What’s the fuss on fad diets?

Originally posted on  https://www.osm.nz/fad-diets/.

What’s the fuss on fad diets?

Now that we are past the middle of what can only be described as a crazy year, it is a great time to discuss diets and which ones we should embrace and which ones we should avoid. As many of us would have set health goals for 2020, Covid and other chaos this year has brought, may have haltered our diet plans. However, don’t worry, “summer bodies are made in winter”, a phrase my clients are all too glad to hear during the colder months! 

So, now is a perfect time to discuss some fad diets and what we can learn from them…

Some of my tips on fad diets…

When it comes to diets, there are so many to consider these days. Just look at the cover of a women’s magazine and there is bound to be another diet advertised to ‘lose weight quickly’ or Google ‘fad diets’ and the weight loss choices are overwhelming. As a Nutritionist, I don’t particularly like the phrase ‘diet’, and prefer referring to ‘making healthier lifestyle changes’. But unfortunately, this isn’t what people are normally after, so I will do my best to guide you through the confusion and flaws of fad diets. 

When it comes to dieting, most people want a quick fix, so they can drop the kg’s in no time at all. However, the success we get from ‘quick fixes’ doesn’t usually last long as they are typically difficult to sustain and, ultimately, they deprive us of the essential nutrients that only balanced eating can offer. It is then common for people to put the weight on that they initially lost from the ‘said diet’ and yo-yo back and forth between fad diets. I’m sure if you have ever tried a ‘quick fix’ diet you may have dropped the weight initially, however, you may have also struggled to maintain this weight loss, and actually ended up putting on more weight than you started with? Don’t worry if this sounds like something you have gone through, you are not alone.

With that said, there are certain lifestyle changes (diets) that are proven to be beneficial for our health and can have the desired long-term weight loss effect. I have listed my top picks below. 

MEDITERRANEAN DIET

The Mediterranean diet is based around traditional foods eaten by those in countries like Greece and Italy. Researches have shown that people in these parts of the world are typically healthier with lower risks of chronic disease than other countries. This diet is based on heart-healthy foods, such as healthy fats and Omega-3 fatty acids. It promotes the intake of seafood, nuts, vegetables, fruits, wholegrain, spices and extra-virgin olive oil. It limits intake of red meats, processed meats, refined cooking oils, and sugary products. It also suggests limiting alcohol intake and promotes that water should be the drink of choice…

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