Very Low Calorie Diets - The Pros And Cons

There are lots of different kinds of diets to choose from, and a very low calorie diet is just one of them. Ideally you shouldn't start one of these diets without consulting a medical professional for some guidance because these diets restrict your calorie intake to levels that are severely low. They are sometimes recommended by doctors for patients who need to lose a lot of weight quickly, but they are not safe for everybody. In the following article we will focus our attention on some of the features of very low calorie diets.

As with any severe diet or health change, there is a chance to experience certain ill effects. Anytime you begin a new diet, it can have negative effects, even when you are just cutting calories. Some of the side effects that people experience include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation and nausea. You must be cautious when trying a rigorous diet plan, it could possibly end with gallstones; these are apt to form due to the rapid weight loss, rather than the diet plan itself. If you go on such a diet and experience any serious side effects, you should keep your doctor informed concerning your symptoms.

One diet used a lot is OPTIFAST as is is used globally by lots of hospitals. This is a diet that was developed especially for people who are at least 50 pounds overweight, or who have a BMI (body mass index) of over 30. Therefore this diet is not for people who are only just overweight by a few pounds. The OPTIFAST diet is operated within a medical setting, this is an advantage to you as your progress is being monitored by trained professionals. Since this program has been around since 1974, and more than a million people have gone through it, it has a solid track record for safety and effectiveness. If you are seriously considering this program, drastically changing your diet and lifestyle is something you will have to do.

The Cambridge Diet is a very low calorie diet that was developed in England in the 1970s. If you go on this diet, you get pre-packaged foods, which calculate all of the necessary nutrients you need, as well as keeping your calorie intake down. These can be in the form of meal bars, shakes and soups. Even though this diet has been in existence for a while, and a lot of people have had success on it, it does carry some disadvantages. Exercise can only be done at very low intensity and drinking a lot of water is a must in order to avoid dehydration. People also may find that they get tired of eating nothing but packaged meals. Before going on a diet such as the Cambridge Diet, you should ask your doctor if it's safe for you. There can be some benefits to very low calorie diets, especially for anyone who is extremely overweight and has medical problems because of this. At the same time, it isn't normally wise to go on such a diet without professional medical supervision, as there can be side effects and risks involved, like malnutrition and dehydration.

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