In South Africa, 25% of males and 39% of females are either overweight or obese, recent statistics from National Nutrition Week reveal. And while the idea of fast weight loss is tempting, fad diets often do more harm than good — despite their seemingly unwavering popularity. Let’s take a look at four reasons why fad diets simply don’t work.

1. They’re unbalanced

Most fad diets exclude entire food groups — whether it be carbs, fats, or protein — which can result in vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. One of the worst offenders here are low carbohydrate diets, which load up on saturated fats — like red meat, eggs, and butter — and cut out fruit and grains. Diets high in saturated fat have been linked to higher cholesterol levels and heart disease.

2. They slow down your metabolism

When you restrict calories, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy and keep your body functioning on less food. While you may initially drop a few pounds, weight loss will likely become hard to sustain in the long term — as the slower your metabolism becomes, the harder it is to lose weight. Moreover, you may even gain more weight and end up weighing more than you did initially.

3. They’re bad for mental health

Physical health issues aside, fad diets can be just as bad for mental health. These ridged diets are riddled with rules about what you can and can’t eat. It’s common for fad dieters to develop unhealthy relationships with food. Certain foods are labelled either “good” or “bad”, and slipping up results in shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. Even worse, fad diets can fuel eating disorders, leading to even more serious health issues.

4. They’re unnecessary 

Fad diets are simply unnecessary. Weight loss can be achieved with a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise. Sure, it takes longer, but it’s so much better for your mental and physical health in the long run — and that’s what’s important! Unlike with fad dieting, it’s easier to maintain weight loss when you do it the slow and steady way.

Experts recommend eating high-quality, nutrient-dense whole foods (mostly plants) and avoiding sugar, refined flour, trans fats, and processed food. But, ultimately, maintaining a healthy weight relies on a healthy overall lifestyle. For many people, this means getting regular exercise, finding healthy ways to cope with stress, and seeking therapy for underlying emotional issues which may be fuelling unhealthy eating habits.

To help you on your way to a healthier slimmer you, opt for Ozone Therapy. You can lose up to 500 calories in one 30 minute session. Ozone Therapy will also help your body to rid itself of unwanted toxins and impurities, balance out your metabolism, increase oxygen levels in the blood, improve blood circulation, reduce cellulite and break up fatty deposits.

For more information on Ozone Therapy, please contact us:

Salvagente

+27 72 422 1967
[email protected]