Health Crazes That You Should Probably Skip
Over the years, there have been a plethora of health crazes that have made their rounds. Non-fat diets, high-protein diets, jazzercise, juicing, Chuck Norris, master cleanses… You get the point. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t, and others were simply a quick fix instead of a long-term solution. Chances are that you probably have your own experiences with fad diets and fitness crazes- I know that I do. Before my wedding, I decided that the Master Cleanse was the perfect way to ensure that I looked fabulously svelte in my dress on the big day. I mean, if it worked for Beyonce, it would work for me too, right? Well, not quite. I gathered all of my supplies- lemons, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. I made a big batch of the slightly strange tasting lemonade drink and sipped on it throughout the course of the day, willing myself to avoid the refrigerator at all costs. By the end of the day, I was grumpy, hungry, and sick to my stomach. Needless to say, I didn’t even attempt day 2. The moral of the story is that there are some health fads that are worth trying, and others that aren’t. Here are a couple of “health” crazes that you can probably skip:
#1: Juicing
Claim: Juicing packs a days’ worth of nutrients into one glass.
Reality: While juice has its place, whole foods are a better bet.
Juicing has seen quite a heyday over the past couple of years. It seems as though everybody has purchased a juicer and is starting their days off with some sort of kale/spinach/apple/ginger/lemon/turmeric/mint combination. And, while fresh juice does boast a hefty pack of healthy vitamins and minerals, it also doesn’t give you the same feeling of fullness or satisfaction that a whole piece of fruit or a handful of fresh veggies might. Furthermore, store bought juices are often full of sugar that you wouldn’t get from whole pieces of fruit.
#2: Non-Fat Diets
Claim: Fats make you fat.
Reality: Heart healthy fats have a whole slew of health benefits.
It wasn’t so long ago that fat-free foods flew off of grocery store shelves at record speeds. People had gotten it into their heads that eating fats made them fat. The reality of it, though, is that certain fats from foods such as olive oil, avocado, salmon, and nuts can actually stimulate your metabolism and, combined with an active lifestyle, can help you to maintain a healthy weight as well as a healthy heart.