by Matt Dubois

Created on: March 08, 2007   Last Updated: April 22, 2007

There are a number of diets currently in the nutritional limelight, which I will attempt to explain in the following article. The first, the Atkins diet relies on all but eliminating carbohydrates from the diet. This diet, based around four phases of nutrition regulation begins as an intense reduction of carbohydrates, and gradually reduces in intensity to a constant maintenance of diet. However, fats are allowed under the Atkins diet. The second diet covered in class, the South Beach diet, relies on consumption of low-fat proteins, such as white meats and fish, as well as such healthy foods as vegetables and whole-grain breads, while avoiding sugars and carbohydrates. There are several advantages to such diets: many people who undertake these diets lose a considerable amount of weight, and may become healthier for it. Proper diet not only helps people lose weight, but it affects all bodily functions in a positive way, whether it be reducing harmful cholesterol levels, reducing blood pressure, or providing essential vitamins and minerals. It appears that the majority of people who attempt these diets benefit from it in some manner. However, there are potential downsides to these diets. Research into their effects has revealed possible links to health disorders due to such a drastically altered diet. Such side effects may include heart disorders, raised cholesterol levels, an increased risk of osteoporosis, and heart problems.

Diets are generally a safe and reliable technique for weight loss that have been employed for centuries. Dietary techniques, their intensity, and variety have varied over the course of time, and are routinely affected by the trends of society. The relatively recent pressure placed on the average person in American society by the media have influenced our views of how people should appear. Because of this, new diets are being introduced, each promising to help people lose weight and be seen as more appealing. However, I feel that such new and drastic diets that almost completely eliminate some aspect of nutrition from one's diet, while potentially effective, are also potentially harmful. Their risks outweigh their benefits; it is possible for people to lose weight by undertaking a more traditional, gradual diet that doesn't rely on the elimination of an element of nutrition. The weight lost by being on some of these new diets is not worth the potential health hazards faced by altering your body's natural intake of nutrition so drastically. It may be time for our society to develop better living and eating habits on a daily basis, and a little patience, rather than looking for a quick fix.

Learn more about this author, Matt Dubois.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.