I’m just going to say it: high fat fad diets aren’t healthy.
Anyone thinking of going on a fad diet needs to keep food in perspective. It’s a gift. It’s how we nourish ourselves and stay well.
The newest fad on everybody’s radar right now is the Ketogenic Diet and it is taking the media by storm. To be honest, this diet terrifies me.
People want to hear good news about bad habits. We want to eat our bacon and sausage and butter and feel good while doing it. First there was Atkins then there was South Beach then Paleo and now there is Keto. These are all fad diets and, in my opinion, all of them are potentially dangerous, destructive and something you need to research more before blindly following.
Marketing of these diets just plays into our weight-obsessed society. Just because you hear or read something from a respectable authority doesn’t always mean it’s correct or even worthwhile. If you aren’t accustomed to actively questioning “authority” or many of your own assumptions, you should start doing it today.
If you are one of the 40% of adults who are overweight here in America or if you have brain fog, low energy, bowel issues or random pain, why on earth would you consider following a high fat fad diet? Like all fad diets, they might work in the short term but ultimately, in the long run, they will tax your heart and your kidneys and your liver and then where will you be? Any diet that tells you NOT to eat whole fruit because it has too much sugar can’t be healthy for you long term. The age old “an apple a day keeps the Dr. away” has so much more truth to it then “high fat is healthy and apples have to much sugar.” (as a side note apples also have fiber and this fiber helps your body to digest them slowly so that there is no sugar rush involved).
In my opinion, there is no magic bullet for long-term weight loss.
We all fall prey to wacko diets, but the truth is there’s no quick fix. There is so much research out there that cutting refined carbs and replacing them with fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, cutting processed foods, and avoiding too many additives will keep you healthy in the long term. Where are the long term research facts about high protein/fat diets? There aren’t any. Google it and you will find evidence online that destructive animal proteins and saturated fats can actually promote diabetes, fuel certain cancers and lead to illnesses. Often meat is contaminated with antibiotics and if you don’t choose the right variety, you may be pumping your body full of antibiotics. There are countless studies and books about cultures that live long healthy lives and not one of them is on a high fat diet. Check out books like The Blue Zone to see how various parts of the world are enjoying fantastically healthy lives enjoying fresh, local food.
The healthiest approach to weight loss and more importantly, HEALTH & WELLNESS is to set realistic goals and ask yourself if your diet plan is:
- good for the long term
- includes exercise
- meets your long-term health goals.
If the answers are no, then that is a red flag.
For long-term weight control, body and mind wellness, a Mediterranean style diet focused on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, fish, and olive oil, is one that can be done easily and for the long term. Take it even further and go completely plant-based. All protein starts in plants and it checks every box in the “healthy” category. Skip the fad diets, put in the work and set personal goals and I promise that you will feel fantastic and more importantly BE HEALTHY and feel fabulous!
Need help getting started? Leave a comment below. I am offering free grocery shopping tours and free initial phone consultations all year. My goal is to touch a million lives this year and teach people how eating the simplest of foods can fuel their bodies for a lifetime free of disease and health issues. When you are healthy, the weight loss will follow as your body finds it’s own rhythm and you live your best life. Email me today I am here to TEACH YOU HOW!