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Weight Loss Diet

Weight loss is basically defined as a reduction on the total body mass of the individual which could be in the form of loss of body fat, fluids or adipose tissue or even lean mass. Weight loss in an individual can be intentional which is undertaken to improve on an obese or overweight state and unintentional which could be due to a medical condition. There are many commercially available weight loss pills that tend to work by blocking the absorption of fat, decreasing one’s appetite and may even reduce the volume of ones stomach. Weight loss can be achieved naturally by following a fruits and vegetables diet as these foods are rich in all the vital minerals and vitamins as well as fiber which takes time to digest and thereby keeps the individual satiated for longer periods of time.

Similarly fiber rich foods also help in speeding up the metabolism and maintain good health of the bowel and the digestive tract overall.

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Nowadays those looking for quick results may also adopt weight loss fad diets or crash diets which tend to excessively restrict the intake of most foods except for water for a period of more than 12 hours. Crash dieting or fad diets are known to be very harmful to the individual as they have long term adverse health effects and may also result in excessive muscle loss. A weight loss diet should ideally be a balanced diet that contains all the vital nutrients in adequate quantities as required by our body for its metabolic function. Following a structured weight loss diet plan will also ensure that a healthy Body Mass Index is maintained which in turn lowers the risk of debilitating diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, etc. The five main healthy food groups are vegetables, fruits, cereals and pulses, dairy and meat, poultry and fish products. Those on a weight loss diet should ensure that they consume plenty of fruits and vegetables and instead lower the intake of dairy products or have low fat or skimmed milk instead. Similarly it is also beneficial to consume lean meats while on a weight loss diet. Some common weight loss tips would be to increase ones activity level and start light exercises such as jogging, walking swimming etc to burn off the excess fat naturally. Being on a weight loss diet does not mean that one has to stop eating a certain type of food completely or starve oneself but instead one should eat less of foods like oil, salt, sugar and instead eat foods that are high in nutritional value. Those on a weight loss diet plan should also avoid skipping meals as this will result in the body being starved and in turn the individual may tend to overeat the next time. Additionally when the body goes into starvation mode, it tries to save as much food which is then converted into fat as it believes that to may not get food soon again.

The ideal weight loss foods are those that meet the individual’s nutritional requirements and at the same time are not converted unto excess fat thereby resulting in weight gain. The weight loss diet should also include plenty of fresh drinking water which helps in keeping the body fresh and hydrated. Although the commercially available weight loss pills tend to be effective, their results are usually short term. Moreover incorrect dosages of these pills could be dangerous to the overall health of the individual and may also cause long term harmful side effects. The ideal weight loss diet should combine all the nutritional foods in adequate amounts as well as regular exercise.

Submitted on August 11, 2010
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