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Going to Extremes
The Dangers of Diets and the Real Key to Long-Term Weight Loss
By Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.
With the debate about carbs versus fat in the fight against obesity, nutrition and cancer experts worry that dieters are ignoring good nutrition. Experts tell us that a weight loss diet and a healthful diet should be one and the same.
Spurred on by a slew of diet books, Americans are increasingly going to extremes in their approach to either carbohydrates or fats. Those in the anti-carb camp shun such nutritious foods as cereals, fruits, sweet potatoes, beans and milk. The anti-fat dieters avoid nuts, salmon, avocado, peanut butter and salad oils. Nutrition experts worry that both groups are missing vital nutrients.
Dieters with extremely low-fat diets may consume ample fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but tend to have low intakes of vitamins E and B12 and the mineral zinc.
The American Heart Association encourages Americans to include fats from vegetables, fish, legumes and nuts as part of a healthful diet. Some heart-healthy fats come from olive and canola oils, nuts, fatty fish and flaxseed.
When following a reduced-fat diet, the key is to limit added sugars as well. Regular sodas and jellybeans are fat free, but since they provide ample calories with little nutrition, they're often called empty calories.
