The Nutrition Sherpa is your enlightened guide to the healthy world of nutrition. As always the Sherpa is objective and unaffiliated.


Thursday, November 16, 2006

Fast Food Definition

Fast foods are quick, reasonably priced, and readily available alternatives to home cooking. While convenient and inexpensive for a busy lifestyle, fast foods are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt.

Fast food chains and restaurants have responded to the public's increasing awareness about nutrition and have attempted to help people concerned about health. For example, they now make ingredient and nutrition information available on their menus. Despite these changes, however, in order to maintain a healthy diet, it is necessary to choose fast foods carefully.

Fast Food Food Sources

Fast food items have been modified to reflect consumers' concern about the fat content of their food. Many fast food restaurant have switched from beef tallow or lard to hydrogenated vegetable oils for frying.

Some restaurants offer low calorie choices like salad bars and assorted take-out salads with low calorie dressing, low-fat milkshakes, whole grain buns, lean meats, and grilled chicken items.

Fast Food Side Effects

Maintaining nutritional balance is not easy with fast food, because there is no control over how they are cooked. For example, some are cooked with a lot of oil and butter, and there may be no option if you want your selection with reduced fat.

The large portions also encourage overeating. Fast food also tend to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.

In general, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease must be much more careful about choosing fast food, due to the high content of fat, sodium, and sugar.

Fast Food Recommendations

Knowing the number of calories and the amount of fat and salt in the fast food can help you decide which items are better choices. Many fast food restaurants have published the nutrient content of their foods. These are often available on request. You can plan a convenient yet healthful diet with this information.

Make better choices when eating at fast food restaurants. In general eat at places that offer a variety of salads, soups, and vegetables. Consider these general tips:

* Pizza:

Ask for less cheese, and choose low-fat toppings such as onions, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables.

* Sandwiches:

Healthier choices include regular or junior-size lean roast beef, turkey, or chicken breast, or lean ham. Extras, such as, bacon, cheese, or mayo will increase the fat and calories of the item. Select whole-grain breads over high-fat croissants or biscuits.

* Hamburgers:

A single, plain meat patty without the cheese and sauces is the best choice. Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Limit your intake of french fries.

* Meat, Chicken, and Fish:

Look for items that are roasted, grilled, baked, or broiled. Avoid meats that are breaded or fried. Ask for heavy sauces, such as gravy, on the side. Better still, avoid heavy sauces and dressings altogether.

* Salads:

High-fat food items such as dressing, bacon bits, and shredded cheese add fat and calories. Choose lettuce and assorted vegetables to make up the majority of your salad. Select low-fat or fat-free salad dressings, vinegar, or lemon juice when available. Ask for the salad dressing on the side.

* Desserts:

Choose low-fat frozen yogurt, fruit ices, sorbets, and sherbets. Occasional indulgent desserts add fun to a carefully selected, well-balanced diet.

Choose smaller-sized servings. Consider splitting some fast food items to reduce the amount of calories and fat. Ask for a "doggy bag." or simply leave the excess on your plate.

To help supplement and balance the fast food meal, make nutritious options such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and yogurt available as snacks.

When chosen carefully and not used in excess, fast foods can offer reasonably good quality nutrition. By being aware of what and how much you eat, and paying attention to how it affects your health, you can set a good example for your children. As always, variety and moderation are the key principles in providing a healthy diet for children as well as adults.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Low carb diet for diabetes

What you eat has a major impact on your insulin level and therefore is a major consideration for people with diabetes. In particular carbohydrates have the largest impact on the amount of insulin introduced to your body after eating. Fats and protein slow glucose absorption and therefore are not as big a concern for people with diabetes. Therefore, it is important to maintain a low carb diet for diabetes.

There is some controversy about low carb diets, specifically, with regards to the most popular low carb diet, the Atkins Diet. The controversy surrounding low carb diets do not pertain to people with diabetes, but are criticisms of people without diabetes trying low carb diets.
The arguments against low carb diets for the general population are that the they do not in fact increase metabolism as people shift eating patterns to low carb diets, but increase water weight loss which will inevitably be regained when you go off the low carb diet. This is a valid point for people simply dieting for weight control.

When you adopt a low carb diet for diabetes, you are reducing the sugars that your body directly addressing the diabetes culprit. Low carb diet for diabetes is the best diet for type 2 diabetes, reducing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Some of the leading low carb diet for diabetes books include
· Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution
· Protein Power
· Life Without Bread: Comparing Low Carb diets for diabetes

Click on the links above to find out more resources for low carb diets for diabetes.

