Diets

There are literally hundreds of different diets that have at one time or another, been promoted as the best approach to losing weight. Unfortunately, most of them, in their efforts to succeed, involve omitting certain foods, and sometimes even entire food groups.

Do you know fact from fad? Fad diets take form in many ways: low-fat, low-carbohydrates, high-protein, or focusing on one particular food item such as grapefruit. These diets lack major nutrients such as dietary fiber and carbohydrates, as well as selected vitamins, minerals and protective phytochemicals such as antioxidants (substances found in vegetables which are protective against disease). Over the long term, by not receiving the proper amounts of these nutrients, you may develop serious health problems later in life.

Some common claims of these diets include blaming particular hormones for weight gain, suggesting that food can change body chemistry, or touting or banning a particular food. However, they all have one thing in common - they offer only a temporary solution to what, for many people, is a lifelong and chronic condition. Once the diet is stopped, the lost weight is usually regained quickly. This is because none of these diets teach you how to eat right.

Devoting yourself to a lifestyle that includes exercise and eating a proper diet with moderate portions, is still the best method to lose weight and to keep it off. Most people who make the change from a typical high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle, to one that follows a diet based on Canada's Food Guide, will slowly and safely lose weight and will most likely keep it off.