No More Weight Loss Fads, Start Eating Healthy

There are a lot of weight loss fads out there. I come across a new fad diet every week. Many of these contain elements of truth, but on the whole they contain much more good marketing than good science.

Let's see, I've come across a 3-day diet, which is basically eating little more than fruits for three days, followed by vegetables, meat or grains on the other days. There are a lot of variations.

We all know that eating fruit regularly is a key element to good health. Most fruits contain needed carbohydrates, vitamins and fiber, but eating them almost exclusively for three days can lead to our system becoming imbalanced,such as in carbohydrates, fiber and additional otherwise healthy nutrients. The body will equalize and store what it needs for later, but there are limits.

Low carb, high protein' diets, such as Atkins, recommend cutting way down on carbohydrates and eating a diet high in protein. Protein is vital to proper nutrition, but so are carbohydrates. Putting too much emphasis on the first over the second leads to rapid, temporary weight loss, but at a high cost.

Eating carbohydrates on daily basis is essential for supplying energy to our bodies. Though the body, when needed, will use other sources, such as fat and protein. Putting to much emphasis on protein reduces the ability of the body to store and regulate the appropriate amount of water, carbohydrates can help with that.

The weight loss fads out there includes one called the "chocolate diet". Now everyone loves chocolate and believe it or not, according to reports out there, it is healthy, but in moderation. Chocolate contains anti-oxidants and other compounds that are helpful. But, as with anything, too much of a good thing is just that, too much. Chocolate is very high in fat and sugar content. The best variety to choose from is the dark chocolates. Look for the ones that contain more that 60% cocoa.

People can get in trouble with the ultra-low fat diets. Once again, the problem isn't with reduced fat, but going to extremes. The body needs a certain amount of fat in a diet to be healthy. There are a lot of good fats out there, such as extra virgin olive oil or even avocados are great. Just be smart about it.

If you come across a diet that makes promises of radical, rapid or quick weight loss, or any other extreme claim, it's pretty much guaranteed to be more harmful than helpful. Our bodies need an array of good nutritional food to keep us healthy and able to function. It's really just common sense, balance is good, moderation is even better and healthier for you.

It's easy, just eat moderate portions at regular intervals of fruits and vegetables (for vitamins, carbohydrates and fiber), grains (for carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fiber), protein (for amino acids) and dairy products (for calcium, unless you're lactose intolerant). Eating between 2000-2500 calories per day is appropriate for the average person. Less for women and for those seeking
rapid weight loss.

Eating a well balanced diet along with exercise or any kind of physical activity can do a body good. Keeping active will lead to a healthy percentage of body fat, good muscle tone and a well-tuned system. So don't be fooled by those weight loss fads you come across. Just be smart about what you eat and how you exercise and you'll be amazed as to how much better you will look and feel.