Risk of Dieting - Low Fat Diet Dangers of Calorie Counting Programs

Discover the low fat diet dangers of calorie counting programs.

Low Fat Diet Dangers

Is the food on your plate placing you in peril? If recent research is to be believed, millions of people are putting themselves at risk of heart disease and cancer with dangerous low fat diets.

So just how did this happen?

Calorie Counting Programs

The ticking time-bomb behind this worrying news is calorie counting. Doctors warn calorie counting programs typically cut out many of the nutrient-rich foods in a misguided attempt to lose fat, thereby causing long-term health consequences.

It has long been recognized how an unhealthy diet can lead to a host of deadly conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Yet despite these frightening fad diet risks, many Britons use a calorie counting program of some type to cut their intake of fat and calories rather than think about what they need to eat to remain healthy.

Simply, people are sacrificing their health - and risking their lives - to lose fat.


Photo by Stephen Boisvert

Side Effects of Dieting

In light of this research, experts are now calling on people to "re-learn" the basics of good nutrition to ward off the side effects of dieting.

Dietician Dr Frankie Phillips, said: "It would seem that despite all the recent education campaigns on healthy eating, the reality is our daily diets are still out of balance nutritionally at times, resulting in deficiencies in certain areas for some people."

The Seven Seas Nutrition Aware report exposes this modern obsession with dieting and how weight loss is taking priority over healthy eating.

Their findings show:

• Almost 40% of people do not eat fruit and vegetables every day, and only 26% of Britons check the nutrient labels on their food.
• More than 20% of us claim to have started a diet at least once a month in the past year, and some 23% admit to buying their evening meal based solely on its low calorie content.
• Over 50% of those interviewed admit to regularly purchasing foods with little idea of what is good for them, and a further 38% are lured by low-cost budget price offers.

Calorie Restriction - How to Beat the Risk of Dieting

So how can you lose fat and beat the risk of dieting? Many nutritionists believe calorie restriction plays a significant role in eating well and healthy weight loss.

Nutritionist Patrick Holford writes about calorie restriction in The Optimum Nutrition Bible, saying: "Calorie restriction is not the same as malnutrition. It is about giving the body exactly what it needs and no more. Many foods in today's diet provide 'empty' calories - sugar or saturated fat, but none of the micronutrients needed to process them."

Sears states: "Calorie restriction is not the same as malnutrition, extended fasting, or starvation. These dietary practices accelerate the aging process because key macronutrients (essential amino acids and essential fatty acids) are deficient."

Sears goes on: "Calorie restriction should provide adequate levels of protein, thereby preserving lean body mass, and essential fat, as well as enough carbohydrates to maintain adequate brain function - at the same time, it should provide adequate levels of micronutrients."

In Summary

While the risk of dieting carries deadly consequences, the low fat diet dangers of calorie counting can easily be avoided.

By making informed food choices at mealtimes, you can lose fat healthily as you build a stronger body.

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