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The Failed Logic of Crash Diets
Not only are crash diets dangerous phsyically and mentally, the logic behind them is also fundamentally flawed.
Everyone has seen them on TV: people claiming to have lost thirty pounds in a week only eating a certain food and doing "one simple exercise" for twenty minutes, three days a week. You probably give the TV a skeptical look and flip to the next channel. But what these commercials don't tell you is that these crash diets that they advocate are not only dangerous, they're short term fixes to a long term problem. A problem which, if uncorrected, leads to a declining state of health and lowered quality of life. The solution to which is simple: a healthy lifestyle and the natural, safe weight loss which goes along with it.
Crash dieting may look good to the Average Joe who knows little about fitness, what with its immediate "results" and lack of real work involved, but its ease belies the health risks inherent in such a program. Much of the weight lost in these programs is water weight, natural reserves of water held in your body. A sudden purging of these reserves quickly places you in danger of dehydration, especially if you're undergoing a heightened level of physical activity. Also, the "miracle food" which comprises most of your diet in these programs robs your body of the natural vitamins and minerals which your body gets from a healthy, balanced diet. The lack of importance vitamins such as potassium and sodium puts your body at risk for numerous muscular and neurological problems, problems which can last a lifetime! Your body needs these vitamins to operate, and depriving them can lead to irreparable harm.
Crash diets also lead to what is known as the "yo-yo" effect, referring to how your body weight fluctuates up and down as your body attempts to react to the unnatural strain being placed upon it.
Since most crash diets involve a radical cut in caloric intake, your body instinctively reacts in the way that it was forced to in times of famine: it conserves body fat and burns muscle for energy. This is because your body is unsure of when the next time it will be nourished, and therefore stores higher levels of fat as a survival method. So when you eat, your body immediately stores as much fat as possible, which is completely counterintuitive to what a crash diet is trying to achieve! So what a crash diet really does is to cause you to lose water weight and gain fat.
Not only are crash diets dangerous to your body, they can also damage your emotional health. Since you are depriving your body of necessary vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy brain function, you may begin to feel anxious, depressed, and moody. Rapid mood swings are also side effects of the serious food cravings which naturally occur as your body suddenly experiences a drop in food intake. Eating disorders are not an uncommon result of crash diets, as they too are a "quick fix."
A natural, healthy diet addresses more than just the number that shows up when you step on the scale, but also your emotional well-being.
A natural weight loss program not only conditions your body to burn fat, but it also puts you in the state of mind that encourages proper eating habits, builds self-esteem, and a general state of well-being. A natural, safe reduction in caloric intake inevitably results in weight-loss without any dangerous side effects, and the balanced diet ensures that your body has everything that it needs to operate at highest levels of performance.
For those who care about their bodies and minds and want to achieve the best body possible in a safe, natural way, don't consider doing a "crash diet." Instead, respect your body and mind and engage in a natural weight-loss program geared around all aspects of health.
The health experts at Masterful Living can help you excel in your everyday life, and they can do it without you having to leave the comfort of your home or office. Whether it's improving your health, working on relationships with those around you, getting in shape, or advancing in your career, the experts at Masterful Living are here to help. Featuring life coaches, nutritionists, personal fitness trainers, and much more, there's a little something for everyone. Meet with a consultant online today, and start living to your full potential!
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