As you have learned the human body relies upon macromolecule

As you have learned, the human body relies upon macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) to sustain normal cellular processes and fuel the body.

Research a popular fad diet (e.g., Atkins, the grapefruit diet, low carbohydrates, the lemonade diet) and answer the following questions in your initial post:

Briefly describe the diet. What foods are allowed? What foods are restricted? Do you think this diet is healthy for the human body? Would it be ethical for you to recommend this diet to a friend? Why or why not?

Solution

Answer:

A diet which ensures and promises health benefits such as weight loss is referred to as a fad diet. Fad diets over promises extremely good results which are not backed by any scientific evidence.

Atkins diet or Atkins nutritional diet is a fad diet involving use of low carbohydrate food for weight loss. There are 4 phases of Atkins diet plan:

1. Introduction:

This phase involves the starting point of the diet plan which includes consumption of high protein, high fat food with low carbohydrate green vegetables.

2. Balancing:

This phase involves the slow addition of more vegetables and some fruits to the diet.

3. Fine tune:

This phase involves the addition of more carbohydrates to the diet when the individual reaches his/her goal weight.

4. Maintenance:

This phase involves the consumption of carbohydrate food without restriction and doesn\'t lead to weight gain.

Foods allowed:

1. Meats: Beef, pork, chicken, etc.

2. Nuts and seeds: Sunflower seeds, walnuts, etc.

3. Eggs: Healthiest eggs

4. Low carbohydrate vegetables: Vegetables like brocolli, asparagus, etc.

5. Fats: Coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.

Foods restricted:

1. Sugar: Cakes, juices, colas, etc.

2. Grains: Wheat, barley and rice.

3. Vegetable oils: Corn oil, canola oil, etc.

4. High carbohydrate fruits and vegetables: bananas, pineapple, oranges, turnip, carrot, etc.

5. Legumes: Beans, chickpeas, etc

6. Starches: Vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.

There are several advantages and disadvantages of the Atkins diet.

Advantages:

1. Easy to follow the diet plan.

2. No requirement to count calories while eating.

3. Some people experience significant weight loss and low cholesterol level during this plan.

Disadvantages:

1. This diet may be strict for many as it recommends low carbohydrate foods.

2. Some people feel weak due to the low carbohydrate in the diet, such as fruits.

3. Some followers of the diet experiences discomfort such as constipation and dehydration as a result of the diet change.

4. There is every possibility that an individual regains weight when the diet plan is shifted to the normal.

I don\'t think it to be ethical to recommend such diet to a friend. This is primarily because the diet plan so used and the claims so made by these fad diets are not backed by scientific evidences. We should follow evidence based practice in all phases, be it a diet plan or a medical advice. Moreover, it has been seen that the Atkins diet do not work for everyone and varies from person to person. This can be attributed to the fact that every individual and his/her dietary requirements are unique. So, its a not a good idea to generalize the plan for everyone.