Fad diets are diets that promise a radical weight loss over a relatively short period of time, by following strict rules about the types and amounts of foods that are allowed. The fact is, some of these diets really work well. However, they have their negative sides too, and this article will deal with both pros and cons of some of the most famous fad diets.
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is probably one of the most popular diets of all times. Since the body, when it needs energy, burns carbohydrates first and then fat deposits, this diet focuses on reducing or limiting the amount of carbohydrates that are consumed. That way the fat gets burned first, which leads to weight loss.
Some of the major pros of this diet, aside from its results, is the fact that it allows foods such as steak, cheese and ice cream with chocolate.
As for the cons, the Atkins diet encourages increased intake of protein, which is not very healthy, as too much protein can increase the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, as well as minor problems like bad breath and constipation.
The Zone Diet
The Zone Diet is another very popular diet. It claims to reduce the appetite and to boost the energy only by keeping the eating habits in the zone. This means that each meal should consist of 40% carbohydrates, 30% of protein and 30% fats.
As for the pros, because this is a low calorie diet, the weight loss is almost always guaranteed. However, on the other side, it can be difficult to follow the strict regime of this diet. In addition, this diet slows down the metabolism and causes the starvation response, which means that the body starts eating away the lean muscle.
The Blood Group Diet
In this diet, a person is supposed to do a blood test and find out his or her blood group. After this, he or she will only eat certain foods that guarantee the maximum nutrient absorption for the specific blood group.
In this diet some weight loss will certainly occur, but the problem is that there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims behind the Blood Group Diet.
The Ashram Diet
The Ashram Diet is one of the most strict diets and it can be very difficult to follow. It includes a very low calorie intake, almost near starvation, combined with strenuous exercise.
As for the pros, the weight loss is really impressive - 10 or 15 pounds per week. However, the weight that is lost consists mostly of muscle mass and water, and in addition it causes side effects such as bad breath, constipation, vitamin and mineral deficiency, headaches and insomnia.
Your thoughts on this
Loading...