We all have a friend who counts calories or avoids carbohydrates.
We all have said to ourselves at some point of time, “I need to go on a diet.”
Diet culture is also all around us. There are Ketogenic Diet Followers, Paleo Diet Lovers. Vegan Enthusiast and many more who swear by various diet plans. By diet, I mean, following some restrictive, regulated and supervised food rules (except medical and ethical concerns). There are celebrities endorsing various diet plans and on click of a mouse, detox diets, personalized/non-personalized diets are available.
While the buzz around the various fad diets is never-ending, do they do any good in the long run? I think not and here’s why you should not go on a diet.
1. Dieting robs you of nutrients
Whichever dieting plan you follow, you are basically restricting yourself from getting some or the other food nutrients. If you are on…
Low carb diet. You’re missing out on fiber, B-Vitamins, potassium, magnesium and other micronutrients.
Low fat diet. You may have trouble absorbing Vitamins A, D, E and K.
Calorie restricting diet. You certainly won’t be able to meet the protein, calcium, biotin, thymine, Vitamin A, Magnesium needs.
Paleo/No dairy diet. You’ll have a harder time meeting your calcium, Vitamin D needs.
2. Dieting is stressful for the body
When you go on a low-calorie diet, the brain slows down metabolism to conserve energy and keep the body functioning on fewer calories. And this can make weight loss and weight maintenance more difficult.
Also dieting increases stress hormone, cortisol. When cortisol is high, digestion, sleep, and everything else is thrown off. Increased cortisol can actually lead to weight gain, among other things.
Also weight fluctuation brings a host of related side effects that can harm your physical health. Not surprisingly, it has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
3. Dieting is waste of effort
It’s a known fact that most people who go on a diet, regain all the weight, plus more at some point. Studies have shown that diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people.
4. Dieting is bad for mental health
Dieting pushes you to set unrealistic expectations and also distorts body image and self esteem, and is a major contributor to eating disorders. When you view certain foods as bad and others as good, there is a risk of developing a disordered relationship with food. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Is there a solution to dieting?
It is best to stick with a healthy balanced lifestyle and this should become a part of your lifestyle every single day. Remember to make it a journey and not a destination.
Do you believe in diets? How has been your experience with them?
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25 Responses
Agree totally! When you start eating food in the name of Diet it creates chaos. Eating minimal food, maintaining all kind of food on the plate helps for good health.
2 of my family members are gluten intolerant and have definite issues with keeping nutrition at a good place. Thank goodness we are good at cooking at home and not eating out much. It helps at least.
Thank God ! Someone stressed it enough once again. Really glad you decided to address it for it forms an integral part of our lives and very well articulated.
Very nice. Dieting gives temporary results with lot of chaos especially for the cook, (read me here) as to what to make.
Thanks for saying so and writing in such an amazing manner.
Need to share it with my fitness freak friends who are into dieting. Though I don’t need it still I never understood the funda of going on a diet and then there are chest days too. I feel eat well and everything in moderation and burn it.
I agree – all points are bang on!
That’s why I always like to make it a lifestyle change!
I could be one of those friends who’s often on a diet. And I’ve never had any trouble because I’ve never been able to stick to any of them long enough, thank goodness. Also, I’ve never done the drastic ones. The one time I did diet seriously I did it because the doc recommended it and with the help of a qualified dietician. I think that’s very important.
Thank you shilpa you have raised valid points to think and I do agree with you; i have in the past tried diets but never really worked, regained back again. The best way is to eat healthy and stick to home cooked and above all as rightly put by you, make it a journey and not destination. Its important we make changes to impact our live styles.
You struck a chord there, Shilpa. I have never ever understood how people go on these crazy diets. It may sound oft-repeated but really a balanced meal and exercise is all that we need.
Yes dieting can be stressful deprive body of essential nutrients. I think working out and eating in moderation may do the job of dieting.
I am so glad you wrote this, Shilpa. The bind following of the Keto Diet is disturbing, more so because it isn’t meant for regular people. Hope people read your post and see reason.
I’ve tried a few diets including keto over the years. At least for me it has never ended well invariably feeling tired and unsatisfied with no real results to showcase.
I completely agree with you. I never recommend dieting to anyone. As a nutritionist, I feel its more important to eat balanced meals and eat healthily.
I agree with you Shilpa and also believe in the principle of eating a healthy and balanced diet. dieting affect not only our physical but mental health adversely. I am glad you had covered this topic in your series. looking forward to know what comes next!
I have never believed in diets and dieting, esp crash diets. I pity those who do follow such strict diets that leave them worse than when they started.
I believe in eating everything in moderation, workout regularly and love your body the way it is. This will take care of your physical as well as mental health.
I so agree with all the points you have mentioned. I guess instead of going on a diet a healthy eating lifestyle should be adopted.
Dieting is only a temporary solution to losing weight because as soon as you stop it piles back on again as I discovered! I know people who are constantly on and off diets and they are a pretty boring and miserable lot! now, where did I put that chocolate?
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so truee! I ca never go on diet!! bookmarking this post
Glad you shared this, I can’t diet, I am a foodie. can’t take the stress. Healthy eating is always a better choice. nice post.
Agreed 100%. To hell with diet.
I am glad I heard this from someone. I don’t believe in diets as much as I believe in my yoga. If my mind is set on a chocolate fudge, I don’t deprive it
Crash diets definitely don’t work for long-term. It’s better to have little bit of everything, and MORE of the healthy stuff. And yes, mix and match, so you get all nutrients.
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Thanks for highlighting!!
I never diet. I follow a balanced diet, eat everything. I always make sure to exercise and meditate daily. That is good enough to maintain both physical and mental well being!
Read mine here – http://evergreenleaf.blogspot.com/2019/04/d-dreams-atozchallenge.html?m=1
That’s why I keep eating & putting on weight 🙂 🙂