Celebrity Diets Exposed

The Atkins diet is a low carbohydrate diet that only allows 20-25g of carbohydrate per day during the weight loss phase, while the maintenance phase increases your carbohydrate allowance to 40-60g per day.  Considering one piece of bread contains about 35g of carbohydrate, a sandwich would never be on the menu. Because of the strict carbohydrate restrictions, fruit is limited and most of your carbohydrates come from salad vegetables.

 

While research on low carbohydrate diets has had mixed results, some studies have shown that low carb diets may result in less insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes). However, some researchers believe this is because of the low glycemic load (i.e. the overall effect on blood sugar) of the diet and they’re looking to see if similar results can be found by lowering the glycemic load of diets containing carbohydrates.

 

Not only is low carb eating highly restrictive, it also restricts foods that should be increased rather than decreased, such as wholegrain carbohydrates and fruits. Even in the maintenance phase, the carbohydrate allowance is still very low at 60g. Because it allows unlimited meats and fats, the diet can be very high in saturated fat, which is a risk for heart disease and some types of cancer. This is an unrealistic diet and although it may result in quick weight loss you would be better off eating a balanced diet from all food groups.

 

The author of the blood group diet believes that our blood group controls how our bodies deal with nutrients and digest foods. He states that a diet specifically designed for your blood type means your body can digest food and absorb nutrients more effectively, which enhances weight loss. Each blood group has a long list of foods that must be avoided, based on the author’s belief that each blood type has its own special marker that reacts negatively with these.

Positives
The diet recommends eating fresh, natural foods and cutting out junk food.That’s really about the only positive thing as the diet is restrictive and unrealistic for those who are in Blood groups A or O.

The science behind the diet is fiction not fact. There is no evidence at all that our blood group and what we eat interact. Because of the restrictions in this diet, long term you may not get all the nutrients you need for good health. The weight loss achieved from this diet is due to its restrictions rather than anything to do with your blood group.

 

Although this diet isn’t published in any book, it lurks around and I know many people who have tried it for a quick fix. This is a rigid plan, where you eat as much cabbage soup as you like with the addition of one or two other foods each day. Recipes for soup vary but they all include cabbage, canned tomatoes, carrot and celery.

 

You get to eat a lot of vegetables!

 

The most obvious is the lack of variety and restrictions. This diet is definitely not balanced and is extremely low in calories. A quick weight loss will result, but little of this will be fat. As the diet is so low in calories, your body will hold on to fat reserves and lose fluid and muscle. Losing muscle will slow down your metabolism and lead to an increased chance of weight gain. So really this diet is counterproductive in the long term.

 

There is a whole host of diets available to those looking, but be aware of many. Avoid all those that promise rapid weight loss, special fat burning foods or food combinations, rigid menus and those that sound too good to be true. Instead focus on making small changes to your diet to make it healthier and increase your exercise.

 

 

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