Do diets actually work?

I want to discuss dieting and whether various diets actually work. The quick and simple answer is no in the long run. The whole concept of dieting means you cut things out. When we do this for a while we often find that we will fall off the wagon - be it for sugar, coffee, carbs or fats.

What a lot of these diets don't mention is that many omitted items are actually essential for a healthy body and mind.

Cutting down in some foods is very wise, especially if you are overweight. If you have a high carb diet then cutting this back is good for you. Carbs are essential for our bodies and so we should never cut them out completely but we can ease up on them if we have carbs for each meal and as snacks.

Sugar should be part of our daily diet but not refined sugars. This is where we go wrong. Refined sugars are not part of nature and are harmful to our bodies. To me, honey and maple syrup ar naturally occuring ingredients and can be taken in small amounts as part of a healthy lifestyle. Fruit is another natural sugar. However I would not have more than 1-2 portions a day, as this is not good for you, especially if you are diabetic already.

Fat is essential for our bodies but we have too much or we tend to have the wrong kinds (such as trans and saturated fats). Olive oil is good for us, as is sunflower oil etc if not over-done. Avocados and nuts/seeds have healthy natural fats. If you are trying to lose weight then focus on these fats and ignore spreads, chips, crisps and anything else processed.

Meat/fish. If you are doing this purely for diet, then its not really worth it. However, if you are making a lifestyle choice because you cannot bare to eat meat/fish again then good for you - make sure you have a balanced diet without them. Pulses and legumes should become your best friends. Do not substitute cheese for your main protein as your weight will shoot up, as will your cholesterol and in many cases, your blood pressure. A small amount now and again is fine but do not substitute it daily for your meat/fish as it is simply unhealthy. It is pure fat - and bad fat at that.

If you are believing the hipe re Quorn adverts that it is healthier than red meat then you should realise that quorn is not a natural ingredient either and is processed. Some articles have even linked it to cancer, alhough I would take that with a huge pinch of salt. A little lean red meat, especially lamb (which is very high in protein) goes a long way and is not unhealthy if cooked properly. Smothered in grease, anything is unhealthy. Fish is very good for you, an excellent source of Omega 3, and while there is news about shellfish containing cholesterol, it is the neutral kind of cholestel that does not harm, much like eggs.

As someone who has tried many diets myself, I know what does and doesn't work. Cutting things you enjoy out of your life completely is dooming yourself to failure. As I have said before, and will no doubt say again, everything in moderation. I know this to be true. Cutting things out will cause cravings to kick in and while these may melt away after a few days/wek, they will keep coming back. If you are strong enough willed to maintain that omission, good for you but I know several others who are like me and always return to my vice (in my case, sugar). When you give your body a little of what it craves, just a little, you do not crave it so much and it can become manageable.

To conclude, balance is key. Cutting certain food groups out is not always the answer. Maintaining your health is very important and do not forget to take plenty of water and to take regular exercise. I don't especially like hearing that either bt its true :)

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin