In recent years, hundreds of fad diets have arrived on the scene, promising excellent weight loss and wellness results. But how do you know which diet plan you can trust? Which ones truly have your wellbeing in mind, and which are only after your money? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of today’s diet trends.
Firstly, the Eat Clean diet promises to give you a lean body full of energy by eating plenty of calorie-burning foods. However, Priya Kathpal, Nutritionist with BCUBE Advanced Sports Nutrition, says, ‘One of the major negative of “The Clean Diet” is that if it’s not planned by an expert and followed under guidance one may end up having deficiencies, also availability of fresh fruits and veggies is not always possible and besides if one goes for organic foods it may turn out to be expensive.’
If you fancy something a little fruitier, the Smoothie Diet works by replacing one or two meals with a healthy homemade smoothie. Unfortunately, like the Clean diet, you can be at risk of an imbalance in nutrients without the help of a trained professional. Maybe not smoothies then, but how about the All Fruit diet? According to Kathpal, the fruit diet is, ‘low on calories, packed with fibre and loads of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Cleansing the body is one of the major advantages.’ However, she adds, ‘Fruit diets are known to be deficient in vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc and most B vitamins especially vitamin B12.’
You may not have heard of the Dukan diet, but Neelanajana Singh, with Heinz Nutri Life Clinic, explains, ‘The dieters find it easy to follow as there is no requirement of counting calories, or weighing of foods. One can eat as much as one wants at whatever time of the day provided one sticks to the prescribed foods which is mostly lean protein.’ Sounds good, but what about the negative side of the Dukan diet? Singh notes, ‘The Dukan diet is extremely low on carbohydrates especially in the first phase of the diet which is the “Attack phase”. The common complaints are constipation, bad breadth, tiredness and dryness of the mouth.’
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