Spotting Dangerous Diets: What You Need to Know

Diets are constantly being advertised. Who doesn't want to slim down? How much would you pay to be thin, healthy, strong, and vibrant?

When it comes to our health, we'll do anything.

Everyone knows there's no magic solution. Sometimes we imagine waking up tomorrow thinner, which is where the ‘miracle diets’ come in, but many end up paying a price both in health and in money.

How can we identify dangerous diets?

A diet based mainly on the consumption of a single product. Becoming dependent on a single product is neither healthy nor recommended. What happens if one day you can’t buy that product? Think about it.

When a diet promises rapid weight loss. Quick weight loss can cause short-term issues like fatigue

and weakness, and in the long term, loss of muscle mass and reduced calorie burning.

If a diet isn’t coupled with physical activity. Exercise is crucial in a weight loss journey to maintain muscle mass.

Diets combined with weight loss pills. At best, they’re a scam; at worst, they have side effects that might appear after taking the pills. Over the years, various types of weight loss pills have come and gone from the market, many being banned due to harm they caused.

Diets that promise appetite suppression. Any substance suppressing appetite affects brain systems where appetite regulation takes place. Appetite-suppressing products should be approached with suspicion.

Diets limiting calorie intake to 1200 a day. Such diets could be dangerous. Consider this: Could a woman with a sedentary lifestyle consume the same calories as a woman leading a more active life?

Focusing on diets can lead to the development of various eating disorders. This often stems from a negative body image—negative thoughts about our body, resulting from comparing ourselves to norms and surroundings. All eating disorders have their origins in diets that started normally but turned into destructive ones for the body and soul.

Want to lose weight? Do it wisely. Don’t be misled by trendy diets. Learn to read the fine print and understand potential effects on your health. Eat a balanced diet without counting calories or measuring portions; in many eating disorders, obsessing over quantities is a central issue. Ensure the diet fits your lifestyle, and you can lose weight, with Hashem's help, in a healthy way.

Zohara Sharvit is a naturopath N.D and a diagnostic expert through iridology, with extensive experience in treatment, consultation, and workshop facilitation. To book a free workshop, call 073-2221290