Trying to identify the absolute worst diet programs that have ever existed is a difficult ask. After all, throughout history, people have done some absolutely ridiculous things in the name of shedding unwanted pounds. Everything from swallowing pills full of tapeworm eggs – only to have to deal with massive, life-threatening parasite infestations – or eating “calorie-free” cotton balls to fill the stomach – and block the intestines – have been attempted…by far more people than you’d likely want to assume.
Which of the Worst Diet Programs Persist Today?
Every year, it seems as if more and more diet trends are out on the market. Although many of us try these diet fads, time and time again they prove not to work. The only truly effective and responsible way to lose weight is through a healthy diet and exercise, among other healthy lifestyle changes.
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Though some new diets may work to an extent and show some results, others are downright dangerous or silly. We’ve decided to examine three of the worst diet programs ever that continue to be popular today. For our definition of “worst”, we’re not necessarily thinking in terms of extremes like eating cotton balls or swallowing tape worms. After all, while lots of people may have tried those, they remain relatively limited overall.
Therefore, we’ve decided to look into the worst diet programs ever that persist today and that have made the types of claims that have had millions of people attempting them. Due to their sheer marketability, they risk strain on the body, malnutrition or even long-term weight struggles due to metabolic issues. They might not be as gross as those tape worms, but their wide reach is more damaging on the whole. Many people have claimed that these diets work wonders, but ultimately, they’re not recommended by reputable doctors and could prove dangerous if practiced the wrong way.
The Worst Diet Programs People Still Try Today
You might be surprised at how common some of the worst diet programs continue to be – and how much good you might have heard about them!
The Detox Diet
The detox diet is one that people stay on for a few weeks. The idea of this diet is to do nothing but drink fruit juices in order to cleanse the body of fats, toxins, and other contaminants that cause people to gain weight. What actually happens, however, is that people can end up in the hospital from lack of nutrients, and they can become severely dehydrated.
The Paleo Diet
The paleo diet is another one of the worst diet programs out there. This diet requires eating the foods that were available 10,000 or more years ago, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, and lean meat. While this may seem like a great idea, it can actually cause more harm than good. You do not get the nutrients you need, and you can end up with your stomach lining eating itself, a loss of energy, and other health-related issues.
The Raw Food Diet
This diet involves simply eating raw foods–fruits, vegetables, certain meats and dairy; it all has to be eaten without being cooked. The idea is that this will burn more calories, give you more nutrients, and help you lose weight faster. However, people can end up getting incredibly sick from this. You could get food poisoning, lose out on all the vitamins and nutrients and protein you need, and become dehydrated.
These are some of the worst diet programs that are currently out there. They do not work or involve substantial health risks, even if people have claimed success with them. The only true way to lose weight is to be on a healthy diet regimen with an exercise plan. Only then will you lose weight and become healthy and fit for the long term. Mark these diet programs off your list and avoid unhealthy complications in favor of a healthy diet and exercise plan.