Atkins Diet, Cohen Diet, Master Cleanse, South Beach Diet. If you are a diet junkie, you have heard of all these fad diets and probably tried them, too. In our obsession to keep slim or get slim fast, we try to go for quick fixes. But there are none. Here are the top 10 disadvantages of dieting.
1. Water Imbalance
We have been reminded over and over that water is very important for our bodies. We not only have to drink at least 8 glasses every day, but we also have to make sure we retain and flush out the right amount of water. With diets, we avoid certain foods that help this process, causing water imbalance.
2. Hair Loss
Our tresses need vital nutrients to stay healthy. Going on crazy diets rids us of these nutrients, which leads to hair loss.
3. Impaired Cognition
Studies show that women on low-carbohydrate diets have lower memory scores than those with balanced diets. They have slower reaction times and have trouble concentrating, too. We need a balanced diet for our brains to function properly.
4. Ketosis
Ketosis is a result of low blood sugar levels and a lack of carbohydrates. It leads to bad breath and weakness. It affects the liver and kidneys, which in turn cause other ailments like constipation and fatigue.
5. Depression
It is simple. We are unhappy when we are starving, right? Continuously starving ourselves makes us continuously unhappy, triggering depression. It leads to sleeping problems and moodiness, too. A lack of carbohydrates and sugar decreases serotonin levels, which is the happy hormone.
6. Sudden Weight Gain
Diets are supposed to help us lose weight, but when we withdraw foods from our body for long periods, it adapts and metabolism slows. In some cases, diets are too strict causing us to leave it midway and binge eat to satisfy our cravings.
7. Self-loathing
We have all cheated on diets. Some people feel worse than others when they do. If we feel like we have no control over our body or we are not successful immediately in losing weight, we start hating ourselves for it.
8. Organ Damage
Just like our brain and hair, our organs need vitamins and nutrients that come from food. Dieting for too long deprives our organs of the fuel it needs to function well.
9. Eating Disorders
This occurs when a person ‘over-diets’. It is no longer a diet, but an eating disorder, typically Anorexia or Bulimia. Anorexia is when a person consistently thinks they are fat and therefore avoids eating. Bulimia is binge eating followed by forced vomiting or deliberate diarrhoea using laxatives. These eating disorders cause psychological and physical damage to the body.
10. Dietary Deficiencies
Diets often encourage us to cut out one food group from our daily intake. This means we do not get all the nutrients we need. Although supplements may help, they do not work without food in our system. We need a proper dose of every food group for us to function normally.
Fad diets are not a long-term solution for weight loss. A balanced diet together with exercise is the healthiest and safest way to lose weight, but you should always consult your doctor or nutritionist before you start one if you are unsure of the disadvantages of it like those mentioned here.
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