Healthy diets that aren’t so healthy

If there’s one thing that will never go out of style, it’s trendy fad diets. One day it’s the Five Bites diet, the next week it’s all the rage to live on celery sticks and foods that start with the letter C. 

True story, some celebrities even swear by the baby food diet! Please don’t try this at home – unless you’re a baby. 

Here are a few so-called “healthy” diets that may do more harm than good. In the long run, slow and steady always does the trick over quick and unhealthy diets that simply lead to the weight coming back with a vengeance. Also, fad diets can do a lot of long-term health harm to your body, such as nutrient deficiencies, risk of an eating disorder, heart disease and more.

Meat-only/carnivore diet

As the name states, proponents of this diet eat meat only, maybe with cheese or eggs. Vegetables, fruit and grains are a no-go and you may hear incredible tales of weight loss from this diet. The problem is that a meat-heavy menu can quickly lead to high cholesterol levels and an elevated risk of heart disease. Plus, meat has very little fibre so you may struggle with digestion and have constipation issues.

Three meals a day

We’ve all probably grown up with this motto – we must eat three meals a day. Truthfully, however, everyone’s body and nutritional needs are different. According to the American Heart Organization, while many still plan their days around “three square meals,” it’s believed that the number of meals you eat may not be so important. What does make sense is listening to your body’s signals. Eat when you’re hungry and allow reasonable time for your food to digest. Balanced meals will never go out of fashion, so focus on a healthy plate at mealtimes, not three strict meals a day. 

Keto diet

Yep, even the famed Keto diet is not without its problems. This diet is all about cutting out carbohydrates completely. Problem is, with all the fatty foods that this diet calls for, you could be damaging your body and organs, such as your kidneys, in the long term. Then there are the potential risks of low blood pressure, constipation, and unhealthy levels of saturated fat.

HcG diet

People on this diet report dropping an amazing number of kilograms within a very short period of time, which makes sense as the calorie restriction is so extreme. The diet is extremely restrictive and it’s easy to succumb to headaches, fatigue, muscle loss and, in the long-term, a slower metabolism, which defeats the purpose of weight management. 

No-sugar diets

In general, many of us consume way too much sugar. Excess sugar gets a deservedly bad reputation, as it can contribute to a risk of diabetes, lead to weight gain, increase inflammation and affect your skin. So, cutting out sugar is great, right? The problem with this one is that it implies cutting out all sugar - which is also found naturally in fruit – which would be a mistake, as most fruits are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are good for your body and help prevent disease and illness. 

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, and usage of any medication.