7 popular fad diets you should NOT follow (and why)

There are no shortcuts to success. We all know that but still want quick results when it comes to weight loss. Remember, all that weight didn’t come to you overnight; hence getting it off would also take some time. With so many diets flooding the market, searching one that is apt for you isn’t difficult. These diets may help you lose weight for a short period of time, but from your muscles and bones, leaving you feeling weak and ill. And once you go back to your normal routine, you gain all the weight or even more in no time. You do the math and see for yourself – what’s the point of following some diet regime which is short-lived, deprives you of nutrients and has many hazardous effects on your body? Busted – Diet myths that can ruin your health!
Renowned nutritionist Neha Chandna explains why fad diets are bad for you including seven popular ones like GM diet and liquid diet.

The best way to lose weight is to eat the right food, at the right time, in the right quantity, and exercise daily for 45 minutes to an hour. Take this quiz to know if your eating habits are right. The motive should be to lose weight gradually rather than rapidly. So how do you know if it is a fad diet? Here are some tips.
How to spot a fad diet

• It promises exaggerated results in few days which is too good to be true.
• Will mostly have rigid eating rules.
• It restricts you from eating a lot of food groups like carbohydrates, fats, etc.
• It promotes ‘magic foods.’
• The diet is sold based on a few testimonials without any research or studies done on its effect.
• It doesn’t involve much exercise along with meal plans.

Ill-effects of fad diets on the body

• Constipation
• Weakness
• Loss of concentration
• Nausea
• Headache
• Depression
• Muscle loss
• Health risks like osteoporosis and many more

While there are a number of fad diets that keep cropping up every now and then, especially when they are endorsed by celebrities, here a few popular ones to stay away from.
Atkins Diet: Written by Dr Robert Atkins, this is the most popular fad diet which aims at reducing the main source of energy – carbohydrates to up to 20g/day and focuses more on vegetables, fats and proteins. Why it is bad: This diet recommends more than 30% of fat intake which is above the recommended allowance and can lead to extreme ketosis, which can cause damage to the organs in the long run.
General Motor’s Diet: This is a 7-day diet plan which is based on the intake of specified food items which include raw vegetables, fruits, juice and lean meat. It restricts the intake of any dairy products and promises weight loss of around 5 kg in week. Each day is restricted to 1-2 raw foods in unlimited amounts. Why it is bad: This diet can make you weak and hungry, leads to the inability to exercise, depression and body pain.
Liquid Diet: The idea is to cleanse the body and rejuvenate it with juices, water and clear soups. Why it is bad: This diet is very low on protein and can make you really weak. Not recommended for more than a day. Detox yourself with this expert-recommended diet plan.
Blood Type Diet: Created by Dr Peter D’Adamo, it focuses on eating some and avoiding some foods as per your blood type. It follows a ‘one size fits all’ concept. Why it is bad: It bans a lot of health promoting foods making eating out difficult and some people may be healthy despite eating foods forbidden for them.
Cookie Diet: Invented by Dr Siegal, this a diet in which one has to eat nine cookies a day that makes up to 500 kcal and then have a 500 kcal dinner, totalling up to 1000 kcal every day. Why it is bad: This diet gets monotonous and can cause nutrient deficiencies.
Baby Food Diet: This diet is about eating 14 jars of baby foods throughout the day and a sensible dinner. The baby foods include mashed fruits and veggies. Why it is bad: It does not meet your nutrient needs and is low in protein. Eating like an adult is recommended.
Cabbage Soup Diet: This is a 7-day diet which focuses on having as many bowls of cabbage soup every day with some fruits and vegetables. Why it is bad: This diet is bland, boring and makes you feel weak, resulting in poor concentration. The biggest drawback is that it makes you gassy and bloated.
To avoid any damage to your body, do not opt for any fad diets. Just eat balanced meals and engage in physical activity to see the difference both physically and mentally. The process may be longer and less dramatic unlike fad diets, but the results will be long-term and benefit your body’s health.