Avoid miracle diets. Choose health.
Learn to take care of yourself by gradually changing your diet and habits
Health
At the start of the year, many of us feel the need to “detox” after the holiday excesses. After weeks of heavy meals, sweets, and disrupted routines, quick diets can seem like an immediate solution, and we often forget that some of these approaches may cause us more harm than good.
Miracle diets promise fast, permanent results with almost no effort, exaggerating the properties of certain foods or eating patterns beyond what is backed up by science. Despite this, according to the study Rapid Weight Loss Strategies in the Spanish Population, based on 3,150 interviews, conducted in collaboration with the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 21% of participants reported having followed a miracle diet. The most popular included the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, the Paleo diet, the pineapple diet, and the well-known detox diets.
Why are they so popular? According to our study Miracle Diets and Spanish Society, their main appeal lies in the promise of immediate results with minimal sacrifice, usually through the purchase of products or programs that are not necessary for weight loss but are presented as essential to achieving one’s goals.
The problem is that these diets are not only difficult to maintain in the long term, but they are also highly questionable from a nutritional standpoint and may negatively affect health. They can lead to nutritional deficiencies and damage to the body, including causing kidney and liver issues, as well as hormonal imbalances. In addition, the well-known rebound effect often leads to frustration and low self-esteem.
The key to truly taking care of yourself does not lie in shortcuts or quick fixes. If you want to “cleanse” your body and feel better, opt for gradual changes to your diet and lifestyle, get information from reliable sources, and consult a professional when necessary. Please remember: looking after yourself is not a sprint—it’s a marathon.