Zone Diet Free Online

This site provides a brief description of the origins of the Zone Diet and then below links to Zone Diet Free Online. The Zone Diet became all the rage in Hollywood with Jennifer Anniston, Brad Pitt and other celebrities adopting a variation of a low carb diets such as the Zone Diet. The idea behind the Zone Diet was that eating sugars and having high insulin levels makes us fat. The goal is to regulate the insulin levels in the body within an optimal band or zone of insulin levels which will decrease weight. The ratio that is suggested by Dr. Sears creator of the zone diet is that 40% of calories come from carbs, 30% come from fat and 30% come from protein. The complexity of the zone diet requires a patient attention to dieting detail because you need to closer monitor the different types of calories and break them up into basic measuring units advertised by the Zone diet, blocks. You then are allocated a certain amount of blocks to consume / day under the zone diet rules. For more information click the Zone Diet Free Online.

Calories per pound of fat

Calories Pound of Fat
How many calories per pound of fat?

There are approximately 3,500 calories per pound of fat, so to lose one pound a week, a person should consume approximately 3,500 fewer calories of fat per week. This can be done by reducing the daily intake by 500 calories per day (500 x 7 days will provide a deficit of 3,500 calories per week). To lose 2 pounds of fat per week, a deficit of 1,000 calories per day is required.

If this seems impossible, remember that physical activity also contributes significantly to weight loss. The deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories can come from a combination of increased physical activity and reduced intake on a daily basis.

Therefore, you don't need to experience significant food deprivation. The lowest intake per day recommended for women is 1,200 calories, unless they are in a medically-supervised, very low-calorie regimen which may have a daily level of 500 to 800 calories per day.
The lowest level recommended for men is 1,500 calories per day. A very low-calorie diet can also be used by males if they are in a medically-supervised program.
Here are some steps for weight maintenance and weight loss:

  • Increase your daily activity -- take the stairs rather than the elevator, or walk rather than drive when possible.
  • Reduce your food intake gradually. This will help make these new eating habits lifetime changes. Reduce fat intake on a daily basis, and reduce intake of other high-calorie foods.
  • Change any habits that make you eat more, or eat poorly.
  • Learn about the calorie content of foods and the calorie expenditure of various physical activities.

These suggestions regarding calories per pound of fat and healthy weight loss guidelines is is approved and from the US Governments National Institute of Health.

Making Meals Fun

alancing a diet does not have to mean meat and potatoes at every meal. As your nutritional awareness increases, you’ll probably come up with many creative and interesting food experiences for your
family. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Breakfast. Breakfast doesn’t have to be the traditional bacon and eggs and toast. Try preparing one of these “breakfast surprises”:
• Toasted cheese sandwich, a glass of milk, and apple slices.
• Peanut butter on toast, and milk shake made with milk and fruit.
• Cereal sundae made with dry cereal or granola sprinkled on fruit or yogurt.
Snacks. Snacking has become a way of life for most Americans. Snacktime does not have to mean candy. It can be another opportunity for good nutrition. Here are some ideas for nutritious snacks:
• Mix together dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Put the mixture into small plastic bags so children can carry the bags while they play.
• Freeze unsweetened juices in your freezer tray. When almost frozen, put a wooden stick in each cube. Serve frozen fruit juice on a stick.
• Cut up vegetables in sticks, chunks, and circles. Then mix yogurt or sour cream with herbs and spices or onion soup mix and have a “dunking party.”
• Use cookie cutters to cut cheese, meat, and bread into interesting shapes.

Recipes for good habits

Once you have basic nutritional information, you will find many ways to help your children develop good eating habits. Some of the things you can do are:
• Serve a variety of foods.
• Let your children help prepare meals.
• Make mealtime a pleasant experience.
Mealtimes can be fun. They provide an opportunity to discuss the day’s events, plan outings, and get to know one another better. If mealtimes are relaxed and happy, your children will begin to associate the nutritious foods you serve with good feelings.

Child Portions

If you are looking for child portions, especially for child with diabetes, Child Portions should be the first place to look. This site has a wealth of information about what to give to children, with diabetes.

A Healthy Diet

Young children need a variety of foods in their diet. Include these every day:
• six servings of breads and cereals,
• three servings of vegetables,
• two servings of fruits,
• two servings of milk and milk products, and
• two servings of meat and meat alternates.

Food is its own reward

Making children eat when they aren’t hungry
isn’t wise, either. Different
children need different amounts of food. Even the same child will need different
amounts of food at different times. Poor eating habits are begun rather than ended when parents become anxious about their children’s appetites.
Using food as a reward or punishment is another bad idea. Giving dessert as a reward may teach a child that dessert is the most important part of the meal. Such tactics encourage children to see eating as an emotional issue rather than as an enjoyable way to stay healthy and strong.

Substitutions Allowed

There is no single right way to good nutrition.
The proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals we need are found in a wide variety of foods. Ethnic foods, vegetarian diets, and other common menus can all supply these nutrients.
Because there are so many different nutritious foods, you don’t have to worry if your children won’t eat certain things. It’s easy to find other foods with the nutrients they need. If your child does not like potatoes, he or she can get carbohydrates from bread and rice. Forcing children to eat foods they don’t like is never a good idea.

Starting Healthy Eating Habits

How is your nutrition IQ? Are these statements true or false?
• A fat baby is a healthy baby.
• Young children need vitamin pills to make sure they get all the proper nutrients.
• Snacking is bad for children.
(All of these are false.)
Children outgrow many things. As they grow up, they cast aside old toys and clothes. They give up diapers and baby talk. A few things, though, they will carry with them into adulthood. These include the eating habits and attitudes toward food they learn from you.
Children develop tastes for certain foods at an early age. They learn to like what you give them to eat. If you offer them lots of fruit and vegetables, they will still enjoy those foods when they are older. If they get used to soda pop and lollipops, they probably won’t be able to resist the lure of sweet foods later on.
The eating habits and attitudes your children pick up through your example are apt to last a lifetime. For this reason, you will want to become familiar with basic nutritional concepts. Fortunately, sound nutritional information isn’t hard to find, but you can also find false information. Separating fact from fiction is the first step

America's Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences

A new book by Elizabeth Frazao (editor) attempts to get at the problem of nutrition in America and people's knowledge of the dangers of poor eating habits.

Agriculture Information Bulletin No. (AIB750) 484 pp, May 1999

Individual chapters in this book provide different perspectives on the nutrition problems in the United States: what are the economic costs associated with unhealthy eating patterns; how do dietary patterns compare with dietary recommendations; how do national income and prices, advertising, health claims, and trends in eating away from home affect nutrient intake; how much do people know about nutrition and how does nutrition knowledge and attitudes affect intake of fats and cholesterol; how do different government programs and regulations influence food expenditures and consumption; what are some public and private efforts to improve healthy eating; and what are potential impacts of healthier eating on domestic agriculture.

What People Know about Nutrition Introduction

Recent years have seen a tremendous growth in scientific knowledge
of the relationship between diet and health. This increase in knowledge
has informed dietary recommendations to promote health and
longevity and has sparked national campaigns to educate Americans
on more healthful eating habits. But how has this affected the average
person? Does the typical American know much about nutrition?
Is the average level of nutrition knowledge on the rise? And what
implications does this have for changing eating habits?
Using data from a variety of public and private sources—including
the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Health and Diet Survey
(HDS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Diet and

Health Knowledge Survey (DHKS), the Food Marketing Institute’s
(FMI) Trends Survey, and the American Dietetic Association’s
(ADA) 1995 Nutrition Trends Survey1—we examine the level of
nutrition knowledge among American consumers and trends in nutrition
knowledge levels over time. The extent and limitation of consumers
’ nutrition knowledge—what people know and do not know
about nutrition—and the implications for changing dietary behavior
will be considered.

Measures of Knowledge and Attitudes

Nutrition-related knowledge can range from an understanding of the
chemical structure of nutrients to knowledge of low-fat cooking
methods. Rogers (1983) identified three types of knowledge: (1)
awareness (say, of diet-disease relationships), (2) knowledge of principles
(e.g., cholesterol is found in animal foods only), and (3) howto
knowledge (e.g., how to select foods with less fat or how to read a
food label accurately).

Attitudes can also play an important role in shaping behavior.
Attitudes frequently assessed by nutrition surveys include belief in the
relationship of diet and health, the importance of nutrition compared
with other food attributes (taste, etc.), the importance of following specific
dietary guidelines, and perceived barriers to dietary change.

