Short-term diets for weight loss (including paleo diet, keto diet, crash diets, rainbow diet, etc.) may help you shed those extra kilos, but they come with their own set of health effects. A healthy weight loss plan should not deprive the body of essential nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals. It should consist of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals and pulses, meat and dairy products. The key is to eliminate junk and processed food items from your diet and indulge in healthier options like minimising the daily calorie intake and you can do wonders for your health and weight.
Here are some myths about weight loss debunked:
Myth: Almonds raise cholesterol and cause weight gain
Fact: Almonds offer more fiber than most nuts and are rich in Vitamin E. Eating almonds can keep you fuller for a longer duration and suppress appetite. Almonds also make for a perfect and an easy weight loss snack. Consuming a handful of almonds can give your body a healthy amount of fiber that will help you battle with your hunger pangs, offer your body the required energy and prevent you from overeating. The reason the myth about weight gain was perpetuated because nuts have tremendous fat content. However, a fistful (around 10-20) of almonds consumed daily may help boost HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol while lowering unhealthy LDL.
Myth: Green tea gives you a flat stomach
Myth: Carbs make you fat
Fact:Cutting down carbohydrates completely from your diet can result in the deficiency of certain nutrients, which leads to severe health problems. In an effort to lose weight quickly, people tend to cut down carbohydrates from their diet. This not only hampers their weight loss goals but also results in health blunders. Carbohydrates supply energy to the body and ruling out carbohydrates completely from your diet can deprive your body of one of the essential macro-nutrients, the other two being fats and proteins. However, it is ideal to cut down the intake of refined carbs such as refined sugar or grains, which can lead to weight gain and put your overall health at stake.
Myth: Fats lead to weight gain
Myth: Going vegetarian will help you lose weight
Fact: While opting for a vegetarian diet has its own perks it does not guarantee weight loss. By making healthy food choices, reducing the total number of calories along with cutting down fruits and veggies that are high in sugar, fats and calories can lead to weight loss.
Myth: Dairy products are unhealthy
Myth: Juice detox is a quick way to lose weight
Fact: Including fresh juices in your daily diet is a great way to load up on minerals, vitamins, fibre and antioxidants. Going on a juice detox can rev up your metabolism and help you burn more calories. However, the disadvantage is you’ll quickly gain back all the weight when you stop drinking juices and start eating again.
Myth: Consuming meat leads to weight gain
The internet is flooded with information on weight loss. But one must remember that it’s not an easy deal. Losing weight takes time and requires utmost patience and dedication. Instead of jumping on a fad diet, it's necessary to identify a plan that’s healthy and best suited for you. No one else can tell you what your body needs; you are the best judge. Therefore, make it a point to inform yourself and take control of your diet!
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