{"id":4283,"date":"2024-01-29T14:11:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T14:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/?p=4283"},"modified":"2024-01-29T14:11:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T14:11:29","slug":"25-worst-diets-that-youll-want-to-avoid-in-2024-according-to-nutritionists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/25-worst-diets-that-youll-want-to-avoid-in-2024-according-to-nutritionists\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Worst Diets That You’ll Want to Avoid in 2024 – According to Nutritionists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Losing weight requires a lot of hard work, but it doesn’t necessitate following extreme diets that eliminate entire food groups or deprive you of essential calories and nutrients. Fad diets promoted by celebrities and influencers are often the worst offenders. Not only can these overly restrictive plans be potentially dangerous for your health, but they are also ineffective for sustainable long-term weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is a fad diet? You can identify one when the trendy plan is unrealistic and strictly limits you to only eating certain approved foods. Some may even encourage skipping regular meals altogether and subsisting solely on juices or teas instead, which is quite unsafe. To help avoid sabotaging your weight loss goals by falling for these hype-driven diets, we consulted registered dietitians. They advise you on which fad diets to ditch this year and help you choose a sensible eating plan tailored to your individual needs that supports steady progress through balanced nutrition and lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. The HCG Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The HCG Diet severely restricts calories to just 500 per day while taking human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a pregnancy hormone falsely claimed to aid weight loss. “This incredibly low-calorie diet promotes rapid weight loss, but at the cost of losing both muscle and fat, potentially slowing metabolism and hindering future weight management,” warns dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade. The FDA considers over-the-counter HCG products illegal and dangerous. “Sustaining 500 daily calories isn’t feasible long-term, so maintaining weight lost on this diet is unlikely,” Palinski-Wade adds. Such extreme restriction risks disordered eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. The Werewolf Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Believe it or not, the Werewolf Diet is a real fad diet that restricts eating based on moon cycles. For example, it calls for a 24-hour juice fast during full moons and no eating past 6pm during other phases. “This diet lacks research support and creates arbitrary rules that are hard to sustain long-term,” says dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade. “Rather than complicating nutrition with moon cycles, focus on balanced meals with fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats. This promotes lasting weight loss you can stick to.” Strange gimmicks like the Werewolf Diet offer false promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. The Five-Bite Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Created by Dr. Alwin Lewis, the Five-Bite Diet requires skipping breakfast and eating only 5 bites of lunch and dinner. “The very small portions promote weight loss, but restricting intake to just 10 bites daily is extremely unhealthy,” warns dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade. “You likely won’t get adequate nutrition from so little food, and the extreme hunger and dissatisfaction make this diet unsustainable.” The restrictive plan causes lack of energy and muscle loss. Such severe calorie deprivation is neither safe nor effective for weight management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. The Keto Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The low-carb diet has attracted celebrity followers like Halle Berry and Kourtney Kardashian, gaining significant popularity. However, Toby Amidor, an award-winning nutritional expert and best-selling cookbook author on Wall Street Journal<\/em>, warns that while you may see initial weight loss by cutting out junk foods, the highly restrictive regimen is difficult to maintain long-term. She cautions that removing whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can lead to constipation. Though this diet may show early results, its limited food choices make it challenging to sustain, potentially impacting your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Zero-sugar diets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eliminating all sugar, even from fruits and vegetables, is a diet favored by celebrities like Sherri Shepherd to sculpt beach body physiques. However, Suzanne Dixon, a registered dietitian, cautions against this restrictive approach. She explains that swearing off the sweet stuff, including nutritious options like sweet potatoes and berries, means missing out on essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that fight disease. While the aim is achieving a fit figure, this sugar-free diet’s severe limitations make it difficult to follow over the long-term and can deprive you of health-promoting foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. The Blood Type Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The blood type diet stems from the book Eat Right 4 Your Type<\/em> by a naturopathic physician, promoting the idea of eating according to your blood type for better health and weight loss. While the dietary recommendations focus on nutritious, whole foods that can benefit those consuming large amounts of processed items and sugar, dietitian Maggie Michalczyk notes that the regimen causes undue fixation on blood type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explains that despite some research linking certain blood types to higher disease risks, there is no solid evidence that blood type should dictate diet choices. While the plan encourages wholesome eating, its unproven blood type theory makes it an unnecessarily complicated approach to healthy eating and weight management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Juice Cleanses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Juice cleanses lead to short-term weight loss mainly from dehydration and colon cleansing, rather than sustainable fat loss. \u201cDehydration can cause fainting, headaches, and increased hunger. Flushing your colon disrupts helpful bacteria, imbalancing your gut microbiome and digestive health,\u201d warns Dr. Michael Jay Nusbaum. While juicing may seem like a quick fix, it carries significant health risks without long-lasting benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8. The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some celebrities like Megan Fox use apple cider vinegar shots to lose weight, but dietitian Toby Amidor advises against this risky approach. The appetite suppression and weight loss effects likely stem from nausea and stomach pain from the vinegar’s acidity. \u201cIf you want to include apple cider vinegar, use it to flavor nutritious marinades, dressings and sauces, not as a magic bullet for weight loss,\u201d Amidor suggests. Vinegar shots come with gastrointestinal side effects without sustainable results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. Teatoxes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A teatox diet incorporates “skinny teas” with additives such as senna, an herb in over-the-counter laxatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Institutes of Health says senna is probably safe short-term but may be unsafe long-term. Using laxative supplements for weight loss is risky, as Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, author of a nutrition guide, explains they can cause diarrhea and dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. The Alkaline Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The alkaline diet gained attention from celebrities like Tom Brady and Kelly Ripa, but lacks scientific backing. It claims that eating certain foods balances your blood’s pH levels. However, dietitian Julie Upton explains, “The body tightly regulates blood pH on its own, regardless of diet, unless you have a medical condition affecting pH.” Avoiding purported “acidic” foods unnecessarily eliminates nutritious options without health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Whole30<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus appreciates Whole30’s focus on minimally processed foods but cautions against its severe restrictions. “It eliminates entire food groups, including all sugar, grains, dairy, beans and peanuts. This makes it nearly impossible to follow long-term and sets people up to feel that healthy eating is too difficult.” While parts of Whole30 can be beneficial, its extreme limitations often lead to failure, fostering negative views about nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. The Lectin-Free Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kelly Clarkson’s 37-pound weight loss brought attention to the lectin-free diet, but it lacks scientific evidence, says Julie Upton. “It claims removing lectins, a protein in foods like wheat, beans, and nuts, improves health and weight loss. But dietary lectins are perfectly healthy, so there’s no need to restrict them unless you cannot digest them.” While promoted by a doctor, eliminating nutritious foods over unproven claims makes this diet unnecessarily restrictive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. The Celery Juice Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Busy Phillips, Lea Michele, and other celebrities tout green juice for decreasing inflammation and helping muscles recover after exercise. However, drinking plain celery juice alone does not promote weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Juicing celery has no special benefit at any time of day. It’s a nutritious vegetable, but juicing doesn’t enhance its effects,” says dietitian Monica Auslander Moreno. “The cost, antioxidant overload without fiber, and inadequate fat or fullness from the liquid make celery juicing an ineffective diet trend,” she explains. While celebrities praise it, celery juice alone provides no unique weight loss advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Activated Charcoal Drinks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow endorse activated charcoal, but dietitian Monica Auslander Moreno strongly warns against making it part of a normal diet. As she explains, “I witnessed activated charcoal used in hospitals as emergency detox for severe drug or alcohol overdoses. While it binds toxins, healthy individuals should realize food is not toxic.” Moreno remains baffled that activated charcoal has become a wellness trend, as she only saw it used as a last-resort treatment for poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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15. The Grapefruit Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Grapefruit Diet is a 12-day, high-protein plan requiring grapefruit with every meal, limiting calories to around 1000 daily. It touts 10-pound weight loss, but its claims lack scientific backing, says dietitian Maggie Michalczyk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explains, “It’s unsustainable for long-term weight loss. Initial weight loss stems from lower calorie intake, but you’ll likely regain the weight afterward.” Rather than a rigid grapefruit regimen, she suggests enjoying it in moderation as a breakfast treat. While promoted for fast weight loss, this diet’s extreme restrictions make sustainable results unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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16. The Cabbage Soup Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Cabbage Soup Diet stresses eating large portions of cabbage soup at every meal. You can have one or two other low-calorie meals daily besides the soup, supposedly accelerating weight loss within seven days. However, dietitian Maggie Michalczyk says it’s overly restrictive and unsustainable long-term. She explains resuming normal eating after this very low-calorie diet will likely cause weight regain. Rather than an inflexible cabbage soup regimen, she suggests adding cabbage to your diet for its vitamin C and digestive benefits. While promoted for fast weight loss, this diet’s limitations make lasting results unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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17. The Master Cleanse<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Master Cleanse promotes weight loss and “toxin” removal via a 10-day liquid-only diet of lemonade-like drink, salt water, or laxative tea without solid foods. “You’ll be extremely hungry and suffer cravings, irritability, fatigue. There’s also no evidence these ingredients clear ‘toxins,'” says Natalie Rizzo. This starvation diet leads to weight regain when normal eating resumes. Rather than an unproven detox, sustainable weight loss comes from a nutritious diet and lifestyle. While touted for fast weight loss and detoxification, this regimented cleanse is ineffective and unhealthy long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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18. The Baby Food Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The baby food diet requires 10-15 jars of baby food for both breakfast and lunch. “Its severe calorie restriction – each jar is 30-70 calories with