Voices Pushpesh Pant S Vaidhyasubramaniam Ravi Shankar Preeti Shenoy Dinesh Singh Swami Sukhabodhananda THE new sunday express MAGAZINE Buffet People Wellness Books Food Art & Culture Entertainment November 3 2024 SUNDAY PAGES 12 Ice Cube in Your Food The world’s obsessive dieting compulsion has gone beyond vanilla versions, looking for types that are as outlandish as they are experimental F By Pooja Prabbhan Srijith ancy eating tubs of ice cream all day in hopes of losing weight? Or, are you invested enough to survive merely on a green smoothie as the likes of Blake Lively Miranda Kerr and Jessica Alba do to , shed those extra kilos? You can even take a cue from Hrithik Roshan and Sonakshi Sinha who swear by an all-meat diet. The world wide web can be an interesting place. Especially so, if you’re a novice in the ambit of new-age fad diets—inane food choices that promise to turbo-charge your metabolism in unfathomable ways! While the allure of a strange diet, and its reported benefits, may convince you to give the unthinkable a shot, medical experts caution wide-eyed health enthusiasts to refrain from jumping onto the crazy diet bandwagon—a reigning trend that can do more harm than good. While the high and mighty in the West have been known to give such weird trends a go-ahead, celebs in India are a tad cautious. Either they are staying away from such diets, or at least not coming out in the open about it. But that doesn’t mean the Tik Tok generation is shying away too. Typical of this generation, anything new that promises ‘size zero’ is worth giving it a shot. Health issues can be tackled later after the selfies and reels have won the day . “Severe calorie restriction, no sense of satisfaction from the food eaten, progressive sense of deprivation as time goes by insufficiency , of the nutrients and macros needed by an active and functioning adult can lead to extreme cases of malnourishment and anorexia nervosa besides potentially harmful longterm effects, if one mindlessly follows fad diets,” says Anupama Menon, a nutritionist. On that note, we list fad diets that have amassed widespread popularity in recent times, with expert-backed views on why it’s clearly not the real deal. Oatzempic Diet W idely known as one of those insufferable Tik Tok trends to have emerged this year, the Oatzempic diet broke the internet for its unbelievable results: drastic weight loss in two months (precisely 40 pounds in eight weeks, as reported by Healthline). Well, the ask is pretty straightforward: one needs to follow the diet to a T and limit the daily food consumption to only oats, lemon juice and water. Yes, you read that right. Those who sign up for this diet consume the Oatzempic tonic—a concoction of oats, lemon, cinnamon and water—in replacement of regular, solid meals on a daily basis. The tonic acts as an appetite suppressant, since it is rich in fibre, low in calories, proteins and fats. “This diet induces quick Charcoal Cleanse C harcoal has been hailed as a powerful cleanser in the arena of skincare. But, does it hold true in the case of a system cleanse? Well, not really. A widely popular charcoal cleanse refers to a diet where one consumes activated charcoal juice in addition to their daily diet. However, there is little evidence on the efficacy of the cleanse. Since the body is naturally equipped to detoxify itself, the charcoal cleanse stands in a tricky spot, with no scientific benefits known as yet. Carnivore Diet T he Carnivore Diet most of us know today as a Tik Tok trend was originally popularised by Shawn Baker, MD, who authored The Carnivore Diet in 2018 after finding how a meat-based diet seem to helped him. Though it’s been around for a while, it is gaining traction with quite a few Bollywood celebs like Hrithik Roshan and Sonakshi Sinha joining the bandwagon. “This one isn’t tough to guess. All foods that do not come from animals are excluded from the carnivore diet. Restricted foods include vegetables, weight loss for individuals who are looking for immediate results. People who are looking for faster results only stick to consuming this tonic multiple times in the day,” says Dr Nupur Gupta, MSc, PGDCN, Diabetes Educator (CMC Vellore), and founder of Nutrination—The diet planners. “As a dietician, I would never recommend starving as it is not sustainable, and the resulting weight loss is due to muscle loss, not fat loss, and is extremely harmful,” she warns. Pros: Reportedly causes significant weight loss in a short span of time, owing to a calorie deficit. Cons: Not wholesome or sustainable. The lack of lean protein and vegetables can adversely impact health, making it an unrealistic diet to follow in the long term. Pros: Reportedly boosts kidney health and disrupts intestinal gas. Cons: Charcoal doesn’t pass through your whole body, and can potentially be countereffective since it binds to the nutrients, and is likely to flush those out as well. As per a report on Medical News Today, large doses of activated charcoal can cause a blockage in a person’s digestive tract. Wanitha Ashok, fitness expert and Fit Bit Ambassador, says, “It’s shocking to know that educated people opt for such diets. Charcoal can bind to essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies that cause constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. It can interact with medications, reducing their effectiveness. Charcoal can also absorb water like a sponge leading to dehydration.” fruits, nuts, grains and even sugars and all beverages besides water. Due to its highly restrictive nature and complete elimination of the majority of food groups, there are many downsides to the carnivore diet,” explains nutritionist Sugamini Chadalavada, who specialises in weight management, gut health and more. Pros: The removal of highly processed carbohydrates in a carnivore diet might help you see some early benefits such as improved blood pressure, reduced belly fat, and improved cardiovascular health. Cons: Since the diet is high in fat, cholesterol and sodium, eating a carnivore diet can lead to excessive salt intake, which has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease and other negative health outcomes. Moreover, the lack of micronutrients and beneficial plant compounds is concerning. “While meat is nutritious and provides many micronutrients, it should not be the only part of your diet. Following a restrictive diet like the carnivore diet may lead to deficiencies in some nutrients and the overconsumption of others,” warns Chadalavada. Turn to page 2