The Truth About Diets

Any specific program which restricts people from eating certain kinds of food or limits the quantity of food intake is called a diet. We are all on some kind of food program consciously or subconsciously. We like certain food items and dislike others. People in different regions of the world have different diets depending on the availability or cost of different kinds of foods. But of late this word has come to denote a restrictive calorie intake intended towards weight loss or weight gain, usually the former. But the term is equally applicable for specific food programs designed to help or combat illnesses or tastes.

This article touches upon the most common usage of the word which is intended towards voluntary weight loss. There are today thousands, maybe, more ‘diets’ doing the rounds in the online and offline media promising reduction in inches or pounds over a specific time period. Some are rooted in nutritional logic while others are counting on starving the body into submission. Unfortunately, the more sensible diets require not only a change in dietary habits for a lifetime but also a lifestyle change to improve metabolism. Moreover, they never promise overnight or ‘just in 3 days’ kind of results making them less attractive to desperately overweight people looking for a quick fix.

The truth is that diets affect more than just your body weight. They affect the quality of your hair, the sheen of your skin, your moods, and most importantly your ability to think. Let me give some examples. Most diets shun carbohydrates and fats making people believe that these are bad for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both carbohydrates and fats are necessary for the human body to function well; and depriving the body of them could have serious consequences of our overall well being. Yet, it is important to exercise moderation in whatever food group we eat. Too much of fat or carbohydrate can be a bad thing; but so can too much of protein or even water for that matter.

Good diets include all the important food groups in the required proportion. Given bland food, most people know when they have had enough. It is only when faced with a chocolate mousse or a bag of French fries that we begin to lose this innate judgment that we were born with. The truth is that most processed food is designed to make us eat more. One easy way to counter the hazards of modern packages food is to consciously opt for more fiber in whatever we consume. Fiber gives a feeling of satiety and helps us stay full for longer. Reducing our salt intake also helps the body lose excess water which gives us a bloating feeling. Processed foods are naturally low in fiber and high in salt making them the criminals in any sensible food program.

In summary diets are good as long as they are based on the basic nutritional principles and don’t seek to deprive the body of its needs. Food is like fuel to the body; without sufficient fuel, no machine can perform well and will lose efficiency over time. So make sure that you eat well but in moderation.