This year’s National Nutrition Month® theme is “100% Fad Free” to highlight the importance of healthy living without the use of rapid weight loss diets or supplements. This theme also fits with the President’s Healthier U.S. initiatives, Healthy People 2010 goals, and the Indian Health Service Director’s Health Promotion Disease Prevention programs, all of which promote healthier diets and exercise patterns.
Diet fads come and go. The first recorded fad diet was popular in 1820 – the Vinegar and Water Diet, made popular by Lord Byron. For those who are contemplating a low carbohydrate diet, you may want to consider that this type of diet was also popular in 1825. Let’s hope that nobody follows the 1925 Cigarette Diet – Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet! There are numerous products and services available when it comes to rapid weight loss. Many consist of restrictive diets that often require the dieter to follow a strict menu plan, take a pill, or ingest a drink for ”best results.” Equally as troubling is the vast array of energy drinks promising “quick energy,” “rapid weight loss,” and “increased performance.” Unfortunately, too many Americans ’buy into’ these false claims resulting in a multi-billion dollar diet and supplement industry.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) defines “food fads” as “unreasonable or exaggerated beliefs that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements, or combinations of certain foods may cure disease, convey special health benefits, or offer quick weight loss.” For National Nutrition Month® and beyond, ADA encourages consumers to go “100% Fad-Free” and achieve lifelong success through proven, science-based approaches to weight loss.
Energy drinks can be defined as beverages that often claim to provide increased energy. Often they are marketed as “natural energy boosters,” that can “improve performance,” and/or “increase concentration." In reality, most of these beverages have high levels of caffeine, sugars, and herbal ingredients. It is important to read the labels before buying energy drinks, and beware of false and misleading claims.
As you start off your day, (whether heading to work, school, the supermarket, or the health center), it’s easy to see why they are so popular . . . they are sold everywhere! Companies producing and/or marketing these products are spending billions on advertising, and often use celebrities, contests, and sweepstakes to increase the product’s appeal, and ultimately increase sales.
Most health experts agree that eating a well balanced diet, which includes a variety of low calorie, nutrient dense foods, enhances energy levels and promotes healthy weight loss. This approach, especially when combined with daily exercise, is most likely to yield successful results. The best path to fitness and health is to be “100% Fad Free”!
The ADA offers these suggestions on how evaluate a new product, diet, or recommendation:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is – especially if the diet or product offers a “quick fix.”
- Avoid products offering a guaranteed cure or which promote “limited-time offers.”
- Watch out for products that describe certain foods as “good” or “bad.”
- Is the source of the information – such as a book author – also trying to sell a product, like supplements?
- Fad diets may require you to avoid foods or entire food groups. Countless reputable studies over many years have shown balance and variety are needed for good health.