Learn How To Avoid Fad Diets
by diywealth on May.31, 2010, under diy
Fad diets are diets designed to be followed for only a short period of time. Another popular culture meaning for the term is a diet that becomes wildly popular for a period of a few months to a few years, and then fades into obscurity. The Hollywood diet, the Atkins diet, and Jenny Craig are just three examples.
Fad diets are sometimes known as food fad-ism. A food fad is a phenomenon in which some food or category of food suddenly becomes very popular. Common aspects of these fads include:
- The food is attributed with miraculous powers.
- Other foods are removed from the diet because they have negative properties that should be avoided.
As an example of these elements of fad diets in the diet, take the Atkins diet. In this diet carbohydrates are the Keystone element that is negative and therefore to be avoided. At the same time, carbohydrates are the miraculous element — actually the lack of carbohydrates because it creates a metabolic state in which the body burns fat at an amazing pace. This diet even included short phases, followed by sustained phases. Unlike many fad diets the Atkins diet was designed to be something a person could stick to for a long period of time.
As with many fad diets Atkins rose quickly and fell just as quickly. For a number of years anyone who thought of dieting thought about the Atkins diet . Every movie star, singer, and sports figure claimed to use the Atkins diet when they needed to lose weight. Although still around today, the diet is far from as popular as it was at its height.
Many fad diets can be quite dangerous. The Subway diet made popular in television commercials wasn’t exempt. It was based on the legend of Jared, a young man who’d lost nearly 250 pounds in only a year by eating Subway sandwiches, baked chips, and diet soda. Jared’s diet was severe — going down to 900 calories a day from over 10,000. Such an extreme level of caloric intake cuts and rapid weight loss is unhealthy. Even so, the Subway diet when followed in moderation can work. Particularly because the diet included exercise — Jared walked 6 miles a day while losing the weight.
Beware of fad diets. You’re better off learning how to eat well on an everyday basis and maintaining a program of rigorous exercise.
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