Dietitian reveals the one New Year’s resolution that ‘always makes her cringe’
The NHS advise you eat to a well-balanced diet, rather than to compete with a fad
A food specialist has unveiled the one fad diet that makes her ‘cringe’—and why you mustn’t buy into the trend this January.
The age-old New Year’s resolution—a vow to do something a little bit different in the next 365 days compared to the last.
This may be to swim more, step out of your comfort zone on the regular, or finally finish that book currently taking up space on your bedside table.
Another common New Year’s resolution is a promise to eat better than last year.
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However, it turns out that not all diets are created equal. There’s one that makes Gislea Bouvier, a registered dietitian nutritionist residing in Florida ‘cringe’.
In 2017 she opened up about one of the worst dietary promises she’s heard her clients say ahead of the new year.
Speaking to Prevention.com, Bouvier claimed the idea of ‘ditching carbs for good’ is what makes her ‘cringe’.
“Carbohydrates are an essential part of our diets, as they are our bodies' main fuel source,” she explained.
“A low-carb or carb-free diet will help achieve weight loss; however, it's not sustainable or safe."
What is a low-carb diet?
Experts at WebMD describe a low-carb diet as one that involves less than 10 percent of your total macronutrient intake.
That roughly works out at around 20 to 50 grams a day.
What does cutting carbs from your diet do?
If you are thinking along the lines of Bouvier’s clients and had planned on cutting carbohydrates from your diet in 2025 then it is vital you know what will happen to your body.
Carbs are a basic nutrient that your body needs to work and function.
However, if you’re not eating enough, then your body’s ability to produce power is going to decrease.
You may start to experience constipation due to a lack of fibre in your diet. People on low-carb diets also often suffer from bad breath due to their bodies starting to burn fat for fuel.
Cutting down on your carbs will also wipe out the glycogen stores in your muscles, potentially resulting in a dramatic loss of muscle mass.
You may also start to experience weakness, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and other flu-like symptoms, writes Web MD.
More serious side effects like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting can happen too.
What kind of diet is best?
The NHS would rather you eat a well-balanced diet all of the time instead of embarking on a crash diet when the ‘New year, new me’ rhetoric is in full swing.
According to the institution, a diet that provides energy to keep active throughout the day and nutrients to stay healthy and help prevent diet-related illnesses gets a gold star.
It’s advised you fill your plates with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains while helping moderate levels of unsaturated fats, meat and dairy too.
“Having a good variety of these foods every day leaves less room for foods that are high in fat and sugar which can lead to weight gain,” writes the NHS.
“Together with exercise, eating a healthy diet can also help you to lower your cholesterol levels and blood pressure and decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes.”
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Advice
Ella Scott