do fad diets actually work?

It seems like every day there’s a new diet claiming to be the answer to weight loss, health and happiness.

We’re bombarded with media images telling us how we should look and how to get the perfect body. It’s only natural that we can become a little fixated on our diets, and perhaps even try some convincing new diet plans.

So what about those fad diets that claim to be the magic cure? Here’s a few of the most popular diets:

INTERMITTENT FASTING

People have been fasting for hundreds of years for weight loss, health, or religious reasons. There are thought to be benefits relating to insulin production and overall kilojoule intake, and as a diet based on one rule rather than complex food restrictions, some people find it easy to stick to. Eating fewer kilojoules than you use can certainly aid weight loss, but if those kilojoules all come from unhealthy foods then it’s not nutritious.

VEGAN DIETS

Vegans usually follow a diet high in fruit and vegetables, so it can be very healthy, with a little planning to include a balance of nutrients. It’s not automatically healthy, however – you can be vegan and just eat chips. Also the more widespread veganism has become, the more plant-based junk foods and highly processed foods are available –not so good for those trying to follow a nutritious diet.

LOW-CARB OR KETO DIETS

Certainly, eating lots of highly processed simple carbohydrates and sugars is not good for you, so yes, cut back on cake! However, complex carbohydrates are essential for a balanced diet. Choosing the right kind, such as whole grains and vegetables, is better than cutting them out altogether – the less processed the better.

The short answer is that you probably know what you should be eating, and that’s about all there is to it. People generally know that a diet high in fruit, vegetables, fibre, healthy oils and protein is good, and eating lots of sugar, salt, and saturated fats is bad.

Try and keep to the foods that you know are healthy, and get advice if you’re not sure about some aspects of your nutrition. Don’t worry about strictly following a diet plan that you find difficult, as you’ll almost certainly find it impossible to stick to.

Think about improving your health rather than how you look, and stop worrying – a bit of common sense is the best diet.