It seems like a day doesn’t go by when someone isn’t bringing up the latest fad diet. It also seems like a large portion of people are always all too eager to give these diets a whirl. Some people do so with good intentions- they want to live a healthier lifestyle and believe participating in these extreme diets is a step in the right direction- while others participate in these diets to achieve extreme weight loss. However, most of these diets only have short-term benefits and can end up hurting us in the long end. The best way to remain the beautiful and healthy you that you are is by eating healthy and exercising. Here are a few of the more popular diets that you may want to think twice about before signing you and your friends up for it.
Gluten Free
Ahhh, the gluten-free diet. It’s one of the leading diet trends in the country with an estimated one-third of American adults saying they are participating in a gluten-free lifestyle. I personally know a number of people, mostly college women, who are gluten-free. Some, due to celiac disease, have to be gluten-free if they wish to avoid painful gastrointestinal problems. But with only 1% of the population suffering from celiac disease and 33% saying they are or want to be gluten-free, it seems that this diet is more of a personal choice.
Most people justify their going gluten-free by stating the apparent “health benefits” of such a diet; their justifications typically include that they lose weight quickly on this diet, their energy levels rise, and wheat is difficult for humans to digest. But these claims may not be what they seem. Experts in the health field debunk the popular claim that gluten-free is an easy weight loss solution by explaining that people participating in this diet lose weight because they are eating less processed foods, not because they cut gluten out. They suggest that instead of eliminating gluten, you should reach for healthier options such as whole grain bread, or quinoa. This also explains why most people feel more energetic while being gluten-free. It’s no secret that individuals who consume less processed food have higher energy levels, but you don’t have to be gluten-free to achieve this. Health experts also state that there is a risk for a gluten-free individual to be consuming less vital nutrients, vitamins, and beneficial bacteria. So instead of cutting out gluten, take the time to become aware of the nutritional value of the different foods you consume and replace some with healthier options if necessary.
Juice Cleanse
Juice cleanse diets are popular for people to adopt when they are looking to lose weight fast. For instance, think of how you may feel after putting on those winter layers and then Spring Break in Cancun rolls around. Obviously, you want to make sure your beach bod is ready to show off at the beach or pool, but you may worry that your daily gym grind isn’t enough. A juice diet seems like a great, quick diet. And hey, what’s bad about drinking a juice made from fruit, vegetables, and health powders? A lot, actually. Dieticians and nutritionists cite a lot of potential dangers and problems that arise from juice cleanses. The first problem is that is severely restricts your daily calorie intake, sometimes to less than 1,000 calories per day, which can cause our body to go into starvation mode where it begins to breakdown muscle and tissue in order to make up for the drastic energy cuts. Speaking of the breakdown of muscle and tissue- an extreme diet such as this typically causes you to lose precious muscle, not fat. A low-calorie diet can help you lose a significant amount of weight fast, but it also just so happens that you’re more likely to put that original weight and more back on once you end the diet. A juice cleanse is dangerous and harmful to your body. It cuts back on necessary calories, it results in weight fluctuations, and you lack vital nutrients. No temporary beach bod is worth loosing what I’m sure is already a beautiful, and healthy body.
Fruitarian Diet
Although less popular than being gluten-free or doing a juice cleanse, there is still a rather large number of people who participate in a fruitarian diet (a fruit-only diet) in order to shed pounds quickly. This diet is dangerous for the same reasons most fad diets are- you keep your body from receiving vital nutrients, your immune system doesn’t function properly, and your body is forced to decompose muscle and tissue in order to make up for a reduced caloric intake. Also, once the diet is completed, most participants noted they began binge-eating high-calorie foods. Personally, none of that sounds like a good time.