Everybody wants to lose weight and have a slimmer body in the shortest time possible. After all, who wants to go on a diet or exercise program that promises results in a month’s time when another one offers the same within a week or two?
Losing weight quickly and easily is exactly what crash diets promise. Although they guarantee rapid weight loss, they aren’t exactly the safest and healthiest methods, especially when compared to scientifically-proven weight loss programs.
Potential Risks of Crash Diets
Due to their promise of quick, easy, and effective results, crash dieting can really be tempting. But no matter what your reasons are for needing to lose weight fast, stay away from crash diets. This is because these weight loss methods come with a number of harmful side effects.
These possible health risks include:
You increase your risk for cardiovascular disease
Crash dieting comes with several health risks but the most frightening conditions that you may acquire or develop are heart-related ones.
Although you will lose several pounds when you go on a crash diet, you will also increase your risk of harming your heart or aggravating any cardiovascular condition you have now. This is because this type of diet has been known to cause shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Moreover, these may even cause a heart attack in the long run.
You will constantly feel tired
Since your body won’t be receiving enough food due to your crash dieting, you will deprive it of the nutrients and calories it needs to function properly. When this happens, your blood sugar levels will be constantly low.
Additionally, you will have low energy levels and easily get tired while doing your regular chores or tasks. You will also be irritable and lose concentration quickly. You won’t be able to perform at your best as well.
You will have a weaker immune system
Aside from fatigue, the lack of key nutrients will cause you to have a weak immune system. Cutting out all fatty foods from your diet which contain the important fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K will prove to be a huge problem in the long run, too.
When you have a weak immune system, your body will find it difficult to keep germs and illnesses at bay. Your body won’t be protected completely and you will get sick easily.
You will gain weight faster
Most types of juice cleanse are similar to crash diets. With this form of diet, you will lose water weight. Although this will cause you to shed off extra pounds, it isn’t ideal or recommended for long-term weight loss.
When you go on a juice diet, your body’s glycogen levels are used up faster than the fat cells releasing the water. When you eat, your body will replenish your glycogen and water stores. This will cause you to gain weight faster after dieting.
Additionally, you will be prone to getting more headaches and feeling dizzy – two of the usual symptoms of dehydration.
You will lose muscle mass instead of fat
Lastly, since your body isn’t getting enough protein, you will start shedding muscle and not fat.
In addition, muscle breakdown has been proven to be greater and faster with crash diets. And when you have less muscle mass, your metabolic rate will be reduced. This, in turn, will cause you to gain weight later on.
Crash diets can make you shed off unwanted weight but are not the safest and methods. If you really want to have a slimmer body, choose a safe and effective weight loss and slimming therapy program. But be sure to always consult your doctor first before signing up for any weight loss program.
AUTHOR BIO
Vandana Luthra founded VLCC in New Delhi, India as a beauty and slimming services centre in 1989. Today, it is widely recognized for its comprehensive portfolio of beauty and wellness products and services and also enjoys a high level of consumer trust.