Every year sees new health trends and fads. What are the top three health trends that have seen popularity in recent years that some experts have queried?
- The Keto Diet
While the ketogenic diet has been growing in popularity for a few years now and especially in the celebrity, influencer and wellness worlds, some experts such as Melissa Mitri, MS, RD, who owns Melissa Mitri Nutrition LLC, hopes that this is a trend that has peaked. While she does attest to the fact that the Keto diet has been shown to help manage epilepsy symptoms in children, she explains that there is a lack of research and data on how it may benefit the average person.
“The keto diet consists of mostly fat (about 90% of calories) and is extremely low in carbohydrates—typically less than 50 grams per day,…..”With such a high fat intake, the cardiac risks are not yet known.”
In addition, the Keto diet restricts whole grains and most fruits—foods that contain antioxidants, reduce inflammation and benefit our immune system. In other words, is it really healthy or balanced?
In the long term, will the diet actually cause harm to the body besides being unsustainable?
2. The Whole 30 Diet
Health trends that gained popularity in 2019 includes the Whole30 Diet.
This diet advocates avoiding whole food groups such as dairy, legumes, and whole grains for a 30 day cleanse.
Given that the foods it is asking its practitioners to avoid are very nutritious and contain important nutrients the body needs such as fibre, B vitamins, and iron, experts have questioned its purported health benefits?
As Mitri points out. “It is also ineffective as it is difficult to sustain, and after 30 day period, you will likely regain the weight back and go back to your usual habits.“
What then is the point?
3. HIIT Workouts
Hiit or high-intensity interval training workouts are a form of cardiovascular exercise. It involves exercise periods ranging from 30 seconds to three minutes working between 80-100% of your maximum heart rate.
While Hiit workouts can be beneficial and impactful workouts, Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition, explains that they can be incredibly overwhelming and physically damaging for our capabilities.
For people who are first starting out, Hiit should perhaps not be their first port of call given that if they are not fit enough, they could end up with injuries. That is the problem with following fads without adequate research or advice on what is suitable for your particular needs.
As Monica says:
“We treasure movement in any respect that is appropriate for your life, body, and fitness goals,….Walking or a 20 minute home workout with an app is just as laudable as a HIIT class.” She encourages clients to fit fitness classes in, stressing the importance of consistency over intensity.
