By Olivia Batucci
The 500 Calorie Diet Plan is gaining "legs" in popularity on the Internet, but it holds the possibility of costing dieters leg muscle along with fat if misused. In fact, it is only recommended for limited use under strict medical supervision for those who are morbidly obese -- those with a Body Mass Index of over 30.
It is, however, growing in popularity among those with a lower BMI. Witness the number of Web sites touting the supposed "quick and easy" weight loss available through The 500 Calorie Diet Plan. Programs such as the Grapefruit Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, and Sacred Heart diet are sprouting up all over.
What they all have in common is a plan to limit the daily intake of calories to under 800 and, more typically, to no more than 500. While that will cause dramatic weight loss during the prescribed four to 16 weeks of the diet, it also can result in severe health consequences to those who stay on the diet longer or who were under the BMI 30 threshold to begin with.
Cutting calories also cuts the nutrients your body needs. The 500 Calorie Diet Plan dramatically limits vitamins, protein, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. Just the reduction in fiber means dieters can have major problems with constipation and diarrhea. Carbohydrates are needed for energy and concentration. Protein loss will show up as dull hair and skin.
The 500 Calorie Diet Plan also can lead to gallstones and gout. Thanks to the imbalance of bile salts and cholesterol, gallstone formation is the most common serious side effect of a low calorie diet. Gout can appear with a change in uric acid levels.
More insidious is that a low calorie diet can trick the body into thinking it is being malnourished and so needs to begin storing fat. This can cause the absorption of good tissue if there is not enough fat available. At the same time, the body's metabolism will slow in an effort to reduce the need for burning fat.
Some dieters who keep getting on and off The 500 Calorie Diet Plan also can develop eating disorders because they find it difficult to return to normal eating habits. So the onslaught of bulimia and anorexia nervosa can be included among the negatives related to low calorie intake.
Those who flat out should not even consider The 500 Calorie Diet Plan, according to doctors, are pregnant or lactating women, those over 50, children, and people with conditions such as cardiovascular disease or kidney dysfunction.
For some, probably the worst news about this quick weight loss scheme is that it most likely will not last. Yes, at first the pounds will come off and the loss will be noticeable. However, much of the weight lost will have been water, and that cannot be sustained once the dieter returns to a fairly regular diet. The weight will return, particularly if the metabolism has been affected.
So the best diet remains a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and fats. Add to that plenty of exercise and you have the formula for healthy weight loss. Sorry about that.
It is, however, growing in popularity among those with a lower BMI. Witness the number of Web sites touting the supposed "quick and easy" weight loss available through The 500 Calorie Diet Plan. Programs such as the Grapefruit Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, and Sacred Heart diet are sprouting up all over.
What they all have in common is a plan to limit the daily intake of calories to under 800 and, more typically, to no more than 500. While that will cause dramatic weight loss during the prescribed four to 16 weeks of the diet, it also can result in severe health consequences to those who stay on the diet longer or who were under the BMI 30 threshold to begin with.
Cutting calories also cuts the nutrients your body needs. The 500 Calorie Diet Plan dramatically limits vitamins, protein, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. Just the reduction in fiber means dieters can have major problems with constipation and diarrhea. Carbohydrates are needed for energy and concentration. Protein loss will show up as dull hair and skin.
The 500 Calorie Diet Plan also can lead to gallstones and gout. Thanks to the imbalance of bile salts and cholesterol, gallstone formation is the most common serious side effect of a low calorie diet. Gout can appear with a change in uric acid levels.
More insidious is that a low calorie diet can trick the body into thinking it is being malnourished and so needs to begin storing fat. This can cause the absorption of good tissue if there is not enough fat available. At the same time, the body's metabolism will slow in an effort to reduce the need for burning fat.
Some dieters who keep getting on and off The 500 Calorie Diet Plan also can develop eating disorders because they find it difficult to return to normal eating habits. So the onslaught of bulimia and anorexia nervosa can be included among the negatives related to low calorie intake.
Those who flat out should not even consider The 500 Calorie Diet Plan, according to doctors, are pregnant or lactating women, those over 50, children, and people with conditions such as cardiovascular disease or kidney dysfunction.
For some, probably the worst news about this quick weight loss scheme is that it most likely will not last. Yes, at first the pounds will come off and the loss will be noticeable. However, much of the weight lost will have been water, and that cannot be sustained once the dieter returns to a fairly regular diet. The weight will return, particularly if the metabolism has been affected.
So the best diet remains a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and fats. Add to that plenty of exercise and you have the formula for healthy weight loss. Sorry about that.
Find out more information at the500caloriediet.net.
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