FAD DIET

Fad Diet Assessment



Fad Diet

The social and cultural dilemmas have become critical to express the new scientific knowledge on the nutritional value of foods. The reasons are: biological, ecological, historical, geographical, socio-cultural, commercial marketing of foods and globalization of trade Because of ambiguity, fads associated with food are abundant. What to eat and what not to eat? Which foods are healthy and which foods can even harm? One man's food may be a deadly poison for another, as in the case of allergy or idiosyncrasy. Reader's Digest has published a book, “Foods that Harm and Foods that Heal” with a rider, “consult physician for specific health problem”. Food fads such as 'excess of sweets cause diabetes' are too many to list. There are contradictions, inconsistencies and vagueness.(Freedman, King, and Kennedy, 2001)

It is the latest fad diet, and like all fad diets there is some controversy here. First, there is the meager 500-calorie a day limit. Then there is the daily injection of a pregnancy hormone that tricks the body into feeling full while still burning fat. The weight loss plan is attracting both men and women. But as CTV medical specialist Avis Favor reports, some doctors are highly doubtful.

Diets that promise far too much magic in too little time are essentially quick fixes that could be harmful for your health. Ludicrous and larger-than-life claims such as "watch the pounds shed off if you eat before 5pm" or "this supplement will burn fat from your thighs " or "lose weight with cabbage soup diet" or "a teaspoon of this magic powder at bedtime will make sure you lose weight while you sleep", are continuously doing the rounds. With more and more people wanting to lose weight quickly and without effort, such fad diets will continue to surface. In fact, if you're faced with just two months and lots of weight to lose, a fad diet becomes the only recourse even if it means paying an arm and a leg for one and harming your health in the long term. (Lovegren, 1995)

How to recognize such diet Diets that claim you can lose more than 1kg per week: Some fad diets promise 2-5kg weight loss a week. Such diets are unhealthy because these induce muscle mass loss more than fat loss. Water loss is never permanent and water weight returns when you are back on your normal diet. Muscle loss is clearly unhealthy because it makes you weak and tired, and affects bone health. Muscle loss also promotes storage of fat in the body, making you fatter in the long term. For example, a high-protein diet with very few carbohydrate food choices will lower fiber intake, affect digestion, lower B-complex levels, affect mood, skin and hair. Omitting fat will cause vitamins A, D, E and K deficiencies, because these are stored in fat Diets that advise you to eat only raw foods: A balance of raw and cooked foods is essential for a healthy ...