Extreme Diets

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Fad Diets are Injurious to Health!

The currently observed trend of extreme diets, such as the now commercialized
‘Keto Diet’
(previously only known as a severely restricted ketogenic diet, difficult to prepare and adhere to, a clinical diet to treat serious juvenile epileptic fits, since the ketogenic diet may reduce multiple, daily episodes possibly due to the reduction of glucose changing brain function; these were/are performed under strict supervision and observation, not to reduce weight but to treat a very serious condition!),
Cabbage Soup diets,
the so called ‘GM Diet’ (General Motors has denied any involvement since they are into cars and engineering, of course),
Juice and Smoothie diets,
the Raw Paleo and the Fruit only as well as the Single Food Diet and similar severely imbalanced diet suggestions (sometimes mentioned in a Celebrity’s weight loss context) may be injurious to health and can lead to serious and sometimes long-term side effects due to malnutrition by omitting or minimizing entire food groups and important nutrients.

Whilst calories count, it is a misconception that it does not matter what we eat, as long as weight loss is achieved.

Example: if we consume 1000 kcal on fruits/fruit juices, or cabbage/vegetable soups/salads only, we will deprive our body of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, calcium, several essential vitamins and minerals.

With great concern I come across many extreme,  bizarre diet patterns tried by patients and clients, derived from the Internet, via email, Social Media, YouTube and other.

A common description: an Extreme Diet xyz states on how to lose 5 – 10 kg supposedly in 7 days. Let me explain some important weight loss details:

Anyone ‘successfully’ losing 5 kg in one week will lose about 2.5 kg water weight possibly due to a high potassium – low sodium diet, and approximately 1-1.5 kg of muscle tissue due to an imbalanced diet, whilst losing ‘only’ 1kg of fatty tissue; however, a lot depends on body weight and body fat percentage to begin with.

Losing 5-10 kg in 7 days is considered hardly possible, unless the individual is suffering from severe water retention.

Apart from legal consequences [Scope of Practice!], I will list just a few of the possible side effects for individuals following any type of Extreme Diet several times – or worse even – over a prolonged period of time:

  • Loss of valuable muscle tissue
  • Irreversible bone decalcification/osteopenia/osteoporosis
  • Low Haemoglobin levels, especially in females of reproductive age, up to the point of requiring blood transfusions
  • Elevated liver enzymes due to macro nutrient imbalance
  • Electrolyte imbalances (can be fatal)
  • Subfertility/infertility
  • Hair loss
  • Mood swings, depression
  • Subsequent excessive weight gain (body fat) due uncontrollable cravings caused by lack of essential nutrients [the human body tries very hard to improve previous harmful imbalance]

Extreme Diets pay no attention to…

  • Our individual needs
  • Essential requirements
  • Age
  • Genetic pre-disposition
  • Current medical status
  • Food preferences (i.e. Vegetarian)
  • Race, ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Profession
  • Geographical location, availability of specified foods
  • If we live alone or a community
  • Our physical activity levels

Extreme diets are commonly nonsensical (although someone always tries to explain some ‘sense’), irresponsible and hardly ever list an address who can be contacted in case things go very wrong with the diet emailed/posted/suggested.

Human nutrition and diet therapy is a valuable prescription, provided by suitably educated and trained healthcare professionals, not something one should Google, has been sent/forwarded via mass-email, posted on social media.

For further info please check https://sigrid-desilva.com/weight-loss

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