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Facts on Fad Diets

It seems like every month a new diet craze sweeps the nation. From your favorite celebrity to your best friend, we all know someone who has been caught up in the latest trendy diet.

Hi, I’m Kris Boulton and I’m one of your Saline County Extension Agents. I work with University of Arkansas System, Research and Extension.

Maybe you have even tried one to get those quick results. Have you noticed followers of these trends usually end up not being able to sustain these restrictive diets and weighing more than when they started? 

Let’s examine four popular diet facts: 

• Low-carbohydrate diets, such as Keto, may lead to some weight loss success, but research has shown restricting necessary carbohydrates can cause health complications such as liver or kidney disease.
  
  
• Food products such as apple cider vinegar have been marketed as “fat burners”. In fact, no foods can burn fat. The best way to “burn fat” is to combine a healthy diet with physical activity.
  
  
• Juice cleanses or liquid detoxes have been marketed to rapidly lose weight and rid the body of toxins. Skipping meals in favor of a liquid diet can lead to electrolyte imbalances and has no proven benefits. The body naturally rids itself of toxins through filtration by the liver and kidneys.
  
  
• Intermittent fasting has been making headlines lately, however skipping meals often leads to binge eating and increased calorie intake. Denying hunger cues can lead to weight gain and disordered eating.

Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet.  It is easy to get wrapped up in quick fixes that promise big results in a short amount of time. If it sounds too good to be true, then it often is.

If you would like more information on eating healthy visit our section on eating well

or read our publication on The Truth About Fad Diets