In my previous blog, I wrote about  Detox, Cleanse and Weight Loss:The Most Important Step To Fighting Obesity. Today  I want to share with you few facts about fad diets.

A common feature of all fad diets is the claim that you can lose weight quickly and with minimal effort. This is what makes them so tempting. However, every time you hear that promise of quick and effortless weight loss, you should be suspicious.

The only way to deal with extra pounds on a long-term basis is by changing your lifestyle. This is not quick and it certainly is not easy. It requires serious commitment. If your goal is to lose a pound or two quickly, fad diets are effective, but if you need to lose a lot, they can do more harm than good.

DID YOU KNOW?

For normal functioning, your body needs protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water.

When you avoid an entire food group, it will disrupt your body’s natural balance. Unfortunately, in most cases, you won’t even lose weight, just water.

Poor Long-Term Weight Control

Why are fad diets effective? Fad diets will make you lose some weight in a matter of days. Naturally, this is a consequence of eating a very restricted diet. Once you stop and resume your normal eating habits, you will gain that weight back and then some.

Cutting your calorie intake helps with weight loss but usually affects another aspect of your health. For normal functioning, your body needs protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. When you avoid an entire food group, it will disrupt your body’s natural balance. Unfortunately, in most cases, you won’t even lose weight, just water. When you rehydrate, you will gain most of the weight back.

Fad diets produce temporary results and as soon as you stop, you will start gaining pounds

Fad Diets Could Slow Your Metabolism

One of the side effects of fad diets is disrupting your metabolism. Your body has a natural ability to signal you when to eat and when to stop. By eating restricted amounts of food on a structured schedule, you can change this natural pattern. It can have long lasting effects even with a short-term diet.

By slowing down your metabolism, fad diets can actually lead to slower weight loss. It can also contribute to quicker weight gain.

Fad Diets Can Cause Nutrition Deficiency

Fad diets don’t meet your body’s necessary nutritional needs. Every fad diet has strict rules and prohibits certain types of food. This can lead to a serious nutritional deficiency. For example, some diets prohibit carbohydrates. However, they are an important energy source and if you avoid them or completely eliminate them from your diet, it can cause fatigue.

Nutritional deficiency can lead to hair and muscle loss as well. Considering the fact that your hair needs protein to grow, if you are not getting enough protein in your diet, it will affect the quality of your hair. The same goes for muscles. If you are on a low-calorie diet, your body must look for other ways to get energy.

Fad Diets Are Unhealthy

When your goal is to lose some weight, your main focus is on how to lose those pounds quickly. The negative effects of speedy weight loss are probably the last thing on your mind.

Fad diets usually promise unrealistic results. Typically, they are unhealthy and can’t produce long-term results. Some fad diets can even be dangerous for your health. If a diet promises that you will lose weight and be able to keep it off without any exercise, something is not right. Keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. When you limit your food choices, you are going to lose weight but nothing can guarantee you are not going to gain it back once you stop with the strict regime.

Fad diets can increase the risk of chronic diseases like high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Many fad diets restrict the intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and whole grains. The problem is that these foods are packed with nutrients that can prevent many chronic conditions.

Your need to listen to your body, as it can send you signals that something is wrong. If you feel muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion, fainting, dehydration, mood changes, and constant hunger, the regime of your choice is not good for you and you should stop. If you have some health issues, you need to be especially cautious with fad diets. You should consult with your doctor before trying anything new.

Fad Diets Negatively Impact Mental Health

Fad diets can have negative consequences on your mental health. As they are very restrictive, it is difficult to keep up with these strict requirements for a long period of time. You can even get bored after a while, eating the same foods over and over again. It can lead to food cravings due to long-term avoidance of certain foods. Once you start craving a specific type of food, it is difficult to control yourself. If you don’t have the willpower to resist your cravings, you will feel guilty for breaking the diet plan.

Another common feature of fad diets is referring to foods as good or bad. This praxis can lead to the development of an unhealthy relationship with food. Fad diets can lead to eating disorders and feelings of social isolation as well. When you gain weight, you can develop feelings of demoralization and hopelessness because you have failed.

Bottom Line

If you wish to permanently resolve your weight issues, you have to change your habits. A combination of healthy nutrition and exercising is the only way to effectively deal with excessive weight problems. You shouldn’t skip breakfast. You should eat a variety of foods to ensure proper nutrition. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Avoid food packed with sugar, sodium, and trans fats. It is important to hydrate as well. This is how you can introduce healthy habits into your routine. If you introduce physical activity as well, you have the winning combination for weight loss.

Of course, as I always emphasize, nutritional cleansing and detoxification is the real key to long term success.

Fad diets are temporary unhealthy fixes. They promise big results with minimal effort, which is why more and more people turn to them for weight loss. Sadly, they cannot deliver what they promise. If your goal is healthy, effective, and long-term weight management, you should definitely avoid fad diets.

Share This

Follow Me On Social Media

Click and get regular updates on your favorite social media