You can probably picture the scene … while dishing up dinner, your brother-in-law and his fiancée share their plans to start losing weight, which leads to talk of wedding diets and quick fixes.
Which diet will they choose? Will it be:
- The South Beach diet, a modified low-carb diet
- The Atkins diet, a high meat protein and fat, low-carb diet that even restricts fruits and vegetables
- Juicing, diet supplements or some other calorie-restricting, food group-limiting scheme
Whatever they choose, it's not surprising to learn that these types of "fad diets" in general are not favored by medical experts.
Jeannine Hinds, MD, a primary care physician with HonorHealth Medical Group – Osborn – Primary Care, says “the common denominator in all fad diets is the promise of fast results achieved by unnatural restrictions. Not only are these aggressive restrictions of entire food groups unsustainable, but they tend to result in nutritional deficits.”
The body needs a certain amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates daily to function. Excluding or overindulging can have consequences. For instance, eating too much protein can wreak havoc on your kidneys.
Apart from people with diabetes, and certain metabolic or thyroid diseases, most people should steer clear of such extreme diets. Instead, Dr. Hinds suggests going back to basics with a weight loss philosophy of eating healthy, whole foods and avoiding processed foods, especially added sugar. Focus on variety and moderation, and enjoy the flavor of real foods.
Unfortunately, celebrity endorsements and catchy advertisements tend to outweigh medical recommendations and, in some cases, even common sense. For instance, diet pills, herbs and supplements continue to earn record profits despite not being strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Hinds warns against these dietary supplements saying, "Because they aren't regulated like prescribed medications, but rather as special foods, you don't know what you're consuming and that's pretty scary."
So, while your brother-in-law and his fiancée search for a quick way to get into wedding shape, make your plan to follow Dr. Hinds' advice and eat a balanced diet, focusing on vegetables and fruits, healthy proteins and fats … and don't skip meals, especially breakfast!