The so-called American diet industry is worth approximately 20 billion dollars per year, according to an article published in ABC News. Some dream of losing a few extra pounds, some would love to bulk up on muscle, and others simply wish to feel healthier. Whatever your personal goals may be, the odds are good that you’ve considered trying out a popular diet at some point in your life. The question is…which popular diets actually work?
Paleo, Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, vegetarian, fruitarian, vegan, the cabbage soup diet — the list of potential diet trends to try goes on and on. It isn’t too much of an exaggeration to say that by the time you finish reading this article, someone somewhere has probably published the latest version of the world’s best miracle diet!
Promises of fast weight loss — or of effortless health in general — can be extremely tempting, even to the normally level-headed. That’s why we have decided to address the topic of popular diet trends in this article. Are popular diet trends effective? Are there better alternatives to dieting? What is the best way to lose weight and keep it off? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and much more.
Why Are New Diet Trends Always Taking Off?
We’ve already mentioned the fact that diet ideas sell. And this helps explain, in part, why such an overwhelming number of diet programs exist. But this isn’t the end of the story. The reason why diet programs are sold so easily is because people love easy answers. The notion that being completely healthy is merely a matter of, say, eating more nuts and seeds, for example, sounds extremely tempting.
But the truth is, even though nuts and seeds are packed full of protein and healthy fats, they aren’t going to turn your life around all by themselves. Fad diets are ineffective because they oversimplify what healthy living really is. Here is a more in-depth breakdown of why popular diet trends are ultimately ineffective:
-Fad diets limit nutrients and vitamins by limiting variety.
Many diet trends focus on telling you what not to eat. Give up carbs, give up fats, give up meat, give up everything that’s not cabbage, etc. The problem with this is that the best diet is a well-balanced diet. Eating a wide variety of foods in healthy portions is the best way to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need to feel full, healthy, and energetic.
-Banning foods only leads to increased cravings.
A diet that tells you that you can never eat ice cream is setting you up for frustration, and fostering an all-or-nothing attitude that can be quite destructive, leading to binge eating and other unhealthy behaviors.
-So-called superfoods are often expensive.
The idea of superfoods is already slightly flawed — as we mentioned earlier, variety truly matters. On top of this, many super foods are expensive, which can be frustrating and/or prohibitive.
-Diet trends are oftentimes based on myths and misconceptions.
Fats don’t necessarily make you fat — and certain types of fat are very good for you. Conversely, complex carbs offer slow-burning, long-lasting energy, in spite of what carb-alarmists might tell you. The point is, even though making drastic claims about certain nutrients might help you sell diet books, they don’t necessarily help you lose weight.
-The latest diet doesn‘t take into account your individual health needs.
No two bodies are exactly alike — which is why no one diet will ever work for everyone. If you are going to attain optimal results for your diet efforts, you need health professionals who take your individual needs into account. Here at Last Stop 4 Pain, we create personalized plans based on your genetic makeup. There’s no guessing, no trying everything and hope something works, it’s based on how your body reacts to your environment based on your genes.
There is no more time for excuses — contact us today to begin working toward a healthier, happier you!
