Originally published August 19 2005
Fad diets are harmful to good health, nutritionist says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Fad diets like Atkins do nothing to help people in their weight loss goals. A balanced diet and exercise will help people lose weight, says a Seattle nutritionist.
We live in an instant-gratification society, and if a new diet fad appears, promising "weight loss fast," it will be tempting to hop on the bandwagon.
Let's use the current trend away from fad diets as an opportunity to focus not on what we shouldn't eat, but, instead, on what we should eat.
Most nutritionists say the healthiest diet is also the most sensible: Limit your calories, eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, focus on low-fat sources of protein, choose whole grains, eat and drink fat-free or low-fat dairy products and limit saturated fats and trans fats.
No. Does it offer the most short-term and long-term health benefits that will allow you and your children to enjoy longer, healthier lives?
Most fad diets restrict specific foods or food groups.
These "limited assortment" diets are not only hard to sustain, but too often the foods on the "don't eat" list are also those that offer the most nutrition and long-term health benefits.
Indeed, the Atkins Diet severely limited the intake of many fruits and vegetables, even though a healthy diet includes more fruits and vegetables than any other food group.
Most Americans need to more than double their intake of fruits and vegetables to meet those recommendations, but doing so is not as difficult as it may seem.
Eating healthfully is about eating enough of the nutrients and phytochemicals that promote health, while maintaining a healthy weight by only eating the amount of calories you need to sustain your lifestyle.
Eating healthfully is about setting a good example for children and teaching them why healthy meals and snacks are an important part of life.
Eating healthfully is about expanding the variety of healthy foods you eat, and enjoying the flavors, textures, and aromas of foods that promote good health.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml