Three Main Dangers of Dieting

Choosing fruit instead of dessert is a healthy alternative to fad diets that restrict calories.

Dieting can pose risks and dangers depending on your age, body type and overall health. Altered mood or sore muscles are temporary risks that are easily go away after you stop dieting, but heart health, erratic metabolism, and a weakened immune system could be permanent health risks. Changing your lifestyle to a healthy one is always the best option and should be considered when deciding to go on a crash diets and weighing the risks associated with them.

Heart Problems

Cardiologist and author of "Doctor of the Heart: A Life in Medicine," Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld has found heart problems associated with diets that restrict intake to less than 1,200 calories a day. When diets encourage low calorie consumption and food restrictions, the heart does not get enough potassium and other minerals it needs to function healthfully. For optimal cardiac health you should not reduce the amount of nutrients you ingest. Temporary diets could result in permanent heart damage and increased heart risk.

Metabolism

Over time, if you participate in yo-yo dieting or crash diets, the lack of food will slow down your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight. At first you may lose a significant amount of weight, but the more diets you undertake, the more extreme they will have to be to yield the same results. Crash diets do not work, and often, as soon as the dieter completes the diet, she will regain the weight she lost and more.

Weakened Immune System

When you do not get essential nutrients such as calcium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium, your immune system cannot fully function and protect your body against infections and bacteria. Crash dieting or shocking the body with an abrupt restriction in food depletes the immune system, and you end up doing more harm than good.

Healthy Alternatives

Instead of going on fad diets, change your lifestyle, establishing healthier habits gradually. Walk with a friend. Join a softball league. Replace soda and high-sugar drinks with water at each meal. Incorporate whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables into your diet. Eat several small portions during the day. These healthy alternatives to dieting will yield weight loss results without threatening your health.

References

• CNN: How crash diets harm your health
• Safe Slimming: Dangers of Crash Dieting
• WebMD: Healthy Eating and Diet

Resources

• Marilyn Glenville: Natural Alternatives to Dieting