minimal healthy or protein fats,” says Natalie Rizzo. This diet leads to boredom from limited food choices and lacks macronutrients like protein and fat. While not dangerous, it is overly restrictive, unsustainable, and lacking in nutrition. Sustainable weight loss comes from a varied, well-balanced diet with adequate calories and nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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19. The Dukan Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Dukan Diet, designed by French doctor Pierre Dukan in 2000, aims to help people reach their ideal lifelong weight, dubbed the “true weight.” However, dietitian Elizabeth Ann Shaw critiques that it ignores set point theory – that bodies gravitate to a preset weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She warns this diet may be problematic for people with eating disorders, as it does not account for natural weight variations. Though the Dukan Diet intends to enable long-term healthy lifestyles, its rigid structure conflicts with realistic, holistic health goals by overlooking each person’s unique healthy weight range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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20. Nutrisystem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nutrisystem, favored by celebrities like Melissa Joan Hart, provides prepackaged, calorie-controlled meals meant to simplify weight loss. However, as nutritionist Keith Kantor explains, relying solely on processed foods can build up toxins and preservatives that slow metabolism. Though Nutrisystem makes dieting convenient by eliminating cooking and shopping, its packaged foods often lack nutritional balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This quick-fix diet may help people lose weight in the short term, but it risks long-term health by depriving the body of fresh, wholesome foods. For sustainable weight loss and health, it’s important to choose minimally processed foods and prepare balanced meals yourself. Though it requires more effort, a nutritious diet of whole foods nourishes the body better than any prepackaged meal plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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21. The Atkins Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Atkins diet kickstarted low-carb dieting by limiting carbs and sugar while emphasizing protein. However, dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus argues this approach rarely enables permanent weight loss. She explains carb avoidance often leads to overconsumption of processed meat while missing vital nutrients in fruits, whole grains, beans, and fiber. After 23 years consulting, she has yet to meet someone who lost weight through Atkins long-term. Initial drops from water loss soon rebound without sustainable habit change. Though popular, carb-restrictive diets like Atkins jeopardize gut and mood by vilifying nourishing foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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22. Meal Replacement Shakes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meal replacement shakes may spur initial weight loss thanks to their low calorie content. However, dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus cautions they lack real food’s nutrition and contain extensive processing. People often regain weight shortly after stopping shakes. For a healthier smoothie, Harris-Pincus suggests blending fruit, greens, plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, and healthy fats like chia seeds, avocado, or nut butter. Unlike commercial shakes, this homemade version provides wholesome nutrition to support lasting weight goals, not just quick reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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23. Paleo Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The paleo diet, favored by Jessica Biel, bans dairy, grains, legumes, refined sugar, and potatoes. Though some find success with this restrictive plan, dietitian Toby Amidor notes it can also eliminate vital nutrients by cutting entire food groups. While paleo aims to mimic ancient diets, modern nutritional science shows people need diverse foods for optimal health. Strict limitations may aid short-term weight loss but risk deficiencies from lack of key vitamins, minerals and fiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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24. 22-day Vegan Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jay-Z and Beyonc\u00e9 followed the 22-Day Revolution diet introduced by Marco Borges, emphasizing wholesome foods. Though filled with vegetables, this restrictive plan bans processed items. As dietitian Toby Amidor explains, eliminating processed foods and eating small, low-calorie portions causes weight loss. However, the strict rules and tiny servings don’t suit active lifestyles or provide balanced nutrition. While this diet promotes healthy choices, its limitations make it hard to sustain long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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25. Raw Food Diet<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The raw food diet emphasizes uncooked produce, believing heating above 116\u00b0F destroys natural enzymes and nutrients. Dietitian Toby Amidor confirms this approach can enable weight loss by cutting processed foods and calories. However, cooking offers both nutritional and safety benefits. For instance, mushrooms and asparagus become more nutritious when cooked. Baking and roasting also brings out vegetables’ natural flavors, reducing the need for calorie-laden additions. While raw foods contain beneficial qualities, cooking breaks down some plant compounds, increasing bioavailability. For optimal nutrition, a balance of raw and cooked wholesome foods is ideal. Strict raw dieting is unnecessary – gentle cooking preserves nutrients while also enhancing flavor and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Losing weight requires a lot of hard work, but it doesn’t necessitate following extreme diets that eliminate entire food groups or deprive you of essential calories and nutrients. Fad diets promoted by celebrities and influencers are often the worst offenders. Not only can these overly restrictive plans be potentially dangerous for your health, but they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":4306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[583],"tags":[725,724],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4283"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4314,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283\/revisions\/4314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealthylifetips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}