Why Diets Make You Fat and How to Regulate Weight Naturally

Wednesday, December 02, 2009 by: Fleur Hupston
Tags: body weight, diets, health news

(NewsTarget) Many diets promoted by companies and individuals rely on calorie restriction or the complete elimination of certain food groups in the quest to lose weight. Additionally, the unhealthy reliance on appetite suppressants and artificial sweeteners is promoted. Diets do not generally work in the long term and can even be dangerous. Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates should be correctly chosen for optimum health and ideal weight.

A balanced diet is the solution, not only for weight loss but for overall good health. Balanced eating means restricting refined and processed foods and eliminating the consumption of artificial fats.

Why Diets Fail and Cause People to Get Fatter

Many diets fail to address the underlying cause of insulin imbalance in the body, which is caused in part by poor nutrition (that is, indulgence in sugar and refined carbohydrates) and in part by stress, lack of exercise and the aging process.

When the person on such a regime feels deprived and then stops the diet, he or she will often revert to the same eating pattern as before and feel that he/she has no will power and is therefore a failure. Once the person has given up, he or she resumes eating a diet high in sugar and fast food and so the vicious cycle continues; often the individual will put on more weight than they have lost.

The unhealthy use of appetite suppressants, artificial sweeteners and drugs contribute to an unhealthy body and these substances have limited effects when the person is trying desperately to lose the fat. Any diet should have the objective of restoring and maintaining total health. How is this achieved?

Good Quality Carbohydrates in Regulating Weight

Resolve to avoid bad carbohydrates, forever. That means refined sugar (look at all labels to see if this substance is added), refined carbohydrates in the form of white flour, white pasta, white rice and anything cooked or baked with these items.

Cut out cakes, muffins, cookies, biscuits, sweets, chocolates, ice-cream, puddings, milkshakes, bread made from refined flour and sugar, any white flour products and packet soups and sauces. Replace with whole grains, for example, rolled oats, brown rice, millet, barley and raw nuts and seeds, especially almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame, linseeds and pumpkin seeds.

Replace sugar with a little raw honey or Stevia. Stick to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables - organic if possible - and stay away from anything processed, canned or frozen.

Quality of Fats for Enhanced Health

Resolve to avoid all hydrogenated fats, take care to scrutinize labels and avoid products that list hydrogenated oil or partially hydrogenated oil as an ingredient. Many random compounds created when oils are hydrogenated are called trans-fats or trans-fatty acids which are dangerous to health.

Avoid low fat spreads, margarines, pastries, french fries, doughnuts, cookies/biscuits, shortening, crackers, potato chips and anything deep fried in vegetable oil. Replace with a little butter, olive oil, sesame oil or linseed oil (cold-pressed).

Change the Quality of Protein for Better Health

Again, avoid anything processed or canned. Many processed meats contain harmful nitrates. Replace with organic or free range eggs, chicken, turkey, fresh fish (especially salmon, tuna and sardines) or a small amount of free range red meat such as lamb, if desired.

A balanced diet is the solution, not only for weight loss but for overall good health. Balanced eating means restricting refined and processed foods and eliminating the consumption of artificial fats.

http://www.sevenpointfive.co.za/
http://www.transfatfree.com/pages/danger_tra... Article "Dangers of Trans Fats" by Dana Hinders
http://www.ageless.co.za/appetite-suppressan...

About the author

Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer. She is passionate about natural, healthy living and is currently studying to be a naturopath. She divides her time between writing for Natural News and various other sites, home schooling her children and studying part time.