There are two different meanings for diet.
1) food that a person, animal, or community/religion habitually eats
2) a special course of food (including liquids) to which a person restricts themselves for a short period of time.
Foods purpose is to nourish and prevent unavoidable disease – such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancers. Additionally, eating healthy to prevent these diseases results in managing and maintaining a healthy weight.
Over the last 40 years though, food fads that dramatically reduce calories, promote skipping meals, eating from one food group, and even cutting food out completely for days, will result in weight loss initially however, in just a few short weeks, dieters will begin to experience cravings, feel lethargic and irritable, and have to fight the head chatter that tells them they’re about to fail another diet.
Here are four fad diets that are hard to manage, they’re unsustainable, and they may be dangerous. In fact, if followed long term, some could potentially be lethal.
- The Mono Diet – eating nothing but one food of your choice eg: potato – for several weeks accompanied by water.
- The Baby Food Diet – Even though baby food is pureed fruit, vegetables, and meat, a great quantity would need to be eaten for one meal to satisfy an adult, greatly amplifying calories.
- Keto Diet – Having you dramatically cut all carbohydrates and increase fat intake without restricting trans fats or saturated fats.
- Military Diet – This diet suggests you restrict calories significantly for 3 days, then increase your calories to maintain your weight for the following 4 days, Basically, 3 days hungry, 4 days normal. A great way to confuse your metabolism and hormones.
Now here are my recommendations for the three best diets that can be maintained as a staple forever diet that will nourish and energise your brain and body, plus assist in fighting disease.
- The Mediterranean Diet – there is no measuring or weighing of ingredients and no strict rules. You eat whole form foods based on simple ingredients, seasonal produce and sensational taste. There is no deprivation in this diet. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: bold flavours, a feeling of generosity and eating for enjoyment.
- The DASH Diet – It’s simple, really: Just focus on eating the nutrient-dense foods you know are good for you (fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy) and avoid eats that aren’t, for example those high salt or saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy and tropical oils, and sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets
- The Flexitearian Diet – meaning it’s flexible and vegetarian. Eat your greens, knowing you can indulge in the occasional meaty meal, and you’ll cut kilos, fight disease… and live longer!
Be mindful and be in control of what you eat. If your daily diet cannot be followed for a lifetime, then eliminate it. Eat to live, not live to eat and always include regular exercise.
About The Author
Louise Skeen is a sought-after women’s health and fitness educator and public speaker, known for her passion to educate women in nutrition, fitness and hormone health.
Louise has been in the fitness industry for more than 30 years, and has successfully owned and operated health and fitness facilities in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. She currently owns and operates Personal Fitness for Women, a boutique personal training studio located in her home town of Lake Macquarie.
She’s written a No.1 Amazon Bestselling book, Hot Flush to Hot Body in Just 6 Weeks: Lose Weight and Not Your Mind During Menopause and has launched her own brand this year called Louise Skeen™, Mind, Body, Health Coach.
The objective is to help women over 50 feel young, live young, and be young. She currently has online programs to target women’s self-empowerment and wellness for longevity, including the 28 Day Mindset Reboot, 28 Day Body Fit Reset and 28 Day Food For Life.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
