Following the Fads

If a celebrity is seen doing it, everyone else wants to as well. From fashion to food-choices, we are a people who follow trends.

When it comes to diets, celebrities endorse the latest fad, and people flock by the thousands to imitate.  Some of these fad diets do legitimately work for those who faithfully stick to the regimen.

The less faithful (guilty as charged) will jump from diet to diet claiming they're just big-boned, or genetically unable to lose weight.

We've heard it a million times: everything in moderation.  And it's almost as if healthy, or clean, eating has become its own trend to counter the fad diets circulating the world.  The Times of India reported about a study by Alpro, a manufacture of soy-based food and drink products:

Out of half of the respondents who regularly diet, Alpro found that two out of five dieters quit within the first seven days.  One out of five people are able to sustain it for a month, and the same number make it to the three-month mark, while the remainder stay dedicated for at least six months.

I would argue that this is largely because we (at least in America, I can't speak for the rest of the world) live in an instant-gratification culture.  We fall prey to infomercials and advertisements that guarantee our happiness with just the swipe of a credit card.

I'll be the first to admit that I approach weight loss and fitness with this same mentality.  I'm always motivated and dedicated to cut sweets out of my diet, or go jogging five times per week, until I don't see the desired results within a few days and I give up.

I'd argue along with Janet Lee's article "Should you try these fad diets," as reported by Fox News, that many of these diets can actually be very effective for weight loss...if only people would find the determination to stick to them.  This article explains the health benefits of nine fad diets or food items with expert opinions. 

Some of these fads are unnecessary.  For example, the gluten-free diet.  Gluten is dangerous for those with celiac disease, and it doesn't agree with some people's stomach's, but it isn't necessarily the evil that so many people believe it to be, as Michael Boyle of Bloomberg reported on Nov. 12:

Less than 1 percent of Americans have the disorder that requires a gluten-free diet, yet almost one in three now eschews gluten according to trend watchers NPD Group, influenced by bestselling anti-gluten books and celebrity endorsements. The U.S. market for gluten-free foods will climb from $4.2 billion in 2012 to $6.6 billion by 2017, according to researcher Packaged Facts, as bread bakers, craft-beer markers and eateries from Hooters to Michelin-starred Hakkasan embrace the trend.

If you have the self-control to cut out gluten, you have my respect, and you're probably a healthier person for it.  But gluten-free alternatives often have just as many calories, and are usually twice as expensive.  Going gluten-free may not help you lose weight in the long run because there are so many alternatives on the market.

Caution and research are wise additions to any new diet.  The Atkins low-carb diet got a lot of attention when I was a kid.  My dad was an avid Atkins-preacher, but like most people, he didn't lose much weight because the limit of 20 grams of carbohydrates per day is nearly impossible!  It even cuts out many healthy fruits and vegetables.  Madeline Gordon reported on Collegiate Times that this diet may actually be dangerous:

In fact, according to the American Dietetic Association, people need a minimum of around 150 grams of carbohydrates for our bodies to function efficiently. In addition, according to WebMD.com, it may actually promote heart disease.

Despite the medical evidence opposing this diet, it recently gained attention as Kim Kardashian used it to help her lose her baby-weight.

Despite the many failures of the "fad diet" trend, I have one.  My go-to is the juice fast.  No, I didn't pick it up because celebrities like Colin Farrell like to juice.  I was convinced after watching "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead."  Granted, I'm not a scientist, and it hasn't really been around long enough for there to be pages upon pages of research on it yet.  On top of that, you'll hear that supposed experts oppose it.  But Joe Cross's results are hard to beat.  My dad's results are hard to beat.

I juice fasted over spring break, losing 10 lbs. in 10 days.  It was rough.  My body was detoxing from all the junk I've dumped into it my whole life, and especially during my college career.  I couldn't maintain it because dorm life, the abundance of junk food and crazy class schedules are not conducive to the time-consuming process of juice preparation.  Yes, I gained the weight back within a few weeks because I didn't eat salads and clean food, I ate pure junk.

Knowing that it works if you have the self-control and a variety of ingredients, I cringed when I read what Sara Lepley wrote in Collegiate Times:

I settled for a quasi-juice cleanse by drinking only Naked juice, all natural Ginger-lemon juice, plain chicken broth (yes, plain) and copious amounts of tea and coffee. Because an overwhelming amount of the juice diets demanded that participants eat at least one solid thing at night, both nights I had half a cup of steamed broccoli, and they were glorious.

Well no wonder she was exhausted, tired, and headache-ridden!  She wasn't getting nearly enough nutrients from her limited sources of juice.  By the way, an easy label reading of Naked juice will reveal that it's mostly fruit, meaning mostly sugar, not a source of sustaining energy or weight loss.  When your body detoxes from sugar, you'll crave it and have mild drug-withdrawal symptoms for the first few days.  Once that passes, it's a piece of cake...or a piece of kale (that's probably a more appropriate cliche).

