5 Diets that could be harmful to your health

To reach your goal weight, sacrifices need to be made, but it’s important not to be so bent on slimming down that you lose sight of taking care of your health. The success of your weight loss regimen shouldn’t be at the expense of your overall well-being.

Here are fad diets, which claim to be effective, that you need to be wary of!

1. Juice and Detox diets

Juice cleanses and detox diets may have the support of some of your favorite celebrities, but you should do your research before applying it to your daily regimen. Cleanses tend to rid your body of toxins and water but not fat. Plus, you’ll gain weight back if you maintain the same eating habits.

Overdoing these types of diets can result in dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and dehydration.

2. Fasting diets

Starving yourself is not a good idea. In fact, depriving yourself can even intensify your hunger pangs and cravings. Sure, it may be a good idea if you’re counting calories, but if you don’t get the nourishment and nutrients you need, it can slow down your metabolism. Extreme fasting can lead to loss of muscle mass, dizziness, anemia, and dehydration.

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3. Cotton Ball diet

This strange fad involves soaking cotton balls in juice or smoothies and eating them. The goal of this diet is to keep you feeling full and suppress your appetite.

It doesn’t take a lot of studies to convince us that ingesting something that was designed to be inedible is a bad idea. Plus, some cotton balls are actually bleached fibers that are packed with harmful chemicals, which could block your digestive tract and lead to life-threatening conditions. Other adverse effects could be anorexia nervosa, toxicity and malnutrition.

4. Cabbage and Grapefruit diet

It’s simple. Eating only cabbages (as soups or meals) and grapefruits (and juices) for a prolonged period of time will rob your body of the nourishment and nutrients it needs. Sure, you might be getting the results you want and be able to adhere to a low-calorie diet, but you’re putting yourself at risk for protein and carbohydrate deficiency. Make sure to consult a nutritionist if you do decide to go on a 3-day diet that involves mostly cabbage soup.

5. Sleeping beauty diet

As the name suggests, this diet involves sleeping off the hunger. Those on this diet take chemical sleep aids to keep yourself from gaining weight. Though it was practiced back in the 60s, more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of addiction, dehydration, and muscle deterioration that comes from making this a habit.

If you want to lose weight, always remember to prioritize your health and safety, moms and dads! Remember to stick with diets that are safe and effective. Being committed to a healthy lifestyle can make you a better parent.

sources: Healthline, Health.USNews, Cosmopolitan, Diet Health Plan, Science Alert, Live Science

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