Spring Break on the Brain?
As the weeklong vacation inevitably approaches, collegiettes nationwide are trying to find ways to fit more comfortably into their bikinis. But, some of the fad diets that have been crazing the nation are not exactly the safest for girls—or anyone, for that matter—to be following.
The top three diets that seem to be sweeping the nation are: the Gluten-Free Diet, the Intermittent Fasting Diet, and the Paleo Diet. That being said, it’s time to discuss the real dangers of these three risky diets.
A Gluten-Free Diet is pretty self-explanatory: avoid foods with gluten. Now, unless you have celiac disease, there isn’t exactly a good reason for avoiding gluten. Though it may encourage you to read more food labels and possibly lead to healthier eating habits, it can be pretty bad for you.
Eliminating gluten from your diet can cause a lack of fiber and a reduced intake of carbohydrates. Moreover, it can cause weight gain since certain gluten-free products can contain much higher concentrates of fat and sugars. And, of course, as with most diets, your body will be lacking important nutrients that gluten provides.
The next diet—The Intermittent Fasting Diet—is ranked 28 out of 31 by the U.S. News’s “Best Diets Overall” list. This diet requires the person to eat 500-600 calories two [non-consecutive] days each week. This diet recommends eating things such as: vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and lentils on the low-calorie days. Now, that might sound healthy, but such a strict calorie intake is actually detrimental to your health.
This diet creates deficiencies of several quintessential nutrients. Even more than that, consuming such few calories can cause many side effects such as: headaches, irritability, and—of course—severe hunger. And, as expected, this is not a diet that can be maintained for an extended period of time.
Now, let’s talk about the most recent rage: the Paleo diet. This diet is probably one of the strangest ones to rise to the challenge of targeting people looking to lose weight. This diet requires hopeful dieters to mimic a regimen similar to our Paleolithic ancestors. There are a few positives to this diet, such as: intake of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables; it encourages exercise to build lean muscle; and the foods tend to be low in sodium.
However, much like everything else in life, there are severe downsides to this diet. This diet forces the body to lose vital nutrients—such as vitamin D and calcium. It also eliminates entire food groups, such as: whole grains and dairy. It can also be harmful for people who are suffering from specific diseases—most commonly, kidney disease.
Now, it’s perfectly understandable for girls—hey, even boys, too—to want to get in shape for spring break, but you have to remember to be careful. Fad diets may claim to have great results, but if you aren’t careful, it can be tremendously dangerous. So… Keep healthy, stay lean, and exercise safely, collegiettes!!