The Fad diets have first appeared in the ’80s in America and in the years that followed they were very popular around the world. Their success was based largely on the plight of the overweight and / or obese which make them vulnerable to “magic pill” promises of popular diets and quick and painless loss of weight. The most common claims of these diets is that certain hormones are responsible for weight gain, that the foods we eat can change the biochemistry of the human body or how the exclusion of certain foods and excessive consumption of others will lead to unnecessary loss of unwanted pounds.
Diets are available in various forms such as low-fat, low carbohydrate, high protein content and focused solely eating a particular food like grapefruit- all have one thing in common: They offer only a temporary solution to the problem of overweight and obesity and for many people there are serious and chronic health problems that need special and careful treatment. These diets are deficient in important nutrients such as carbohydrates and fiber, and specific vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals like antioxidants that are the shield of the body against various diseases. In the long term, inadequate intake of these nutrients can lead to serious mental and physical problems and on stopping the diet the weight lost re-employed mainly in the form of fat.
Let’s see which are the most popular…
The Atkins Diet
It is perhaps the most popular diet that promises the loss of 7 kg in 14 days. It consists of four distinct phases. The common feature of all is the very low carbohydrate intake ranging from less than 20 gr per day. It is allowed to fearlessly consumed large quantities of food rich in protein and fat such as meat, cheese, butter, etc.
COMMENT: The diet of Atkins is inherently rich in saturated fats and cholesterol and deficient in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Going on this diet for even a short period of time is associated with headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and a bad smell in the mouth, and investigations reveal that it can lead to increased blood lipids, blood pressure and the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.