The Shortcomings of Diets

Diets are complicated. There’s a lot that goes into deciding whether or not a diet is necessary and it is often the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. However there are drawbacks to a lot of the fad diets or even the more popular ones. Many lack a well-balanced spread of vitamins and nutrients.

For instance the paleo diet carries a number of risks. This diet is comprised of primarily lean meats, fruits, fish, vegetables, nuts and seeds. This seems all encompassing at first glance, however it calls for low-moderate intake of carbohydrates and exclusion of cereal grains. Cereal grains include: wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, and brown rice. The problem with low consumption of these grains is primarily two-fold: consuming too few carbohydrates can lead to an overuse of fats for energy, and grains work to lower cholesterol. Overuse of fats is also known as ketosis, a process by which ketones build up in the bloodstream. High levels of ketones can be incredibly dangerous and often occurs in diabetic patients with uncontrolled blood sugar. In addition, the paleo diet calls for an increase in red meat consumption. Increase in red meats and decrease in grains can drastically increase the body’s cholesterol and put the dieter at risk of coronary artery disease.

Frequent dieting, then subsequently quitting the diet only to start another is called “yo-yo” dieting and can be detrimental to a person’s health. Yo-yo dieting can lead to long lasting heart problems and even negative metabolic changes. Dieting can force the body into “starvation mode” and actively work against you. Starvation forces the body to slow down metabolism and therefore inhibits progress.

If you are planning to diet, know the risks, benefits, and the ways to supplement it and remain healthy.

Best of luck with your lifestyle choices!

Richard D. Mason III

Source: https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/bewell_nodieting.pdf