Juice for Your Health's Sake

He's beautiful, he has an amazing voice, and he juices. Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn't get much better than Adam Lambert.  But what you or I think about him really doesn't help us get through the ups and downs of life and its inevitable medical problems.

However, juicing does.

It's a popular fad for weight loss.  Nowadays, everyone is trying a juice detox. I was so motivated last spring that I invested in a good juicer and went on a 10 day fast.  I lost 10 lbs. in that time.  It was brutal, but my body felt wonderful.

The truth is, whole body well being is more important than shedding a few pounds for cosmetic reasons.  If you clicked on that link to the juicer I bought, you might be thinking what I was initially thinking--this thing is too expensive and I just don't have the money for that.  Besides that, fresh produce can get pretty pricey.  Understandable.  I'm a broke college student.  I had to pay off that juicer over several months.
Think of it in this way: you also can't afford medical issues that will lead to hospital bills and medications.  This is especially true if you lack adequate health insurance.

One mother told the story about her three-year-old daughter Desiree who was so plagued by her asthma that she was hospitalized regularly even while taking prescribed steroids, medications, and a rescue inhaler daily.  These medical treatments did nothing to cure this little girl--they may have even made her worse.  Natural News reported:

Fortunately, Desiree's family was able to find comfort through a lung specialist willing to listen to their story and, more importantly, who was open-minded about introducing their daughter to a raw food diet. Desiree went 100% raw and began juicing. Her mother says, "[F]rom day one, she has not had another asthma attack. She has not had another seizure.... She's had no asthma-related problems since then."

The up-front costs of juicing are comparable to purchasing health insurance which can prevent your body from developing ailments and potentially cure it of existing ailments.

My own father, who has been overweight for my whole life, lost more than 50 lbs. (from 420 lbs. to 370 lbs.) in about three months through a combination of juicing and eating healthy solid meals.  He did it because he had to--an infection in his leg, exasperated by his weight, made him nearly bedridden and racked up the bills for a week's stay in the hospital.  He couldn't afford to repeat that mistake, took his health seriously and is still losing weight and becoming healthier by the day.

Most of the nutrients for fruits and vegetables are found in its juice, so you aren't losing much by getting rid of the fibrous pulp.  Taking in the nutrients in a mostly juice form makes digestion much easier on your body and gets those cleansing agents where they need to be in half the time.  Manuel Apreku, author of a natural home remedy blog, said:

Let me remind you first that, nutrient from fresh juice is quicker to be absorbed by your body than eating fruits and vegetables. Fresh juice contains an abundance of nutrients that will help you fight disease, build your health and energize your body...vitamins, minerals, soluble fiber and carbohydrates.

Allow me to reiterate, juicing is not easy.  Most of our bodies are so addicted to sugar and fast food, that juicing for a week might feel (on a smaller scale) like detoxing from a drug addiction.  The juice cleans out all the toxins--a potentially unpleasant process.  However, that process is worth it if it also cleans out any of these ailments that you suffer from.

Sometimes a pure fruit and vegetable juice fast is more than a body can handle, said Lori Corbin, in an ABC7 article, "Juicing responsibly; Diet, cleanse with energy."

But there is a way to juice responsibly so you can perform everyday tasks like taking a test, attending social events, and yes, exercising.  For instance, try blending juice with extras.  "You need a little more than the vegetables, so put a scoop of whey protein in there, put a scoop of almond butter in there," said [Ky] Evans.

So use some discernment, don't overdo it, but definitely don't be too afraid to try it.  As a college student, it's hard to find the time and motivation to juice.  For this semester in D.C., I had to leave my precious juicer in California with my family because it wouldn't fit in my suitcase.  I can't wait to use it when I go home for Christmas break.  Experiment with recipes to fight particular ailments or for your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Happy juicing!  And happy healthy living!

Food Spotlight: Kale

If you have never eaten kale before, you are missing out on a world of nutrition!

Kale is a superfood that will pump your body full vitamins, detoxify it, boost your entire circulatory system, and so much more!  Beware that some types of kale taste sweeter than others.  Whenever it's available in supermarkets, I get lacinato (or dino) kale.

My favorite juice recipe for kale is simple:

6-8 large kale leaves
1 cucumber
4 stalks of celery
2 granny smith apples
1/2 lemon
1 ginger knob (about the size of a quarter)
Serves two!

It can also be made into some fantastic tasting (and fantastic for you) salads.  Some of those recipes can be found here.  It will be like sending a cleaning crew through your body for somewhere between $2-$4.  That can't be beat.