Fad Diets

It seems like almost every day, there's a new diet out there claiming to be the answer to healthy eating. It can be hard sometimes to figure out which diets are healthy. Most diets have both positive and negative aspects, but unless the diets are overall healthy, you should stick to the dietary recommendations made by MyPlate or by a dietitian. Here are some red flags to look for when evaluating a new fad diet:

• Cutting out any whole food group (i.e. carbohydrates, fats, protein, grains, dairy) is a red flag because that means you are cutting out a whole group of nutrients needed by your body.
• If the fad diet is based on research, check the research the diet references. If the diet is based off of only a few limited studies this is a red flag because the diet lacks evidence.
• Promising a quick fix is a huge red flag since the only way to lose weight is to simply burn more calories than consumed. 
• Diets that require you to take supplements to meet nutrient needs. This is a red flag because our daily nutrient needs can be met by food unless under certain medical circumstances. 

These four red flags can help you spot a fad diet that might not be healthy or safe. A big key to always remember is that you lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume. So if you aren't either consuming less calories or exercising to burn more, weight loss will not happen. The best diet to follow is that recommended by MyPlate because it contains a variety of different foods to supply your daily nutrient needs. If you are exploring a new diet and have more specific questions, you may wish to speak to a dietitian who can help you evaluate the diet more in depth.