Analysis of fad diets

Herbal Life Diet

An overview

This is a diet that typically includes a protein drink substituted for two meals a day, along with multivitamins and herbal tablets. This meal plan also recommends one balanced meal each day, with a total intake of about 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day.

What it does

Drinking this protein shake takes away the bother of counting calories and planning balanced food intake.

Weight loss is inevitable because most of the food intake is controlled and pre-packaged.

An analysis

Meal replacements provide energy or nutrients as alternatives to regular foods. Even the best-designed products cannot substitute for all the benefits and unknown components of whole foods.

Some herbal life supplements contain the ingredient, sida cordifolia, which is a botanical source of ephedrine alkaloids. It is essential to consult a physician before consuming these products, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure, heart ailments, thyroid problems or diabetes.

How to spot “quick fix” or fad diets

  • The diet recommends only one type of food, or elimination of many food types.

  • The diets are out of balance, prescribing a daily dietary intake of high protein and fat, or low intake of carbohydrates or fat.

  • Promotes “magical” foods to “burn” fat.

  • Suggests rapid weight loss of more than 2 pounds a week.

  • Fails to encourage physical activity.

  • Has a very low-calorie intake of less than 1,200 calories per day.

  • Does not warn people with diabetes, high blood pressure, a kidney disorder or other medical conditions to seek medical advice before starting the diet.

Five reasons why you should adopt a sensible approach to eating

  • The goal to lasting and effective weight loss is to lose fat, not water and muscle. The slower you lose weight, the greater the percentage of fat loss there is. The faster you lose the more chances of muscle and water loss.

  • Eating gives you the “staying power” to lose weight successfully. Feeling deprived and starved does not.

  • Regular food intake helps maintain your metabolism at a higher rate. Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories.

  • Only when your food intake is adequate, it is possible for you to have energy to burn calories through exercise.

  • It is essential that your body is properly nourished. Looking healthy, feeling energized and active are all related to balanced and sensible eating habits.

Hollywood: Fad diet mania and weight loss

You’ll never guess what they eat when you watch their svelte bodies saunter down the red carpet. An inside scoop.

  • Jennifer Aniston dropped 30 pounds on a high-protein plan.

  • Renee Zellweger lost weight on the Zone diet, after gaining 20 po

  • unds for her role in Bridget Jones’ Diary. This diet has also attracted celebs like Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Wimona Ryder, Demi Moore, Kristin Davis and Kirstie Alley.

  • Catherine Zeta Jones lost her post-pregnancy weight on the Atkins diet.

  • Sarah Ferguson went from a size 14 to a size 10 on the low-fat, weight watchers diet.

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