Gallery: Say no to these fad diets!

These diets can play havoc with your health by promising fast but unhealthy weight loss results.

Written By: Editorial Team | Updated: February 28, 2015, 11:55 PM

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/atkins Diet

Written by Dr Robert Atkins, this is the most popular fad diet which aims at reducing the main source of energy – carbohydrates to up to 20g/day and focuses more on vegetables, fats and proteins. Why is it bad: The side-effect of this diet is, it recommends more than 30% fat intake which is above the recommended allowance and can lead to extreme ketosis which can cause damage to the organs in the long run. Image source: Wikimedia commons

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/baby Food Diet

This diet is about eating 14 jars of baby foods throughout the day and a sensible dinner. The baby foods include mashed fruits and veggies. Why is it bad: It does not meet your nutrient needs and is low in protein. Eating like an adult is recommended. Also Read - Chronic kidney disease could become the 5th leading cause of death by 2040, warns lancet report

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/blood Type Diet

Created by Dr Peter D’Adamo, it focuses on eating some and avoiding some foods as per your blood type. It follows a ‘one size fits all’ concept. Why is it bad: It bans a lot of health promoting foods making eating out difficult and some people may be healthy despite eating foods forbidden for them. Image source: McGill blogs

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/cabbage Soup Diet

This is 7-day diet which focuses on having as many bowls of cabbage soup every day with some fruits and vegetables. Why is it bad: This diet is bland, boring and makes you feel weak and resulting in poor concentration. The biggest drawback is that it makes you gassy and bloated. Also Read - Intermittent fasting triggers surprising changes in the brain, boosting memory and mental sharpness: Study

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/cookie Diet

Invented by Dr Siegal, this a diet in which one has to eat nine cookies a day that makes up to 500 kcal and then have a 500 kcal dinner, totalling up to 1000 kcal every day. Why is it bad: This diet gets monotonous and can cause nutrient deficiencies.

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/general Motors Diet

This is a 7-day diet plan which is based on the intake of specified food items which include raw vegetables, fruits, juice, and lean meat. It restricts the intake of any dairy products and promises weight loss of 10 pounds in week. Each day is restricted to 1-2 raw foods in unlimited amounts. Why is it bad: This diet can make you weak and hungry, leads to the inability to exercise, depression and body pain. Also Read - Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year, young children most at risk: WHO

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/liquid Diet

The idea is to cleanse the body and rejuvenate it with juices, water, clear soups. Why is it bad: It is again very low on protein and can make you really weak. Not recommended to do it more than a day.

Gallery: Say no to these fad diets! — Wp Content/uploads/2016/04/how To Spot A Fad Diet

It promises exaggerated results in few days which is too good to be true. Will mostly have rigid eating rules. It restricts you from eating a lot of food groups like carbohydrates, fats, etc. It promotes ‘magic foods’. The diet is sold based on a few testimonials without any research or studies done on its effect. It doesn’t involve much exercise along with the meal plans. Also Read - How to quit smoking naturally: Ayurvedic tips to deal with nicotine withdrawal and cravings

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