5 Tips for Spotting Fad Diets
11:37 AM
Lots of today's popular
diets take advantage of our desire to drop weight quickly. Unfortunately,
though, "quick-fix" diets don't work.
Here
are 5 clues that a diet may be more about empty promises than real results:
1. The diet is based on
drastically cutting back calories. Starvation-type diets that require the body to
fast often promise quick results. But our bodies simply aren't designed to drop
pounds quickly. In fact, doctors say it's nearly impossible for a healthy,
normally active person to lose more than 2 to 3 pounds per week of actual fat,
even on a starvation diet.
Here's the trick that very low-calorie diets rely on: The body's natural reaction to near-starvation is to dump water. So most, if not all, of the weight lost on quick-weight-loss diets is not fat — it's just water. And the body sucks this lost water back up like a sponge once a person starts eating normally again.
Here's the trick that very low-calorie diets rely on: The body's natural reaction to near-starvation is to dump water. So most, if not all, of the weight lost on quick-weight-loss diets is not fat — it's just water. And the body sucks this lost water back up like a sponge once a person starts eating normally again.
2. The diet is based on taking
special pills, powders, or herbs. These are usually just gimmicks — and the only
thing they slim down is your wallet.
Many diet pills contain laxatives or diuretics that force a person's body to eliminate more water. Just like restricted-calorie diets, the weight lost with these supplements is mostly water, not fat.
Other supplements claim that their ingredients speed up metabolism; suppress appetite; or block the absorption of fat, sugars, or carbohydrates. For most diet supplements, there's no reliable scientific research to back up their claims. And doctors consider diet supplements risky for teens because not much is known about how the ingredients affect the growing body.
Many diet pills contain laxatives or diuretics that force a person's body to eliminate more water. Just like restricted-calorie diets, the weight lost with these supplements is mostly water, not fat.
Other supplements claim that their ingredients speed up metabolism; suppress appetite; or block the absorption of fat, sugars, or carbohydrates. For most diet supplements, there's no reliable scientific research to back up their claims. And doctors consider diet supplements risky for teens because not much is known about how the ingredients affect the growing body.
3. The diet tells you to eat only
specific foods or foods in certain combinations. There's no reliable scientific proof that combining certain foods
works. And limiting the foods you eat means you might not get all the nutrition
you need.
4. The diet makes you completely
cut out fat, sugar, or carbs. Depriving our bodies of needed food groups is
a bad idea (especially when they're still growing). It's better to eat smaller
portions in well-rounded meals (meals that contain servings of protein, grains,
fruits, and veggies). When your body gets the right balance of nutrition, it's
less likely to send you willpower-busting cravings! Eating smaller portions
also helps you set good eating habits that will help you keep the weight off.
5. The diet requires you to skip
meals or replace meals with special drinks or food bars. As with diets that ban certain food groups, skipping or
substituting meals can mean you don't get the nutrition needed to support
healthy development. Plus, you miss out on the enjoyment of sharing a
satisfying meal with friends or family.
“5 Ways
to Spot a Fad Diet” Reviewed by Mary L. Gavin, MD. Read more at http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/fad_diet_tips.html#cat20131
Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We
offer nutrition information for teens, parents, and educators that emphasizes
the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information please visit www.bestteendiets.org
1 comments
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete