Why Fad Diets Don’t Work
One of the most challenging parts about eating well consistently is figuring out what miracle trends are really effective in helping you live a more fulfilling and healthier lifestyle. It seems these days that every nutrition guru has exactly the right recipe to help you shed 10 pounds in 10 minutes by just following their customized meal plan.The reality of these fad diets is that more times than not, they’re all smoke and mirrors. They flat out just don’t work.
The Role of Nutrition
When considering what type of diet is best for you, it is very important to consider the demands of your body based on your activity level and your health in general. Food is meant to be enjoyed, but primarily it is meant to serve as fuel for your body so that you can have energy and a healthy balance.At different points in our lives, we need some nutrients more than others to help our growth. All too common do we see high school athletes following their favorite artist’s dietary guidelines, preventing them from fueling their body properly to take on the demands of their sport and physical development.When situations such as the one just identified occur, a lack of energy levels may cause an individual’s performance to suffer in both school and athletics, potentially causing them to be at an increased risk for injury.
Pitfalls of Fad Diets
Many dietary trends are focused on a very specific type, or lack thereof, food group. For example, in recent years the Paleo diet has gained a lot of popularity as a way to achieve fitness goals in seemingly no time at all.While some individuals have witnessed success, it is important to realize that this dietary trend is for individuals who are performing training that matches the energy sources they are taking in. With fat being one of the primary sources for energy, it is a much better option for individuals to train cardio fitness at a much higher rate than high-intensity interval training.Performing interval training while consuming minimal carbohydrates may, in fact, cause individuals to go slightly catabolic, breaking down muscle and causing a lack of energy. While this is not to say that the Paleo trend is not a good option, it has certainly become an option picked by individuals who are not benefiting from it at all.When it comes to many popular trends, it is important to realize that the success they claim is based on the success of a few individual experiences. Long-term research that proves dietary fads are a better solution than current dietary guidelines are hard to come by and, those that do are rarely based on quality research.
Lifestyle Change
The key to finding a dietary plan that works for individual goals is to understand what the goals are and what type of fuel is necessary, all while consuming a well-balanced diet that is rich in nutrients. While it can be a pretty daunting task at first, working to understand food through your own research or the help of a healthcare professional can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle quicker than the latest fad diet.It has been recommended that diets consist of roughly 40-50% carbohydrates, 30-40% fats, and 20-30% protein. These recommendations were put forward to ensure individuals had guidance when trying to plan out meals that will provide them with energy and keep a healthy muscle mass, along with proper system regulation.In addition to following these guidelines for macro-nutrients, it is important to make sure one is always consuming enough vitamins for proper health of things like their skin, eyes, bones and more. Many popular dietary trends have been known to lack enough of such nutrients, causing potentially serious vitamin deficiencies that can affect a wide range of health concerns.When designing a plan that fits your needs exactly, it is recommended to calculate how many calories you are burning throughout the day, between exercise and the demands of everyday life. This will help you in figuring out how many calories you must consume on average to keep your weight at a healthy level, based on the recommendations of your medical provider.It is also important to understand that while losing or gaining a lot of weight in a short amount of time may seem like a health necessity, packing or shredding off more than 1-2 pounds a week may cause issues with hormone function. These can include but are not limited too sexual dysfunction, mood swings, and difficulties with organ functioning.
Benefits of Physician-Led Weight Loss Program
The reason why fad diets don’t work is that they are not customized to your individual needs, and they aren’t sustainable in the long-term. If your goal is to take control of your health once and for all, a physician-led weight loss program may be for you. Unlike at many other weight loss centers, Total HealthcareMD offers physician-supervised weight loss programs, which means you we provide a team of medical professionals to help you with your weight loss goals. We understand weight loss is different for everyone, Total HealthcareMD offers a variety of diets to meet the specific health conditions, goals, and preferences of every patient.Patients who enroll in the weight loss program at Total HealthcareMD sleep better, develop more energy, and enjoy an overall higher quality of life. If you’re ready to ditch fad diets for good, call (919) 436-3777 to learn more about what makes the weight loss program at Total HealthcareMD so unique.
