We often see low-calorie diets advertised as the answer to all our weight loss problems. After all, we know that a reduction of calories will result in weight loss.
However, some diets aren’t always the best options. We often hear about low-calorie diets, but what is the problem with these diets and why are we so often advised against following them for the long term?
Is a Low Calorie Diet Right for You?
Let’s look at some of the issues a long term low calorie diet can mean for your body. But first, what do I mean by low calorie?
What is a Low-calorie Diet?
A low-calorie diet is a diet which advises you to eat a very limited number of calories. This is different to a diet which calculates the number of calories your body needs per day. A low-calorie diet will often prescribe a set amount of calories per day for every user, regardless of their weight, sex or age.
What Are the Problems With Low-calorie Diets?
Many people don’t need to be following a low-calorie diet for very long before realizing that it can cause a multitude of problems. Apart from feeling tired and faint, you could also experience other health problems as a result.
Low-calorie diets can also slow down your metabolism, having the opposite of the desired effect for those who are trying to shift some extra pounds. Rather than shedding the extra weight, your body will try hard to maintain it, believing that it could be at the point of being starved.
Other problems with Low Calorie Diets
Those on a low-calorie diet have often reported experiencing tiredness and fatigue. Following a low-calorie diet for a prolonged period of time (6 weeks or longer) could result in chronic fatigue which takes even longer to cure.
Other common problems which can occur are diarrhea and constipation. This is often related to both the low level of calorie intake, and the type of food that you are consuming.
People on low-calorie diets often eat a lot of the same foods in order to get as much as possible from their limited calorie allowance. Fruits and vegetables are often the go-to foods, and while these are very beneficial for you, they should be eaten as part of a balanced diet and alongside other foods. Too much fruit, for example, can cause stomach pains and diarrhea.
Those on low-calorie diets may often reach for more protein products. Again, protein should be eaten as part of a balanced diet, since too much protein could result in prolonged constipation.
Because of the limited calories, and therefore a limited diet, loss of critical nutrients, vitamins, and minerals can become an issue as well.
What is a Better Choice?
While a limited calorie diet can be successful for the short term, a healthy balanced diet that is right for your age, sex, and weight loss goals is a smart option. Always check with your doctor before doing any ultra low calorie restriction or creative dieting.
We only have our health for the long term! Let’s be careful how we take care of body and do any dieting smartly!
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.