Keeping to a Healthy Diet

Some of the currently popular diet plans are high-protein diets, low-fat diets, all-liquid diets, all-vegetable diets and no-pasta diets. There are also 'fad diets' which are only popular for a short while. Fad diets usually promise quick weight loss and require the person to follow a strict set of guidelines.

Every year, millions are spent on weight loss programs and devices, pills, special drinks, special diet food and other gimmicks. Although some of these programs do result in weight loss, most are not effective or cannot be sustained for long periods without medical contraindications or negatively affecting performance.

Dangerous diets defined as any diet on which a person eats fewer calories than they need to get through the day. Diets that do not allow any fat also can be bad for our health. We need a certain amount of fat in our diet, up to 30% of our calories. So instead of eating a completely fat-free diet, opt for a low-fat diet.

Low-carbohydrate or high-protein diet is another potentially dangerous type of extreme diet. Although it can promote rapid weight loss, much of the weight loss is water, often leading to dehydration. High-protein diets can also result in common side effects such as bad breath, constipation, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, irritability and lightheadedness.

Many of popular diets are also causing women to lose bone density, causing irreversible damage to their bones and putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis. Some diet reinforces the myth that dairy food are fattening, but researchers pointed out that any program that restricts the latter and does not provide adequate amounts of calcium may be causing harm than good.

A person who goes to the extreme to lose weight could have an eating disorder. These include anorexia nervosa (starving oneself) or bulimia nervosa (eating and then deliberately throwing up), which are harmful to a person's health. People suffering from such eating disorders need immediate medical treatment.

A healthy diet is one that contains moderate amounts of each food group. For those who want to lose some weight and stay healthy, improving their eating habits and exercising will help them more than any diet plan. The best way to diet is to eat a wide variety of food to meet the body's needs.

Aim to eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on meats high in fat, greasy fried food and sweets, and drink more water instead of sugary drinks like sports drinks or sodas. By accepting our body shape and making healthy choices, we can keep our weight under control and enjoy life at the same time.