MARCH 2017
THE SKINNY ON FAD DIETS
Fad Diets are all the rage in today’s culture, but do you
know how beneficial they are to your health? When
it comes to fad diets, it’s important to be educated
about exactly what the diet is requiring of you and to
note the consequences on your health. Not only can
some fad diets be dangerous for you physically, but
many have mental and emotional consequences like
fatigue, restlessness, and irritability which can take a
toll on your productivity as an employee, spouse, and
parent. Check out some of the most popular diets to
see what they really entail.
PALEO
What is it? The Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, encourages eating vegetables, fruits, meat, and healthy
fats and avoids grains, dairy or any processed food with added salt or sugar.
Pros:
• High vegetable and fruit intake
• Limits processed food
• Typically low in salt and sugar
Cons:
• Eliminates entire food groups that are for certain
vitamins and minerals
• Encourages high meat intake which can increase
risk for heart disease
• Can be expensive
Bottom Line: A diet high is fruit, vegetables, healthy fat, and lean meat can be good for your health but cutting out
entire food groups may deprive your body of the nutrition it needs for proper function.
GLUTEN-FREE
What is it? A gluten-free diet avoids gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye and may involve gluten-free substitutions
for grain products. This diet is essential for a population with gluten intolerance but a popular trend in those without
gluten sensitivity.
Pros:
• Whole foods are typically encouraged
• Tendency towards less processed food
Cons:
• Gluten-free options are often higher in fat, sugar,
and calories
• Avoiding certain grains could lead to nutrient
deficiency
Bottom Line: A gluten-free diet is not a choice but a lifestyle for someone with Celiac Disease but may have no
added benefit to someone who does not have gluten sensitivity.
page 1
© Edgewood Partners Insurance Center | CA License 0B29370
EPICBROKERS.COM
MARCH 2017
JUICE CLEANSE
What is it? The replacement of all solid foods with juices from fruits and vegetables to attempt detoxification in the
body.
Pros:
• High fruit and vegetable intake
• No added sugar or processed food consumed
Cons:
• Cutting out entire food groups can lead to nutrient
deficiency
• Drastic drop in calories can be dangerous
• Possible side effects like fatigue, headaches, and
hunger
• Weight loss experienced is heavily due to loss
of water weight and weight will likely return on
regular diet
Bottom Line: Incorporating juices into your diet is a good way to add fruits and vegetables to your diet, but a prolonged
juice cleanse is impractical for a healthy lifestyle or long-term weight loss. Your body is also continually detoxifying the
body of impurities through a proper diet, therefore cleanses aren’t exclusively necessary for detoxification.
TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING A FAD DIET:
• Look through flashy words. Words like “detox”, “flat-belly”, and
“guaranteed results” all sound promising, but try to look past the
advertising jargon and analyze what the diet is really asking of
you.
• Avoid unrealistic promises. Weight loss can be a slow process—
but a slower process is more likely to keep you from gaining the
weight back. Realistic and healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds/
week so a diet that promises you will “drop 10 pounds in one
week” is either highly unrealistic or extremely dangerous.
• Think twice before eliminating entire food groups. When you
cut out entire food groups, you risk losing important nutrients
your body needs to function properly. Instead, try eating healthy
options from that food group or smaller portions.
• Avoid diets that incorporate a “magic pill” to fix all problems.
If there was a magic pill or secret to fast weight loss we would all
be at our goal weight. The actual secret to healthy weight loss
is not a magical fix and you probably already knew the answer—
frequent exercise and good nutrition.
• Avoid diets that encourage drastic calorie cutting/fasting. A
drastic cut in calories will likely cause a drop in weight but at a
dangerous cost. You risk slowing your metabolism, depriving
your body of needed nutrients, impairing your mental and
physical energy, and losing muscle mass.
Source: health.usnews.com, www.realsimple.com
page 2
© Edgewood Partners Insurance Center | CA License 0B29370
EPICBROKERS.COM