People are fascinated by celebrities. You always hear people talking about their latest outfits, who they're going out with, and even the latest diet trend. However, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) wants to warn people that not all celebrity diets are safe and healthy for you. In fact, some of them are downright dangerous.
Here's a list of the diets that the BDA wants people to avoid:
1. 'Clean Eating'
Popular celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba, are just a few celebrities who swear by clean eating.
The clean eating diet is all about eating 'clean' food by eliminating processed foods such as refined sugar, eating food in their natural state, and cooking food from scratch.
While it may sound like a good idea to get rid of processed foods from your diet, experts say that having a concept of 'clean' and 'dirty' food is cause for concern. Sometimes, this way of thinking can lead people to have 'orthorexia nervosa', or an obsession with 'clean', but not necessarily healthy food.
In a lot of cases, food that's called 'dirty' by clean eating diet advocates are actually good for you. These include whole grains, fruit, and dairy, which some advocates of the clean eating diet avoid.
2. Diet Pills
Diet pills, specifically those that weren't prescribed by a medical professional, are very dangerous. Kim Kardashian was reported to have used diet pills to help her lose weight right after she gave birth.
A lot of these diet pills have claims saying that they prevent the absorption of fat, or that they melt fat. Others pills say that they can suppress appetite or boost your metabolism.
Obviously, pills that can have such an adverse effect on your body should be avoided as much as possible, since they can have unpredictable and dangerous effects on your body. Alarmingly, there has been a rise in the sales of these diet pills online. A lot of these pills are unregulated and might contain chemicals that are not safe for your body.
Instead of using diet pills as a shortcut, stick by the tried and tested proper diet and exercise.
3. 'Teatoxes'
Nicki Minaj, Kylie Jenner, and even Britney Spears have all been fans of 'teatoxing.
Teatoxing is short for 'tea detoxing', which is basically using special teas to detox your body and get rid of any toxins, improve skin, reduce bloating, and of course, lose weight.
Experts say that tea toxing can be dangerous since some of the teas contain extra caffeine from guarana or yerba mate, diuretics such as dandelion and nettle, and a laxative called senna which is unsafe to take for more than a week at a time without medical supervision.
Another problem with teatoxing is that it creates the illusion of actual weight loss when in reality it's just water weight being lost. Side effects can include diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and gut damage.
4. The '6:1 Diet'
Chris Martin from Coldplay is a proponent of the '6:1 Diet', saying that it improved his voice and made him more creative.
The reason why it's called the 6:1 diet is that you eat for 6 days normally, and then stop consuming any food for the 7th day. The problem with this diet is that fasting, especially if not managed properly, can ruin your concentration, your mood, and make you tired.
There's also no evidence that shows fasting makes you more creative. In fact, it can even be dangerous depending on your age and your current health condition. However, if you still want to fast, it's best to consult a medical professional about it first.
5. Green Juices
Blake Lively, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, and Gwyneth Paltrow are all followers of the green juice diet.
The green juice diet is another form of detoxing and weight loss management. Basically, you drink juices or smoothies made with fruits, powders, and vegetables. People claim that the green juices rejuvenate your body, and contribute to detoxification and weight loss.
However, experts say that our body is completely capable of detoxing even without taking in these juices. Drinking green juice really won't make a difference if the other food you eat isn't healthy.
Some people even add coconut oil and whole avocados to their juice, which can actually make you gain more weight as those contain a lot of calories. Generally, you should limit your vegetable and fruit juice or smoothie intake to around 150ml per day.
READ: Dieticians warn about the negative effects of the Paleo diet
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, livestrong.com
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