Diet Culture

There are innumerable amounts of diets promoted in current society. It can be hard to understand which is the “right” diet for you. As someone who has unfortunately pursued almost all trendy diets, I can attest that there is no magic fix. After going to school for years to become a Dietitian, I also learned, that there is no magic fix. A quick bit of explanation on the problematic nature of some popular diet trends…

-Intermittent Fasting: this can be a good lifestyle for some if it occurs naturally. If it becomes obsessive, however, and one is looking at the exact minute on the clock, not only can it be socially isolating, it can also lead to feelings of restriction and eventual binging. It can also lead to carbohydrate cravings in some.

-Low Carb: although this will lead to immediate weight loss, this is only water weight as carbs hold water in the body. Once one inevitably resumes consuming carbohydrates, the weight will immediately return. Also, carbs are the body (and in the particular the brain’s) preferred energy source, so if you do not consume them, you are doing yourself and disservice and will surely not be performing optimally.

-Keto: all of the above points on low carb diets are relevant here. Also, this diet is generally high in animal protein which is low in fiber, causing difficulties with digestive health. Animal protein is also high in saturated fat, the type of fat that clogs the arteries and can lead to heart problems.

-Low Fat: healthy fats (unsaturated fats), are important for a strong immune system. A low-fat diet can lead to a plethora of vitamin deficiencies causing a host of additional problems.

-Cleanses: these are only implemented in the short-term, which means upon cessation, all previous physiological functioniong will return.

Any overly restrictive diet can lead to unwanted effects. Some food groups like dairy may lead to unwanted G.I. effects and so a dairy-free diet could be beneficial. If, however, you are restricting a food or food group based on a desire to loose weight, it will likely be too difficult to maintain and may also contribute to deficiencies in the body. The best diet is a healthy lifestyle comprised primarily of whole foods with a focus on variety in consumption.