Determining the best and safest way to lose weight can be a confusing endeavor. Dieting books, magazines, tips and fads promise to help you drop the weight fast, but often compromise your health, and long-term goals, in the process. The American Heart Association recommends steering clear of fad diets and sticking to a diet rich in whole grains, low-fat dairy and protein, fruits and vegetables to make sure you stay healthy and avoid the pitfalls of diets.
Increased Risk of Heart Disease
A study conducted by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and published in the October 2000 "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," analyzed the health effects of eight different diets. The research concluded that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, including Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution and Protein Power, increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease. According to the study's results, Sugar Busters!, Protein Power, The Zone and Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution recommend more than twice your daily need of protein and promote foods high in saturated fat, which may clog your arteries and compromise your heart's health. High protein diets may increase your levels of low-density lipoprotein, LDL, or bad cholesterol, another risk factor for heart disease. Additionally, diets high in protein increase your risk of developing ketosis, a condition where you can't completely metabolize fatty acids, which leads to oxidization of your LDL cholesterol and increases your risk of developing heart disease.
Nutrition Deficiency
Diets that emphasize eating certain food groups or that recommend eating particular foods only may contribute to the development of a nutrition deficiency. The American Heart Association's website states that adhering to a "limiting" or fad diet for more than a few weeks contributes to deficiencies. Eating a variety of foods helps ensure that you meet your daily requirements for vitamins, minerals, fiber and carbohydrates.
Hinder Long-Term Health Goals
Many diets provide a time-line for weight loss, instruct you when and what to eat and require that you adhere to their guidelines. The University of Colorado at Boulder recommends visualizing eating the way the diet recommends for the rest of your life and asking yourself if it is possible. If your answer is no, the diet probably will not work out in the long run or meet your weight loss and health goals. It may lead to feelings of frustration and confusion when you stop the diet and quickly regain all the lost weight. Constant dieting may slow down your metabolism, making it harder for you to lose weight in the future. Additionally, restrictive diets may contribute to feelings of anxiety concerning food and lead to binging or overeating "forbidden" foods.
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