Fad Diets

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Fad Diets

• Pros And Cons

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Introduction

• Fad diets are often touted as an easy way to do a
  hard task. They range from the absurd (patches,
  crèmes, and "miracle pills") to the extreme
  (grapefruit diet, cabbage diet). This page is
  designed to break down some of the more popular
  fad diets out there, and give you the pros and
  cons of each in a sensible manner.

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Fad Diet Summary
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The Zone

• How it Works Mr. Sears claims that most people
  gain weight because of insulin imbalances that
  can be corrected by consuming exact portions of
  carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The average
  number of calories consumed each day in the diet
  ranges from 1000 to 1700. Pros The diet
  average Americans follow is already pretty close
  to the 40/30/30 ratio given in the book, and is
  easy to follow on a short-term basis. Cons The
  serving sizes for the carbohydrate portions are
  ridiculously small (1/8 cup baked beans, 1/8 cup
  pasta).

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Atkins Diet

• How it Works Dr. Atkins claims that
  carbohydrates and insulin, rather than excess
  calories, are responsible for most peoples
  weight gains. In the plan you can eat all of the
  protein you wish (meat, eggs, cheese), as long as
  you take out the carbohydrates and sugar from
  your diet. The plan allows between 1200 and 1800
  calories a day.
• Pros The diet is simple and relatively easy to
  follow. A large number of calories are eliminated
  automatically though the restriction of
  carbohydrates and sugars.
• Cons Eating large amounts of saturated fats,
  such as those found in most meats can lead to an
  increased risk of heart disease. In addition to
  that, a high-protein diet can cause numerous side
  effects such as nausea, fatigue, headaches,
  fluid-loss, and carbohydrate cravings. The diet
  is also very low in whole grains, fruit, calcium,
  and fiber.

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Blood Type Diet

• How it Works According to DAdamo, you need to
  eat certain foods and avoid others depending upon
  your specific blood type. If you eat the "wrong
  foods," the effect on your body is similar to
  receiving a bad blood transfusion. The
  recommended daily number of calories depends on
  the individual interpretation of the diet.
• Pros All of the blood types are encouraged to
  consume lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as
  sources of lean protein. This diet is easier to
  follow than ones that severely restrict caloric
  intake.
• Cons DAdamos claim of "blood type foods" is
  not supported by any scientific research and is
  widely criticized as being based on false
  assumptions.

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Pritikin Diet

• How it Works The plan restricts fat intake to
  10-15 of total calories in an attempt to stop
  the "fat instinct," which Pritikin claims is a
  biological drive to avoid exercise and consume
  lots of high-fat foods. A combination of fruits
  and vegetables is encouraged.
• Pros Lean cuts of meat is encouraged, which
  reduces total caloric intake and drops the risk
  of heart disease.
• Cons Eating such a small amount of fat will make
  some people feel unfulfilled, causing overeating.

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Cabbage Soup Diet

• How it Works This old-fashioned word of mouth
  diet was finally put into writing by Danbrot, who
  claims that people can lose up to 20 lbs in seven
  days by only consuming a vegetable soup (cabbage,
  onions, peppers, tomatoes, celery, onion soup
  mix) and one other food. However, it is stressed
  that the diet should not be followed for more
  than seven days since it consists of less than
  1000 calories a day.
• Pros Rapid weight loss due to caloric
  deprivation
• Cons The "weight loss" created by the diet does
  not consist of fat, but of lean body tissue and
  water mass. The diet can also cause side effects
  such as nausea, lightheadedness, and gas.

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Grapefruit Diet

• How it Works Although this diet has never been
  formally put into writing, it is still one of the
  most popular. It requires that you eat a
  grapefruit at each meal, along with a small
  amount of protein, black coffee, and a salad.
  Since grapefruit is believed to contain a
  fat-burning enzyme, and the average number of
  calories consumed is a mere 800 per day, rapid
  weight loss will occur. Many people claim to have
  lost between 15-20 lbs after following this diet
  for a week or so.
• Pros You get lots of vitamin C and Fiber.
• Cons The diet is nutritionally deficient since
  it restricts intake to only a few specific foods.
  Vitamin deficiency can occur if taken to an
  extreme.

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Caveman Diet

• How it Works According to Audette, modern
  processed foods such as wheat and grains are to
  blame for most of obesity. He claims that cavemen
  stayed lean thanks to a diet of lean meat, fish,
  nuts, seeds, berries, and fresh fruits and
  veggies.
• Pros The recommended "whole" foods often contain
  more vitamins and minerals then their processed
  counterparts. This diet may be easier to follow
  then caloric-restrictive diets.
• Cons The theory opined by Audette is not
  supported by any research. In fact, the diet of
  most Neolithic humans is not openly known. In
  addition the "whole" foods are harder to prepare
  and occasionally cost more then their processed
  counterparts.

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FDA Food Pyramid
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Healthy Diet Advantages

• 75 of shoppers believe high-protein, low-carb
  diets can be difficult to maintain
• 70 agree their bodies need carbs for energy and
  eliminating carbs is not healthy
• 56 think high-protein, low-carb diets help you
  lose weight
• 61 think following a high-protein, low-carb
  diet is a safe way to lose weight
• 58 think carbs must be eliminated from the body
  to lose weight