Is It a Fad Diet? How to Know
By Sara Butler
The next time you hear someone you know rave about eating a certain way and the wonders it did for their health, you should listen with a big dose of skepticism. Many things that people claim do miraculous things for their health are really just fad diets in disguise -- or not so in disguise. Here are a few tips to help you separate fad from fact.
There’s No Lifestyle Change Involved
Any product that promises results but says you don’t have to change anything about the way you eat or how much you exercise is a fad. Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight takes effort, so give any products that make big promises of results a hard pass.
Entire Food Groups are Eliminated
Diets that promote losing one or more food groups may produce results at first, but it’s probably only because you’re eating fewer calories. You should never cut out specific foods and their nutritional benefits from your diet. Carbohydrates are a great example because your body needs them but some fad diets have encouraged people to leave them out completely. That’s not healthy for you and certainly won’t have any benefit to your health in the long run.
Anything That Claims to Work for Everyone
Everybody and every body is different. If you’re trying to reach a healthy weight and maintain it, you must find a combination of healthy eating and exercise that works for you. Something that is sustainable for the rest of your life is what you need to find, not a fad that won’t help you achieve and maintain good health.
Your best bet is to discuss your health goals with your chiropractor or a dietitian in order to help you find the path that’s right for you.
Eliminating Food Combinations
There are some strange ideas out there and one of them is avoiding certain food combinations under the idea that your body can’t process it right. Here’s the thing: your body is smart and it’s made to function perfectly. It’s quite capable of handling many different food combinations. There’s no evidence that avoiding some food combinations is the way to achieve better health. Any lifestyle that promotes this is a fad you can pass on by.
Don't fall for fads because your health and wellness aren't passing fads -- they're always in style!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Round Rock, Tex.