Diet Information
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What Are Fad Diets?Diet plans commonly called "fad diets" are typically unbalanced eating plans (eg. Cabbage Soup Diet or Grapefruit Diet) which recommend that dieters eat one particular food or type of food. Some fad diets are fasting or 'cleansing' programs, others involve combining different foods at different times. Fad diet programs sound like good ways to lose weight because they claim to possess some kind of secret weight loss method. Fat-Burning or Negative Calorie Fad DietsAnother type of fad diet plan claims to include "special foods" that help to "melt away body fat", or negative-calorie foods (eg. Negative Calorie Diet) that require so many calories to digest that by eating them you will lose weight. There is no clinical evidence to support the idea that certain foods burn body fat or burn more calories than they possess. So the weight loss claims of these fad diets are without foundation. Fast Weight Loss vs. Fad DietsThe truth is, in order to lose weight at the fastest possible speed, our body needs proper diet nutrition. Meaning, enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients like protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats to maintain our metabolism, appetite and digestion in a healthy state. Without adequate nutrition our body does not burn calories efficiently and weight loss slows. This is why unbalanced fad diets that offer fast weight loss are a waste of time. Fad diets are not balanced eating plans and do not provide sufficient nutrition. Remember, the No 1 rule of fast weight loss is: "Eat a Balanced Diet that includes a variety of healthy foods." Problems of Fad Diets and Unbalanced Eating PlansFad diets may cause you to develop nutritional deficiencies, because no one type of food has all the nutrients necessary for good health. Also, note that fasting or 'cleansing' is diet-speak for starvation. If you want a healthy cleansing diet, see: Detox Diet Fad dieting can sometimes lead to weight-cycling or yo-yo dieting - i.e. weight loss, followed by regain, followed by weight loss then regain etc. New research suggests that such weight cycling may lead to obesity. Conclusion: Avoid Fad DietsAvoid fad diets and fad dieting. Instead, focus on healthy eating and eat a balanced diet that includes foods from ALL food groups. Provided you keep within your calorie needs, this dietary approach guarantees fast weight loss and goodhealth.
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