causes them to regain the lost weight quickly.
High risk to chronic disease
Diet fads eliminate vital nutrients from our body, which causes the loss of essential vitamins and minerals that protect our body from diseases and infections. This results in increased risk to some diseases such as, like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis
Decrease in the physical activity
All diet fads restrict the supply of carbohydrates in the body. Carbohydrates are essential to supply energy to our body. Decreased carbohydrates also result in loss of electrolytes from the body. Hence, causing to a low blood pressure. A reduced supply of carbohydrates result in fatigue and decreases the physical activity.
Kidney stones and gout
Diets that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates often lead to the formation of uric acid and calcium oxalate, causing kidney stone formation and gout.
Ketosis
As diet fads result in low carbohydrates it results in ketosis. Ketosis is a condition, which develops when body is under starvation, and primarily when body is devoid of carbohydrates. Without adequate carbohydrates for energy supply, fat becomes the primary energy source and ketones become the means of transportation. Individuals having ketosis experience foul smell in their mouth.
One must consult a dietician before relying on a diet fad, as most of them give false promises. More than benefitting the body, they pose serious health issues.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9476-diets-fad-diets
http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/fad-diets.aspx
https://www.freedieting.com/fad-diets
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jfr/article/viewFile/62925/34642l