Do you have any health goals for the coming year?
The beginning of a new year seems to be when many people focus on making changes, especially to their diet or weight.
When you're setting weight loss goals, you may consider popular fad diets as the method to get there. You may have had success with them yourself or know someone who did, but be careful about the plan you choose.
Here are two that have been popular but you need to be extra careful with.
Keto
Many people claim to lose weight with a keto diet, and it may not be inherently bad. However, you need to be very careful how you go about keto.
In general, any diet that cuts an entire food group is going to leave you lacking in nutrients, and keto cuts not only grains but many fruits and vegetables as well..
We were created to thrive on a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. To cut any one of them completely forces our bodies to work in ways they weren't intended to.
But the biggest pitfall with keto is the food choices.
I personally watched two people go through keto for several months, and they did lose some weight. What bothered me, however, was that they would eat pork rinds with Cheez-Whiz without a second thought but turn down apples and carrots.
If you know even the basic fundamentals of nutrition, you understand that fried pork skin and fake cheese are not good for you, but apples and carrots are.
If you don't want to eat apples and carrots because of their carb count, that's your choice, but please, replace them with something that has nutritional value, not fake food.
If you’re doing keto, prioritize healthy low-carb foods rather than fake food.
Low-Fat
Again, the problem is cutting out an essential nutrient and likely replacing it with something fake and unhealthy.
You can eat a healthy low-fat diet if you’re careful to cut out the bad fats and make sure to get enough high-quality fats.
Avoid anything labeled “fat-free.” These foods have usually just had the fats replaced with something fake, and your body likely can’t process those fake ingredients.
Your body truly does require fat to function properly.
Essential fatty acids are necessary for every system in your body. You need them for healthy skin and eyes, preventing arthritis, and reducing the risk of blood clots. They activate the thyroid, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and aid the reproductive system. They are especially necessary for normal development and function of the brain.
Long story short – reaching a healthy weight is a great goal anytime, and if you are making it a priority going into the new year, please do it the right way with healthy, real food.
Don’t cut out entire food groups or nutrients. You may lose weight to start, but you’ll probably put it back on as soon as you end the restrictive diet. Plus, you’ll harm your overall health in the process.
Share your story
Have you tried any fad diets?
What were your results? Did they last?
Looking back, do you think your diet was healthy?
No shame here – we learn from our successes and mistakes.
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