By Appiah Emmanuella Adu (UniMAC-IJ, Faculty of Journalism, [email protected]
In today’s fast-paced world, pursuing quick fixes and fad diets has become increasingly common. However, many fail to realize the potential dangers and long-term consequences of improper dieting.
Dieting is regulating an individual’s food and drink intake to achieve various goals such as weight loss, improving overall health, managing medical conditions, enhancing athletic performance, or simply adopting a healthier lifestyle.
The most common we know is weight loss dieting. However, practicing it without doctors’ advice and counseling is becoming a norm and prevalent.
Society is now used to Fad diets which usually involve eliminating certain food groups or focusing on specific types of foods, making them quite restrictive.
Knowing a dieting plan that will work for you is important when it comes to losing weight. Taking people’s diet plans off social media is not healthy and advisable. Most diet plans only contribute to short-term weight loss.
The situation of gaining back weight is quite common when people opt for quick fixes or extreme measures to lose weight rapidly. While these methods might show initial results, they often fail to provide sustainable and healthy outcomes.
Some can even be dangerous. To stay healthy and avoid side effects, one must adjust their lifestyle, stay healthy, and focus on healthy, balanced nutrition, which can only be provided by a doctor or dietician.
People, especially youth, now jump from doing intermittent fasting to taking plant-based food to the Ketogenic diet to eating one meal a day. It is not said that these diet plans are not good, but knowing and learning more before practicing them will help prevent side effects.
The connection between what we eat and how we feel is profound. Our mood, cognitive abilities, and overall well-being are significantly influenced by the nutrients we consume. Proper dieting plays a crucial role in shaping not only our mood but also how we think and function in various aspects of life.
The risks associated with fad diets are concerning. These unbalanced diets can lead to health issues like high cholesterol, gallstones, kidney stones, and adverse effects on the heart. It is essential to be cautious and avoid falling into the trap of following such diets that can harm our health in the long run.
Dietary diversity is one key aspect emphasized by Dietician Nicholas Laryea. Consuming a variety of foods is essential as it provides our bodies with a range of nutrients necessary for optimal health. By varying our food choices, we ensure that our bodies receive the essential nutrients needed to function at their best.
He also highlights the critical role of nutrients in powering our Immune system and controlling metabolism. Neglecting proper nutrition can deprive our bodies of essential micronutrients, leading to a decline in overall bodily functions. This makes it clear that what we eat plays a vital role in maintaining our health and well-being.
In some cases, taking weight loss pills and practicing water dieting result in being underweight and can also lead to a hormonal imbalance where they have issues with their monthly cycle and some effects on their ovulation cycle.
Moreover, improper dieting can disrupt the body’s metabolism. Crash diets or severe restrictions can slow down metabolism, making it easier to gain weight once normal eating resumes. Restrictive eating patterns can also have serious implications on mental health which is why it is essential to see a dietician.
Talking about dieting, the majority of these individuals practicing improper dieting are the youths. Exposure to social media has caused damage to people’s self-esteem. In their vulnerable state, they tend to make bad decisions as societal pressure increases.
Dieting is never wrong, but improper dieting can pose hidden dangers to your health, such as nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, and potential long-term health issues. It is vital to approach dieting with care, focusing on balanced nutrition and sustainable eating habits to safeguard one’s well-being in the long term.
