Crash weight loss plans and fad diets are an unreasonable alternative to permanent healthy eating habits, according to the American Heart Association.
What is a fad diet? It's a well marketed diet with some outrageous scheme to lose weight in an impossible manner, often by eating nothing but one food like a cabbage.
Quick-weight-loss diets generally put far too much focus on one particular food or type of food. They violate the first principle of good nutrition which is to eat a balanced diet including a variety of foods. Because no one food has all the nutrients needed for good health, these diets can result in a lot of health problems. One such diet is the Cabbage Soup Diet. This so-called fat-burning soup is eaten mostly with fruits and vegetables. People supposedly lost 10-17 pounds in only a week, eating mostly cabbage soup. Even if the weight loss claim were true, all the damage due to a lack of a host of important nutrients would far outweigh (pun intended) the benefits of losing the weight. There are no magic beans, or magic cabbages, or miracle foods for weight loss and good nutrition. Moderation and consuming all the major food groups is the best bet.
The second principle of good nutrition is that eating should be enjoyable. You think eating only cabbage soup every day is enjoyable?. These diets are so monotonous and boring that it's almost impossible to stay on them for long periods. Imagine eating cabbage soup, nothing but cabbage soup, for even a few days much less for a whole week. By Wednesday you'd dread meal time, and by Friday you'd never again want to smell a cabbage much less eat the soup. They'd carry you away in a straight jacket by week's end.
Boredom isn't the only reason fad diets aren't good ones. Many don't include physical activity, for example, walking 30 minutes most or all days of the week. Physical activity helps maintain weight loss, while physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When a diet includes no need for a workout, run the other way.
Quick weight loss sounds great. It is possible. But if a program sounds too good to be true, it is. - 16004
What is a fad diet? It's a well marketed diet with some outrageous scheme to lose weight in an impossible manner, often by eating nothing but one food like a cabbage.
Quick-weight-loss diets generally put far too much focus on one particular food or type of food. They violate the first principle of good nutrition which is to eat a balanced diet including a variety of foods. Because no one food has all the nutrients needed for good health, these diets can result in a lot of health problems. One such diet is the Cabbage Soup Diet. This so-called fat-burning soup is eaten mostly with fruits and vegetables. People supposedly lost 10-17 pounds in only a week, eating mostly cabbage soup. Even if the weight loss claim were true, all the damage due to a lack of a host of important nutrients would far outweigh (pun intended) the benefits of losing the weight. There are no magic beans, or magic cabbages, or miracle foods for weight loss and good nutrition. Moderation and consuming all the major food groups is the best bet.
The second principle of good nutrition is that eating should be enjoyable. You think eating only cabbage soup every day is enjoyable?. These diets are so monotonous and boring that it's almost impossible to stay on them for long periods. Imagine eating cabbage soup, nothing but cabbage soup, for even a few days much less for a whole week. By Wednesday you'd dread meal time, and by Friday you'd never again want to smell a cabbage much less eat the soup. They'd carry you away in a straight jacket by week's end.
Boredom isn't the only reason fad diets aren't good ones. Many don't include physical activity, for example, walking 30 minutes most or all days of the week. Physical activity helps maintain weight loss, while physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When a diet includes no need for a workout, run the other way.
Quick weight loss sounds great. It is possible. But if a program sounds too good to be true, it is. - 16004
About the Author:
Linda Miller loves to write about popular weight loss diet programs. For more South Beach Diet Recipes, menu ideas and free south beach diet information, make sure to visit her site at South-Beach-Diet-Recipes.com
