Fad Diets Why Are They Bad | Have You Tried These Popular Fad Diets

The Mediterranean Diet was discovered after it was noted that people who live along the Mediterranean Sea had a much lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimers disease.

The plan consists of vegetables, grains, beans, fruit, fish, and some red meat. Dairy products are allowed in small amounts. You can even have a glass of wine on this diet. Olive oil—the supposedly good fats used frequently. Olive oil is full of omega 3 fatty acids and monosaturated fats. In order to ward off heart disease, very little saturated fats (the bad fats) are permitted, which means you cannot have any margarine or butter. Garlic is abundant in Mediterranean food. Garlic is said to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and decrease the risk of cancer.

The calorie limit is 1400 to 1700 per day. Marketers have come up with what they call “the med Mark’. This is a special symbol that indicates products are approved for the Mediterranean Diet. We can expect to see this label in stores, particularly on grain products.

This diet promises a high intake of antioxidants, which is the miracle ingredient to staying young and healthy. Regular exercise is encouraged. Following these rules, you should lose one to two pounds a week.

There are numerous books and articles about the Mediterranean Diet. There is also an online program you can join for $29.95. It covers six weeks of the diet plan and provides a personal counselor. The diet is emailed to you on a weekly basis.

All this sounds pretty healthy, right?

Wrong! This sounds like a diet for rabbits. Studies based on blood chemistry and weight have shown that the US Mediterranean dieters are not as healthy as the natives living closer to the sea. This suggests that the diet is not the only ingredient that keeps the natives healthy. Maybe they get more exercise, or possibly it is a hereditary trait. Who knows, maybe it is the sea air and sunshine. Maybe they have less stress in their lives and better coping skills. Many native Mediterraneans still follow the regional diet, but just as many do not.

When grand medical claims are proposed surrounding a diet it becomes suspicious. The Mediterranean Diet does not necessarily affect the development of diabetes. Diabetes is multi-factorial, and this diet alone cannot change them all. For example, it does not affect your bodys production of insulin and cannot possibly control your family history of the disease.

The idea that saturated fats are ‘bad’ is not entirely true. They are good for you in reasonable quantities, and are needed in your diet. They have been blamed in causing obesity and heart disease, which is equally untrue. This program also emphasizes eating fish from our polluted waters.

Lets consider the truth: this plan is 25% to 35% fat. This is what can lead to obesity. This plan uses multiple grain products, along with sugar and vegetables. These are the elements that lead to heart problems.

Can all this possibly be good for you?

Just like other fad diets that come along, the Mediterranean Diet has its supporters, including the Mayo Clinic and Stanford University. Unlike many other fad diets, this plan does offer a safe gradual weight loss and encourages exercise. However, the medical benefits purported are not believable. Dietary habits do affect the development of heart disease, diabetes, and maybe even Alzheimers, but lifestyle and familial history also play a big part. The Mediterranean diet alone cannot control all the factors for these diseases, and thus cannot support their medical claims.

The Mediterranean Diet is just one of the most popular fad diet, to go back to the main page click here, popular fad diets.