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Diet myths: 15 things you believe that are completely false

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Diet myths: 15 things you believe that are completely false
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The world of dieting is littered with all sorts of urban myths and false information, which can sometimes be why diets fail. Here are 15 things you should stop believing, including a few types of diets that simply don’t work, and the many myths that surround weight loss. 

1) Very restrictive diets are the most effective for losing weight

According to urban legends, drastic diets make you lose weight faster.

This is false, because with this type of diet, there is no balance, and nothing to help you maintain your figure in the long term. The main problem with extremely restrictive diets is that the people who follow them put the weight back on very quickly afterwards.

Furthermore, the lack of a balanced diet and the lack of essential nutrients can weaken the organism.

2) Skipping meals is a great way to slim down

This is also a bad idea. Skipping meals either regularly or from time to time has a negative effect on weight loss.

In fact, by the time you wake up in the morning, the body has used up 80% of what it had consumed the previous day, and it is therefore important to provide it with energy throughout the day, so as to sustain it until the following morning.

When you skip a meal, you send a “deprivation” signal to the brain, which can in response cause the body to store more calories during the following meals.

3) Eliminate fat to lose weight

Certainly, it is recommended that you limit your intake of fats, but not to eliminate them completely, as certain fatty acids are essential for the body.

For example, colza oil is rich in vitamin E, and sunflower oil and walnut oil contain omega 3 and 6. 

4) Reduce the quantity of all foods

Quite the contrary! It is recommended that you eat high quantities of certain foods: those that contain fibre. Fruit and vegetables – ideally organic – can be consumed at will, within reasonable limits.

Obviously, it is best to reduce the fats, salts and sugars in your diet (sweets, fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, kebabs, etc.).

5) Eliminate sugar from your diet

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This all depends on the type of sugar you are consuming – if it is sugar that occurs naturally in foods such as in fruit, there is no sense in denying yourself, as these complex sugars fuel the body. However, limit your consumption of non-complex refined sugars, which promote weight gain.

6) Follow a gluten free diet

A gluten free diet is suitable for people who are intolerant or allergic to gluten.

There are more and more people realising that they are sensitive to gluten (experiencing bloating and tummy aches), and limiting their gluten intake can help (mainly limiting wheat-based breads, pasta, etc.). However, there is no proof that such diets help with weight management.

7) You can lose weight quickly and keep it off

In fact, if you follow a very strict diet, you will lose weight quickly, but this weight loss generally ends up in a yo-yo dieting effect, and tends to lead to putting the weight back on quickly afterwards.

Eating more healthily and in a more balanced way will be much more effective for gradual but stable weight loss.