The dangers of dieting

Published on 24/06/2019

The dangers of dieting

As summer approaches, you may be tempted to go on a diet to get that “beach body. However, did you know that some diets are also dangerous for your
health? Yes, there are indeed many plans. Therefore, it is best to be wary of these misleading promotions that you may come across through television commercials, social media, billboards and many health and fitness magazines.
If you rely on diets to lose weight, you will most likely be disappointed. In fact, two-thirds of dieters actually gain more weight than they lose. That’s pretty unfortunate, isn’t it? Also, dieting can have negative effects on your mental health.
Without further ado, let’s explain some of the hidden dangers of dieting:

A slower metabolism

When you eat less, your body receives fewer calories, which are important fuel for your body to perform the most vital functions. This is what happens when a person is on a diet. Caloric intake decreases and the metabolism slows down.
Unfortunately, over time, your weight loss will stabilize as your internal metabolism adjusts to match the number of calories you consume. So, even if you consider greater caloric restrictions and exercise more, you will often be disappointed. Therefore, it is very likely that you will return to your previous eating habits.

Harmful effects on health

In addition to slowing down your metabolism, dieting can put a strain on your heart. Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D., a clinical professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, pointed out in an April 2010 CNN Health article that dieting increases the risk of heart attack.
In addition, yo-yo dieting has been shown to damage blood vessels and promote atherosclerosis and other types of heart disease.

A nutritional imbalance

When you are on a diet, and you cut back on many of the calories you normally consume, nutritional deficiencies can occur, which can lead to a host of side effects.
For example, when you follow the “single diet”, which consists of eating only one food for an extended period of time, you will not ingest all the necessary nutrients.
Suppressing the amount of starch in foods such as whole grain bread, potatoes, rice and oatmeal results in a reduced intake of vitamin D and calcium. Similarly, if you abstain from fruit, you will reduce your intake of nutrients such as potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber.

Depression

Food has an indirect effect on your mood. Thus, depression can occur if the right balance of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, fiber and fatty acids is not achieved.
What’s more, if your diet isn’t producing the results you want in the time frame you need, it can make you depressed. So don’t try to get in shape this summer by dieting. Indeed, the disappointment could be great, which can lead you to depression.

Healthy eating: some options

Here are some tips on how to lose weight and get in shape the smart way before summer arrives. First, eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruit and low in trans fats and sugars. In addition, drinking plenty of water on a regular basis and exercising from time to time are important considerations.
On the other hand, there are many nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods you can eat to lose weight this summer. However, it is important to consult with the right nutritionists/dietitians so that they can develop the most appropriate diet for you.
Feel free to visit Doctena.com, which allows you to search for a nutritionist/dietitian to develop a healthy diet. In addition, you can also make medical appointments online through this platform. So don’t delay, and consult a specialist who will advise you on the best diet to lose weight and be in shape for this summer.


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PS: Doctena allows you to make free online appointments with thousands of doctors in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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