Over the past decade, fad diets have taken over social media, promising quick weight loss with a hyper-focus on a specific nutrient category while eliminating others, leaving the user with an unbalanced diet. We have all tried a fad or yo-yo diet at some point. You try the diet for a month, maybe two, see great results but find yourself right back where you started soon after stopping. This leads to weight cycling and ultimately can negatively affect your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight overall. Beware of the following diets and the side effects they may cause. Turn to Vitalounge for a sustainable weight-loss solution. We provide various options for those looking to lose weight safely and keep it off.
Keto
Everyone has heard about the keto diet. This high fat, low-carb, and high protein diet promises weight loss after reaching metabolic ketosis, shifting the body’s metabolism away from carbs and towards fat and ketones. Sounds great, but the results are short-lived, and moreover, users may experience a significant reduction in blood sugar, insulin, increased lipid profile, and constipation.
Paleo
The Paleo diet takes us back in time to the way our ancestors ate, focusing on foods found utilizing “hunting and gathering,” such as lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Modern takes on this diet include a higher focus on large quantities of meat, leading to gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and high cholesterol levels.
Veganism
A vegan diet eliminates any food that comes from an animal. It includes foods such as vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. Following this diet allows for higher fiber consumption and lower calorie intake resulting in weight loss. Many folks go vegan for health reasons unrelated to weight loss. However, following this diet long term may lead to the deficiency of essential micro-nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, folate, and iron.
These are only a few examples of yo-yo diets. The truth behind them is simple: they do not promote sustainable weight loss as they do not address the underlying reason for weight gain. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is a much more effective way to take off unwanted pounds and keep them off. Always consult with a specialist or your doctor before trying a new diet.