9 Popular Diets That Health Experts Hate

Many of us are constantly on the lookout for the next big diet trend that promises fast and effective weight loss. However, not all these diets come with glowing recommendations from health professionals. In fact, some are heavily criticized for not just being ineffective, but potentially harmful. We’re taking a closer look at nine popular diet trends that have garnered significant backlash from the health community that you may want to research further before considering.

Keto Diet

This low-carb, high-fat diet promises rapid weight loss by forcing the body into ketosis. Health experts worry about its high saturated fat content and the potential impact on heart health, as well as the sustainability of such restrictive eating habits.

Cleanses and Detoxes

Often touted for their ability to purge toxins from your body, these regimens usually involve a period of fasting followed by a strict diet of juices or similar liquids. Nutritionists criticize them for being nutritionally imbalanced and argue that they can lead to muscle loss and metabolic slowdown.

Grapefruit Diet

This diet encourages eating grapefruit with every meal based on the claim it contains fat-burning enzymes, typically coupled with a severe reduction in calories. Experts are concerned about its nutritional adequacy, as it promotes rapid weight loss that is difficult to maintain and potentially unhealthy.

HCG Diet

This controversial diet involves injections of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) combined with an extremely low-calorie intake of around 500 calories per day. It is widely criticized for being dangerous, potentially causing multiple health issues and having no proven long-term benefits in weight loss.

Boiled Egg Diet

This diet involves eating several boiled eggs a day along with other lean proteins and specific vegetables. It is highly restrictive, lacks variety, and is generally considered unsustainable and unbalanced, raising concerns about long-term health impacts.

Raw Food Diet

This diet consists of eating all foods in their raw state, arguing that cooking destroys their nutritional value. The diet is not only hard to maintain, it risks the deficiency in essential nutrients that are actually made more accessible through cooking. It can also be incredibly troublesome for those that suffer from IBS or other gastro-intestinal issues.

Alkaline Diet

Proponents claim this diet can help maintain your body’s pH levels and stave off diseases. However, experts argue that it restricts too many nutritious foods and lacks significant scientific support regarding its purported health benefits.

Cabbage Soup Diet

This extremely low-calorie diet is based around consuming large quantities of cabbage soup for a week. It is criticized for being monotonous, nutritionally inadequate, and ineffective for long-term weight loss.

Intermittent Fasting

Involving cycles of eating and fasting, this diet trend varies in format. While some studies show benefits, many health professionals are concerned about potential negative effects like disordered eating patterns, especially without proper guidance. There have been many anecdotal instances of women, in particular, claiming that IF caused an array of issues for their hormones.

I Tried The Carnivore Diet For 30 Days, Here’s Why People Like It

A few months ago, after a long car ride and listening to a podcast with Dr. Shawn Baker, a well-known carnivore diet advocate, my husband and I decided to try it out for a month. He deals with arthritis, and I’ve been on a journey to overcome chronic Lyme disease for almost two years now. We both have our issues.

I’d heard of and knew many people who follow this diet approach. Unlike veganism, where I know plenty who eventually decide to hop off that train, I hadn’t yet met one person who wasn’t still singing the praises of eating meat for every meal. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I figured a month wouldn’t kill me either way. Here’s what happened.

Keep Reading Here: I Tried The Carnivore Diet For 30 Days, Here’s Why People Like It

Here’s What I Did To Lose 15 Pounds And Finally See My Abs

A few years ago, after being a CrossFit junkie for 4 years at the time, I decided on a goal: I wanted to finally see my abs and look how I felt I should’ve for the amount of time I spent in the gym. As a mid-30s woman who already ate well and considered myself healthy, it was an interesting journey to see what it took to actually achieve this goal. Here were the things that made the most difference. Spoiler alert: there’s no magic pill.

See Them Here: Here’s What I Did To Lose 15 Pounds And Finally See My Abs

11 Simple Snacks for Better Blood Sugar Control

Keeping your blood sugar in check doesn’t mean you have to skimp on snacking. In fact, the right snacks can be your secret weapon in maintaining those levels while still satisfying those mid-day cravings. Pairing up the good stuff—fiber, proteins, and healthy fats—can help to keep blood sugar steady. These snack ideas are as delicious as they are smart for your health.

See Them Here: 11 Simple Snacks for Better Blood Sugar Control

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