A “huge increase” in heart attacks, strokes and diabetes has resulted due to the quantum leap in the number of overweight people
A “huge increase” in heart attacks, strokes and diabetes has resulted due to the quantum leap in the number of overweight people. Reuters

Due to the extreme desire to lose weight, many people turn to diets which aren’t really effective and healthy for the body. These fad diets are so popular but not all of them are guaranteed to work for you. Take a look at five of these fad diets to avoid for life.

  1. South Beach Diet

This diet was developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston whose main intention was to protect his patients from health problems such as diabetes and heart-related ailments. The secret to this diet is to eat before hunger strikes to avoid overeating. It also focuses on eating lean protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruits among others.

  1. Raw food diet

The diet is based on the notion that raw foods are healthier because they pack more nutrients than processed or cooked ones. The truth is, some fruits and vegetables are actually healthier when cooked. Tomatoes for instance can provide higher amount of lycopene when cooked. Those who are not fans of raw food will find difficulty adjusting to this diet too.

  1. Werewolf diet

If you’re superstitious then you’ll find this diet interesting and even believable. The diet kicks off by drinking only water and juice on a new or full moon. No food should be taken during this time to allow the body to lose up to six pounds of water weight. This is followed by specific meal plans based on each moon phase. Fasting can make you lose weight but then again, it’s so easy to regain what you have lost, even more once you go back to eating food.

  1. Master Cleanse diet

Dr. Christopher N. Ochner said this diet involves drinking diuretics and you’re only going to lose water weight. You’ll only be taking a mixture of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for a few days to “detoxify” your body. This diet has harmful side effects such as nausea, dehydration and fatigue due to your low calorie intake.

  1. Cabbage soup diet

Imagine eating only cabbage soup two to three times a day for an entire week. Aside from cabbage soup, you also eat bananas and skim milk which have low calories. Indeed, it can help you lose weight but you’ll also experience discomforts such as constipation and bloating. Chances are you’ll gain weight once you’re done with your week-long cabbage soup diet.

When looking for an effective weight loss diet, be sure to exclude these fad diets to avoid for life. They will only give you temporary results and expose you to health problems in the end.

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