How to Know Which Health Trends You Should Follow
Everywhere we turn, there are articles telling us how to lose those extra five pounds, TV commercials telling us which exercise machine we need to get that six-pack, and even friends and family encouraging us to try to the latest miracle diet.
We’ve all heard stories about the craziest health trends, and with so many out there it can be difficult to figure out how to actually live a healthy life. And, among all of those trends in the health and wellness industry, there must be a few that actually work — but how do you tell the good trends from the bogus ones?
photo courtesy of Greenberg Health
Here are a few tips to help you tell the difference, so that you can make informed decisions about your health and wellness.
True health isn’t restrictive
When it comes to fad diets and food health trends, you can usually differentiate the fake ones — and the scary ones — by the level of restrictiveness.
A truly healthy diet won’t require you to cut out entire food groups or ask you to only eat a handful of food types. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that weight loss and healthy eating come in the same package. Many overly restrictive diets can make you lose weight, because you simply aren’t eating enough.
A weight loss victory in this case, however, is only temporary, as a restrictive diet is nearly impossible to maintain long term, and certainly isn’t healthy. The most common health risks of fad diets include undernourishment, exhaustion, and damage to skin, nails, and hair. In extreme cases, though, fad diets can lead to organ failure and even death.
Avoid these risks and opt instead for a healthy eating plan that allows you to continue living your life without obsessing over your food intake. By choosing a plan that doesn’t restrict you too much, you’re choosing a new pattern in eating, not just a temporary diet. And nothing is healthier than that. To add a new zest and flavour to your healthy food items you can cook them in a high quality kitchen grill as it will make them delicous to eat without compromising the nutritional value of the food.
photo/ engin akyurt
Sustainable exercise is enjoyable
Just like unhealthy diets, unhealthy exercise regimes can leave you feeling tired and unenthused about physical activity. The worst fitness trends often ask too much of you and lead only to burn out, which is why so many people start with good intentions of going to the gym and end up back in their old habits. Opt instead for an exercise plan that you genuinely enjoy, and you’ll find yourself sticking with it for months and years on end.
One of the best ways to find enjoyable exercise is to start a program with a friend or family member. This way, you’re not only spending quality time with a loved one, but you also have someone to keep you motivated on days when you’d rather skip your workout time.
Group exercise classes are increasingly popular, and can often even be tailored for your fitness level or daily schedule.
Common sense and old wisdom is usually your best guide
Even when you’re looking for eating and exercise plans that are enjoyable and sustainable, it can sometimes be a challenge to tell which are the health trends that are not healthy.
When you find yourself unsure about a particular wellness trend, revert to old wisdom as your guide. For instance, use the saying, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” For example, if a diet plan promises dozens of pounds of weight loss in a month, it’s either a scam or an unhealthy regimen.
Diet plans shouldn’t cut out food groups that your parents always made you eat — like fruits and vegetables. And exercise plans shouldn’t be so intense that they cause you minor (or major) injuries at every turn.
Keep your head on your shoulders and, every time you hear about a new diet or a new form of working out, take a step back and consider it carefully before you hop on board. It’s simple advice, but in our health-obsessed culture it’s easier said than done.
Author: Brad Richardson
