European University of Lefke Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nutrition and Dietetics academician Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazan Bardak gave information about “Effects of Popular Diets on Health”.

Bardak; How healthy is miracle promising nutrition programs?

Bardak said that “As long as we are dissatisfied with our bodies, or our satisfaction level goes down, search for a solution that will be the easiest will also increase.”. Bardak draw attention to the questions; how healthy are the nutrition programs learned from the media that promises miracles, and even if we get effective results in a short term with these programs, will they cause serious health problems in a long term?

Bardak defined being overweight as a health problem which is a result of excess fat accumulation requiring treatment. Pointing out that nowadays there are different types of diets on the wrist in the fight against this health problem, Bardak stated that some of these diets are very limited in terms of calories, some of them are rich in protein or poor in bread and grain, and some of them are very restricted in fat or consists of only one type of nutriment.

Bardak; Media consists of many different kinds of diets that are frequent

Bardak stated that low-carbohydrate diets consists of diets like Ketjenik, Atkins, Stillman, Hollywood, and that the amount of carbohydrates in these diets is over-constrained and added that the amount of protein and fat in these kinds of diets are high. Bardak said that “Reducing carbohydrates is effective in losing weight, but consuming animal fat in high doses has very risky consequences in terms of cardiovascular diseases. An average individual needs 100-150 grams of carbohydrates per day. When the daily consumption falls below 80-100 grams, the protein starts to break down in the body, and some acids found in the blood (such as ketone) increases.”

Bardak said that very low caloric diets are types of diets that mostly includes liquids and has the calorie less than 1000 kcal and added that by giving low caloric diets to the people, it is aimed to maintain very quick weight loss, with the effect of protein on increasing metabolic rate. Bardak emphasized that due to the rapid loss of body weight, results such as more loss of lean body mass, a 20% reduction in basal metabolic rate and failure to protect the lost weight are observed and added that serious health problems could be encountered and implementing these kinds of diets could even result with death.

Bardak; Diets that include one type of nutriment are risk on health

Bardak identified high protein diets as the kinds of diets where only protein sources are predominantly consumed and added that these diets result with quick weight loss but causes some health problems. Bardak stated that Karatay Diet and Dukan Diet can be shown as an example for protein diets. He said that on the Dukan diet, protein and meat are unlimited, and except for oats, carbohydrates and sugary foods are prohibited. No animal fat is recommended, vegetable oils are allowed. Within this diet one refreshment per day and one serving of fruit are allowed. It is a diet consisting of 4 phases, based on low carbohydrate consumption and including attack, cruising, strengthening, protection. Karatay diet is a diet based on high protein intake. Meat and meat products, animal fats are recommended with unlimited and excessive intake; carbohydrate intake is prohibited. Unlike Dukan diet, there is no consumption of refreshment, and products derived from natural fructose, such as fruit, are strictly forbidden.

Bardak pointed out that due to the insufficient amount of energy and carbohydrate macronutrient, the body uses its own carbohydrate and added that “As each gram of carbohydrate stored in the body binds 2-4 grams of water in the body, the tank is used and the water is released. Body weight is also reduced due to the water being thrown. Body weight loss due to water drop is not permanent”.