ASSESSING OTHER DIET PLANS
The modem focus of eating plans for sustainable fat loss is a decrease in total dietary fat and an increase in the proportion of complex carbohydrates, followed in importance by a decrease in total energy intake. When assessing diet plans, these basic criteria need to be kept in mind. It is also important for health professionals providing advice to those seeking fat loss to know just how this is best achieved and to have an understanding of how popular diet plans manipulate the facts. The following is a review of some general diet plans.
Total fasting. Otherwise known as starvation. This is not recommended because of the excessive losses of lean body mass that occur. Many people undertake short-term fasts and actually say that they feel better for it! In the short term, it can contribute to micronutrient deficiencies and in the longer term, contribute to increased body fatness and morbidity. Fasting causes the body to lose water, potassium and sodium (as well as active metabolic tissue) which disturb the homeostasis of the body. Fasting becomes self-defeating as people become lethargic and less active, therefore metabolising less body fat People eventually stop starving themselves, which can have inherent physiological dangers depending on the severity of the fast. Fasting should be avoided.
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