How do you know which of the new “diets” work for you? There have been so many fads that have come along over the years, it’s hard to tell what is good for your health, and what isn’t. I mention health, because what may have worked for a crash diet to reach a quick goal once for you years ago, may not be good for you today. You are older, and may have developed different health issues since. My advice to my patients is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, rather than bouncing between fads to lose weight.
Do 30-day challenges work?
Rarely. One of my lecture topics is “Eating Healthy is a Lifestyle. Not a 30-Day Challenge.” Let’s talk about these 30-day challenges. I do not recommend them. What happens on the 31st day? We all go out for pizza? The problem is that they don’t teach you how to convert the “diet” to a lifestyle of keeping the weight off. Yes, some habits can be formed in 30 days. However, for most people, that is not long enough to develop good habits that last a lifetime. We’re all human, and making changes takes time. It’s a process. Please be leery of quick fixes like these challenges. I teach my weight loss patients to take their time and work on their challenges, while I work with them to see what works best for their individual conditions and lifestyle.
What about no carb or no fat diets?
Many people start to cut carbs, fats, or other types of food out of their diet. In most cases, this isn’t good. It may work for a quick fix, but could potentially affect your body and metabolism over time. A popular type of “diet” is low fat. Cutting healthy fats out of your diet may cause serious issues. Especially issues with hormones including testosterone and estrogen. Our brain also needs healthy fats to function normally. Alzheimer’s has also recently been linked to low fat diets, particularly diets low in healthy fats. Insulin resistance and diabetes, including more serious conditions are also related to low fat consumption. I do not recommend low fat diets on a long-term basis.
Low carb- high fat, or keto diets have been around for a long time. The original Keto diet was created in 1925 to treat epilepsy. Keto diets are based on ketosis. This happens when the body doesn’t have enough glucose for energy, and burns fat instead. Keto sticks are to test ketones in the urine to confirm fat burning. Type I diabetics must be cautious of ketosis as it may lead to ketoacidosis, the most common cause of death in type I diabetics under age 24. In the 1970’s, Dr. Robert Atkins developed the Atkins Diet. This can be helpful for type 2 diabetics, as blood sugar may be reduced by consuming low carbs. Those on the Atkins diet consumed mass quantities of cheese, bacon, cream, and other processed, unhealthy fat laden foods to achieve ketosis. This worked. However, it was not a healthy lifestyle. Organic foods, and healthy fats were not discussed in the plan. Most food was processed, and high in salt. Today, the Keto or Ketogenic diet is popular. It promotes healthy fats and proteins like coconut oil, fish oil, nuts, and more. There is research that shows it may help fight against cancer, epilepsy Alzheimer’s, and type 2 diabetes. There a few different variations on the Keto diet depending on a person’s condition or goals.
No matter how you choose to lose those extra pounds, it is very important to go into a new food plan with your eyes wide open. Please choose a healthcare practitioner who researches the latest information on the dietary effects of any particular conditions you may have.
If you have a question for any of my articles, please email me at [email protected]
Leisa-Marie Grgula, D.C.
Chiropractic Physician
Accurate Care Pain Relief Center
21043 N. Cave Creek Rd. #A9
Phoenix, AZ 85024
602-493-2228
