The Downside of Fad Diets

There’s a very good chance you’ve heard the term “fad diet” at least a few times from various sources. Generally speaking, such dieting plans tend to have a less-than-stellar reputation. A 2017 study, conducted by multiple institutions, further dented the image of fad diets. 

From Juice to Nuts

For their report, the research team broke down the term “fad diet” into several dieting trends – including juicing, gluten-free diets, coconut and 
palm oil diets and diets that emphasize nuts. Listed below are the authors’ conclusions for each type of diet. 

Juicing: As one would expect, a juicing diet is built on a large consumption of fruit and vegetable juices. The problem with this approach is that juicing has the effect of “concentrating calories” into relatively small beverages. Consequently, those following a juicing diet might unwittingly consume large amounts of calories in liquid form. 

Gluten-Free Diets: Gluten-free diets have garnered a good deal of media hype in recent years. To be sure, these diets are very helpful for people suffering from gluten sensitivity, wheat allergies or celiac disease. For everyone else, the researchers found no meaningful benefits to avoiding gluten- filled foods. 

Nuts: No one denies that nuts certainly have their positive qualities. However, they are also filled with fats and calories, which are two things sure to derail a diet. 

Coconut and palm oils: According to the researchers, there is little evidence to suggest that coconut and palm oils are good for the heart. In fact, due to their saturated fatty acid content, such oils might even be harmful to our cardiovascular system. 

Upon reviewing these fad diets, the authors concluded that consumers are best served by consuming significant levels of fruits, vegetables and legumes, along with a moderate amount of nuts. This type of diet should prove beneficial to the long-term health of the heart.