The myth of "miracle diets": Debunked

ByStephanie Holmes, 07/31/2015

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The number of diets out there is enormous, and they're constantly reinventing themselves. At a time when beauty seems to rhyme with fitness and featherweights, many are ready to try anything and everything to lose the extra weight.

We're constantly hearing all about the fad diets launched by famous doctors or nutrition "experts": Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc. They become popular not only because the sources are well-known or trusted people in the health community but also due to celebrity endorsement and mass media attention. The only problem is they tend to be overly restrictive and difficult to sustain.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have a plethora of diet plans that aren't yet scientifically sound, including intermittent fasting, only eating certain foods at certain times of the day, and even eating plans according to blood type. They all sound promising but the results aren't concrete enough to be convincing. It's important to remember that no metabolism is the same.

In terms of diet communities, such as Weight Watchers, you have the "points" system. It requires you to "budget" your points throughout the day, and the idea is that you can't go over. It sounds reasonable in theory, but it's still quite restrictive. Counting every little thing that goes into our mouths everyday is not an easy habit to adopt, and it can be demotivating for some. After all, it only works if you stick exactly to the plan, and it makes dining out a thing of the past.

Then you have the extreme diets: high-fiber diets (some that require an intake of 50 grams per day!), soup diets, the lemon cleanse, Hollywood fad diets, etc. These types of plans can be extremely dangerous for your health, especially if followed for long periods of time. Nutrient deficiencies, digestive problems and body shocks are all common outcomes.

Let's not forget the bevy of modern diets, such as paleo, vegan, 80/10/10, etc. They sound innocent enough, but they all exclude certain food groups, which will still leave you with significant nutrient deficiencies and potential health problems.

Our advice? Avoid falling into the incessant diet spiral and go see a dietitian or nutritionist to simply learn correct eating habits and make better food choices. Otherwise, you're subject to the maddening yo-yo diet lifestyle, which is not doing your body any favors. The best thing to do is try and readjust your lifestyle so that you can make healthy choices most of the time but still indulge when you want. We all want that coveted physique, but we have to remember to prioritize health before looks. At the end of the day, what's most important is to simply be in good shape and feel good in your own skin.