Diet right to avoid a crash

Jody-Anne Lawrence, Lifestyle Writer

Imagine looking into in the mirror and seeing that extra 25 pounds that you just want to lose desperately so you can fit into that dress or bathing suit, but you only have a mere two weeks. Many might choose the crash diet route, but this might be the unhealthiest method to get to that healthy size.

Jamaica Association of Professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics (JAPINAD) president and nutritionist, Kirk Bolton, told Flair that there is no advantage to crash-dieting.

"There are no advantages to a crash diets. Some of the noted effects are dehydration and temporary nutrient deficiency," said Bolton. This is as a result of people actually losing the water weight and thus regaining the weight quickly after they start back eating normally.

"The reason for this is due to the fact that in the use of crash diets, the body goes in a compensatory or conservation mode and slows its metabolic rate in order to conserve energy use. As a result of that conservation mode, the body now becomes defensive and resists weight loss. Thus, the body is now geared at weight gain to ensure that it has enough energy whenever you decide to go back to the starvation phase."

This will prove counterproductive for anyone who is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight.

NECESSARY FAT

This is not the only disadvantage when it comes to crash-dieting. Irrespective of what people might think, the body needs fat to survive, so eliminating it from your diet completely can also cause some harm.

"The low energy intake results in depriving your body of carbohydrates and protein and accompanying vitamins and minerals. Also, it's good to reduce your fat intake but not to have a zero fat diet. You require less than 30 per cent of your total energy intake to come from fat. Additionally, a zero-fat diet will also result in a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K," Bolton notes.

There are also crash diets that require the use of laxatives to flush one's system. This may also lead to dehydration and nutrient deprivation.

Short-term effects include fainting, which comes about from the low energy intake and increased demand for energy due to the increased activity. "These persons will overexert their bodies in their drive to lose weight very quickly. It must be noted that you will experience a 'yo-yo' effect as it applies to weight loss," Bolton noted.

Long-term effects can be even more harmful. There can be long-term effects on your heart and increased cardiovascular risks. This diet increases the chances of your blood vessels changing to become more ideal for the incidence of atherosclerosis," Bolton told Flair.

Bolton, however, advised that before people decide to go on one of these extreme crash diets, which means an under-1200kcal consumption, you should consult a nutritionist who will properly advise you about weight loss.

"This approach to weight loss is not advisable and it is not effective in the long run. To lose weight, it's advisable to reduce your energy intake slightly and eat healthy while maintaining structured physical activity. So drop the cabbage soup or green juice and consult with a nutrition professional, such as your nutritionist or dietitian, who will be more than happy to teach you how to use the foods to meet your weight-loss objectives. JAPINAD commends the National Health Fund for promoting proper weight-loss objectives and letting nutrition professionals play an even more integral role in their weight-loss challenge," said Bolton. This includes JAPINAD nutrition professionals going around to individual participating companies to meet with participants to ensure their dieting needs are addressed. Participating companies have even recruited nutrition professionals to work with their staff to ensure that proper nutrition is practised in order to lose and keep weight off.

For more information about nutrition and other JAPINAD-related information, nutrition consultant Kirk Bolton can be reached at the Nuttall Memorial Hospital, 6 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5. Telephone: 345-FOOD (3663).