Health fads often have more in common with fashion trends, rather than with real developments in health care! These health fads spread like wildfire, with everybody enthusiastically following them, but nobody really knowing why. One such fad is the demand for gluten-free products. While gluten allergy is a serious problem for some individuals and they must steer clear of products containing the substance, many others simply buy gluten-free foods because it has become hip to do so.

There are plenty of other health fads and it is abundantly clear that crash diets and fads often become popular as we fail to develop an understanding of the science. In many cases, unscrupulous marketers and manufacturers create, embellish, and perpetuate such fads to boost their profits. Here are a few health fads that you should be aware of:

1. Juicing:
Juicing is an easy way of supplying the body with nutrients from vegetables and fruits. However, following a juicing program exclusively for more than a few days can put you at considerable risk. It should also be pointed out that with juicing, most of the fiber is lost if the pulp is not added back to the drink. Without the pulp you are basically consuming a high-carb, low-protein, and low-fiber diet that can lead to plenty of health risks like spikes in blood sugar, headaches, mood swings, dizziness, fatigue, and more. Juicing diets also result in a loss of muscle mass.

2. Sugar substitutes:
A large number of people are opting for artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes in the hopes of reducing the sugar and calorie content in their diets. Refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large quantities can rapidly increase blood glucose and insulin levels, triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. Sugar alternatives may contain sugar alcohols like xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol that can induce a laxative effect and cause diarrhea, bloating, and intestinal gas, when consumed in quantities greater than 10 grams.

3. Low Fat and Fat Free Diets:
Many of us still associate low fat and fat free products with weight loss, but a healthy intake of fat is still an important part of our diet. The type of fat we consume is as important as the amount of fat we consume. The good fats include polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat that helps lower the LDL cholesterol in the blood, while increasing the HDL cholesterol. Most of the time, “fat free” and “low fat” foods are loaded with sugar, flour, thickeners and salt to compensate for the lack of taste.

4. Extreme Exercising:
With the increased focus on health and fitness in recent times, the extreme exercising fad has gained considerable popular. Physical activity is one of the best ways to prevent certain ailments, but pushing yourself beyond your threshold can do a lot more harm than good. People who push past healthy limits have been found to have higher rates of heart problems as compared to those who exercise more moderately.

5. Gluten free:
Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and other grains like barley, rye, and oats. There is a common misconception though that gluten is bad for your health. Certain individuals are diagnosed with celiac disease, a condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten causing bowel damage. Unless you are diagnosed with this condition, having gluten free food does not mean that you are eating healthier in any way. Although this fad may not be as dangerous as the others, it is just as illogical.

6. Crash Detox:
Indulging in a thorough cleanse to flush out all the toxins from the body sounds great, but how you try to go about this is equally important. Severely depriving yourself of certain foods and indulging in a very restrictive diet can do more harm than good. Rigid dieting can sometimes make you weigh more as it leads to overeating, drastically reducing calorie intake can cause serious physical and mental harm. Detox diets are extremely low on calories and can cause you to lose weight rapidly, which isn’t healthy, although it can sound quite tempting.

Following such health fads mindlessly can be extremely harmful to your mind and body. Instead of taking such extreme steps, find the right balance with your food intake and always exercise moderation.

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