The dangers of dieting without proper knowledge of what you’re doing could lead to serious health problems like osteoporosis.
To some, dieting means cutting out entire food groups like calorie-rich carbohydrates that are vital for certain brain functions and dairy products like cheese and milk that are rich in calcium and essential for healthy bones and teeth.
A recent poll in the UK examined the dietary habits of 4,500 women. About 30% of these women believed that the path to a slimmer body means staying away from certain essential food groups. In fact, 28% gave up cheese entirely, while 11% cut out dairy foods altogether. An astounding four out of ten women – about 41% – stopped eating bread completely, which is another valuable source of calcium. Another 26% only consider the fat and calorie numbers on the nutritional analysis label.
Considering how many fad diets there are out there that ban fats and carbs, it’s not surprising that osteoporosis is affecting more and more people every year and we’re not just talking older, more frail people. In fact, in the UK alone, 3 million people suffer from osteoporosis and is responsible for 230,000 broken bones a year.
If your diet does not contain sufficient amounts of calcium, by the time you reach the age of 35, you could start experiencing symptoms of osteopenia – a precursor to osteoporosis. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (37), who follows a fat-free diet low in dairy products, has just recently been diagnosed with osteopenia.
Not getting enough vitamins and minerals in our diets can lead to serious health problems. By following a nutritionally sound diet that includes calcium-rich foods like nuts, broccoli and fish will help ensure you get the minimum of 700 mg of calcium a day. You can do this and eat healthy and lose weight.
You don’t have to starve yourself to get slim. In fact, the more you starve yourself, the more likely you’ll put this weight back on once you’ve stopped dieting. Dieting is not something that should be temporary. It is a lifestyle change. Choose the correct foods and you won’t have to diet ever again.
“This latest research highlights the worrying implications that body image can have on bone health. Both calcium and fat play a role in building bone so fad diets that cut these out completely can be damaging.” - National Osteoporosis Society
Tags: fad diets, fat loss, Weight Loss
