In recent years, “the diet talk” has become prevalent in society. There are much dieting advice everywhere, especially on social media. This has even made it difficult for people to know what’s right or wrong regarding their diet.
The “Diet Culture” places emphasis on skipping meals, detoxing the body, restricting calories, and labeling certain foods as bad or good. They blame weight gain on slow body metabolism, and even make you feel guilty for eating certain foods.
According to Christy Harrison, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.N., “diet culture is a set of beliefs that worships thinness and equates it with health and moral virtue.” This culture has become more assertive in our society that we don’t even realize it’s killing us.
While your body metabolism is connected to weight, it’s rarely the primary cause of excess weight gain, contrary to the diet culture. Your body metabolism influences your body’s energy needs. However, everyone has a different body metabolic rate. When you have a high metabolism, you can consume as many calories as possible without gaining weight.
Diet Habits You Should Avoid
Similarly, the diet culture has indicated some diet habits as everyday things to do to lose weight and stay healthy. In reality, these diet habits are killing your metabolism and harming your body.
Here are the diet habits affecting your metabolism, weight and overall body system.
Eating low-calorie foods
If you ask any dietitian, they will tell you that diet with low-calorie foods helps with weight loss. When you eat low-calorie foods, they create a calorie deficit that leads to weight loss. However, this diet is usually included in a structured eating plan recommended by a registered dietitian. It’s not a diet plan you can just decide to do on your own.
Following a low-calorie diet plan means you typically consume about 1,200 to 1,500 calories daily. But it’s not easy maintaining a low-calorie diet as you have to keep your nutrition balanced and manage your appetite. Bear in mind that not all low-calorie foods are the same. Some will leave you hungry, especially when they lack fiber and protein. If you follow a low-calorie diet plan you found online or on social media, you may be doing more harm to your body.
Skipping meals
Skipping meals or not eating enough may have been a weight-loss misconception on social media, but it does critical damages to your metabolism.
When it comes to healthy eating, it’s better to eat nutrient-rich foods than NOT eating at all. If you ask people who are fit and maintaining their healthy lifestyle, they will tell you that they eat regularly. However, the difference is in what they eat. They fill their plates with a wide range of whole foods, fresh fruits, healthy fats, and clean protein. They don’t even need to count the calories.
Skipping meals and starving yourself is a bad diet habit that has adverse effects.
SEE ALSO: Healthy Eating: The Best Protein-Rich Foods To Eat
Not eating carbs
There are several diet plan that limits carbohydrates, and they have a damaging approach to weight loss. While studies have shown that low-carb diets can lead to weight loss, they can cause harm to your body. Dietitians may recommend the restriction of carbohydrates to their patients depending on their conditions. These low-carb diets have side effects because a large proportion of dietary fiber comes from carbohydrates in your diet, and they help in food digestion and body metabolism.
SEE ALSO: An Introduction to Everyday Mindful Eating
Cheating yourself with cheat meals
Dietitians have debated on the pros and cons of cheat meals and how it works with diets. Some recommend being strategic with cheat meals, while some advise you to avoid it totally. However, if you have to eat cheat meals, it means your diet plan is extremely restrictive — you are eating and avoiding certain foods. Healthy eating doesn’t need a cheat meal because you eat only nutrient-rich foods. When you eat cheat meals, you are likely to overeat, which may even lead to rebound weight gain if care is not taken.
These avoiding these diet habits will go a long way in boosting your metabolism and helping you stay healthy. You can easily lose weight, have more energy and stay healthy.
Sources:
Healthline: Should You Have Cheat Meals or Cheat Days?
Clevelandclinic: Do ‘Cheat Meals’ Help or Hurt Your Diet?
WebMD: Eat Your Way to a Faster Metabolism
Hey Joyfreshers, are you guilty of any of these diet habits? What are your diet habits? Share with us below!
