This time last year, the British Dietetic Association included the “no sugar diet” in its annual list of the worst celebrity diets.
As you can imagine, we had something to say about that. But, as the BDA applauds the UK Government’s commitment to a sugar tax, it looks like the association has changed its tune. Surprisingly, we actually agree with all their picks of the worst diets to avoid in 2017!
1. Clean eating.
Looks like we’ve reached peak #clean. Expensive superfoods and fructose-filled raw desserts aside, clean eating’s intense focus on what is “clean” and “dirty” can lead to a really problematic approach to food.
As the BDA says, extreme “clean” eating may be a precursor to orthorexia nervosa, an obsession with eating healthy. In reality, it’s perfectly okay to have a treat now and again.
2. Diet pills.
Often flogged by reality “stars”, diet pills claim to “melt fat” and “suppress appetite”. But buying pills off the internet that have not been approved by medical bodies or prescribed by your doctor is seriously dangerous.
There is no magic bullet that will make you lose weight (at least, healthily). The real secret is eating a sustainable healthy diet and moving more.
3. Teatoxes.
Don’t get us wrong – tea is amazing and we drink it everyday. But the “teatoxes” touted by Kylie Jenner and co could really put us off our cuppa. In fact, some of the brands contain senna, a laxative that can cause serious cramping and diarrhoea.
Any weight loss from teatoxing is probably just water weight, says the BDA. Repetitive “flushing” of the body may also lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and damage to the gut.
4. The 6:1 diet.
Reportedly followed by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, this diet letsr you eat normally for six days of the week… and then completely fast for one day. That means no food for 24 hours. Nada. Zilch!
While intermittent fasting (such as the 5:2 diet, eating 500 calories for two days of the week) has some potential health benefits, this is too extreme. It’s likely to just make you shaky, tired and hangry.
5. Green juices.
Green juices are often marketed as a detox, which is ironic because the load of fructose you’re quickly ingesting really strains your detoxing organ, the liver. Not to mention, you lose all the beautiful fibre.
The healthy alternative is green smoothies, which include the fibre and also add protein and fats to slow the fructose dumpage. Or, you know, just eat whole vegetable and or piece of fruit.
What to follow in 2017 instead…
Approximately 98 per cent of people who diet gain back any weight they lost within five years. It’s clear that these crazy diets are not sustainable solutions and, in some cases, can actually be dangerous.
“An eating pattern for life should be the one you can stick to in the long term, not a quick fix,” says BDA spokesperson and consultant dietitian Sian Porter.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s simple to reach your healthy weight when you quit sugar and processed rubbish, and stick to whole, unprocessed foods. Real food is not restrictive and it tastes great, too!
What do you think of the BDA’s picks for worst diets – have they got it right this time?
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