Gen.S GIRLS rule!

Fad Diets have become quite a rage particularly among women these days.It seems as though there’s a new one to choose from almost every week .Although they might contain some elements of truth they are overall a good marketing gimmick.

There are many different variants of such diets.Some involve being on an only fruit diet for the first three days followed by only vegetables,meat or grains the other days.While it is a known fact that fruits are good for ones health, eating only fruits leads to an imbalance as the body is not getting the required amounts of carbs,vitamins,fiber and other components that other food groups can provide.

Similarly the much advocated ‘Atkins Diet’ stresses on ‘Less carbs and more protein’.While protein is essential to proper nutrition , carbohydrates are also equally important to stay healthy.Therefore, placing too much emphasis on one food group while ignoring the other may lead to rapid weight loss but this is short lived and comes at a high cost.
Carbohydrates are vital as they supply the energy required to sustain the biochemical processes within the body.If we consume foods rich in proteins only it will considerably reduce the bodies ability to store and regulate appropriate amounts of water, a process that consuming carbohydrates greatly help with.

For the chocolate lovers there are very appealing ‘Chocolate Diets’ as well.While it has been scientifically proven that consuming a small amount of chocolate is good for the body because it helps produce anti-oxidants and other compounds that are in fact helpful, there is a possibility that people might tend to binge on forms of chocolate that are high in fat and sugars which will do more harm to them than good.

On the other extreme there are ultra ‘Low Fat’ Diets that emphasize on consuming foods that are completely fat free.This is also not advisable as a certain amount of fat is needed for the body to remain healthy.

Do not be duped into following diets that guarantee rapid weight loss as they will definitely do more harm than good to your body.The human body has been evolving for millions of years and common sense as well as scientific research have proved that moderation is the key to staying healthy.

The key is to eat balanced portions of food at regular intervals and try and include fruits and vegetables(for fiber,vitamins and minerals), grains for carbohydrates, proteins that will help in producing amino acids and dairy products required for providing calcium that will aid in bone and teeth growth.The recommended amount of calories for an average person is around 2000-2500.However this tends to be lower for women especially those who want to lose weight.

Thus the secret to a good healthy and well toned body is to eat a balanced diet and exercise appropriate to ones age.You will find yourself feeling better and looking younger.