ByIANSlife Features

April 19, 2020 (IANSlife) Trying to lose weight can come with its own disappointment. Even when you believe that you are going the right way, there are times when your weighing scale doesn’t budge.

Maybe, it's those fascinating fad diets are to be blamed but there can be other reasons. Celebrity nutritionist Nmami Agarwal shares a few common diet mistakes that people do while losing weight.   

Eliminating Fats Completely
Fat is an important macronutrient. Period. Fats are crucial for brain health, heart health, gut health, and to provide suppleness to your skin. Many vitamins can only be absorbed by the body in the presence of fats. It’s the type you choose to consume - refrain from having saturated fats like butter, margarine, hydrogenated and trans fats.

But, you must include essential fatty acids in your diet through foods like fatty fish, walnuts, seeds, avocados and eggs. Special mention to walnuts if you are a vegetarian/ vegan- as they are the only tree nuts highest in plant-based Omega-3 fatty acids that are vital for many body functions. 

Fad Diet Trends
Diets that promise to do miracles with your weight and force you to follow the process of starving or choosing specific foods is a big problem. Crash diets work by eliminating important food groups from your diet say- carbs or fats and rely on limited sources of energy. These diets might give you short-term results but are non-sustainable for longer periods and once you’re back to your normal eating regime, your weight bounces back, sometimes even more than before. Such diets also hamper with your metabolism, in the long run, affecting your digestion and absorption.

The solution? Stick to a balanced diet that has foods from every food group. Just master the art of portion control.
 
 

Extreme Calorie Restriction
It’s a common misconception that the lesser calories you eat, the faster your weight loss will be. Yes, you might lose weight initially but at the cost of your overall health. Extreme calorie restriction can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies and can also give rise to food disorders hampering your mental health as well. Stick to a simple, basic diet regime comprising of whole foods like grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dairy. 
 

(This article is website exclusive and cannot be reproduced without the permission of IANSlife)

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in