Awareness of Diet-Disease Relationships

Awareness of a relationship between diet and health (diet-disease relationships)
may stimulate interest in learning about nutrition and
healthful eating habits, thus acting as a first step in acquiring the
knowledge necessary for dietary improvement. The Health and Diet
Survey (HDS), conducted by FDA, began tracking top-of-the-mind
awareness of dietary risk factors associated with specific chronic diseases
in 1982. A set of open-ended questions (e.g., “Have you heard
about cancer being related to things people eat or drink?”, “What
things that people eat or drink might be related to cancer?”) measures
the levels of knowledge, awareness, and perceived importance of individual
dietary risk factors at the same time. Respondents must have

Diet and Cancer

Awareness of diet-disease relationships for cancer has also increased
significantly in recent years, but it remains at a lower level than for
heart disease. In 1984, consumers were most likely to mention food
additives—such as artificial colors, nitrates, and preservatives—as
dietary factors related to cancer. Since then, other dietary
factors—such as dietary fiber, fat, and fruits and vegetables—have
become more important. Although fewer consumers associate fat
with cancer than with heart disease, by 1995 about one in five consumers
mentioned fat as a dietary risk factor for cancer.

Dietary links between foods (fruits and vegetables) and cancer prevention
show a change over time. In the mid-1980’s, when dietary
fiber received considerable attention from both public health authorities
such as the National Cancer Institute and advertisers (e.g., the
Kellogg high-fiber cereal campaign), fiber was the most frequently
mentioned dietary factor for preventing cancer (Levy and Stokes,
1987). More recently, fruits and vegetables have received increasing
recognition; by 1995, one in three consumers mentioned fruits or
vegetables, nearly three times as many as mentioned fiber (Levy and
Derby, 1996). Recently, the National Cancer Institute has emphasized
the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption via its
“Five-A-Day” campaign (Eisner and others, 1992), whereas, without
continued reinforcement, the salience of the fiber message has diminished.
However, since eating five fruits and vegetables per day is an
effective way of increasing fiber intake while also obtaining other
beneficial food components, this shift in awareness is appropriate for
decreasing cancer risk.

Knowledge of Nutrition Principles

Nutrition is concerned with the relationship of food and health, and
one can think of nutrition knowledge as encompassing both healthoriented
and food-related principles. Health-oriented principles (for
example, knowledge that saturated fat acts differently on cholesterol
levels than does unsaturated fat) can provide a deeper understanding
of diet-health relationships than simple awareness, thereby improving
an individual’s ability to understand and implement dietary change.
Food-related principles (for example, that saturated fat is more likely
to be solid at room temperature, whereas unsaturated fat is more likely
to be liquid) also facilitate dietary improvement by providing relatively
simple “decision rules” for consumers to use in making food
choices. Food guides may also be seen as providing consumers with
a set of principles for translating dietary recommendations into
behavioral terms.

South Beach Diet

The south beach diet was pioneered by Dr. Agatston who wrote the best selling book “The South Beach Diet”. Dr. Agatston is a well respected Dr. and his work on the South Beach Diet was based on observations that your body does not absorb highly processed carbs and polyunsaturated fat foods both of which are epidemic in American Diets. Therefore the South Beach Diet is less of a temporary diet and more of a permanent change in diet away from foods that the body has difficulty absorbing. The south beach diet further holds that the problem with foods your body can not absorb is that they then become stored as excess fat.

The south beach diet pioneers the role of good carbs and bad carbs and supports the notion that you should eat good fats and good carbs that your body can easily digest. sFollowing the South Beach Diet, you will invariably lose weight and eventually maintain an ideal body weight through the South Beach Diet. There are some suggestions that the South Beach Diet is more effective at reducing weight in the mid-section because this is where the excess fat is stored.
The South Beach Diet at a very minimum suggest good eating principles and is generally not a health risk. As with all diets consult a physician for specifically for what is right for you.

South Beach Diet Phases

The South Beach Diet manifests itself into 3 different phases..:

  • South Beach Diet Phase 1: Restraint
  • South Beach Diet Phase 2:Reintroduction
  • South Beach Diet Phase 3:Maintenance

South Beach Diet Phase 1: Restraint
At this phase in the diet, you are subject to a very strict set of dietary rules. The South Beach Diet limits this phase to 2 weeks and you can expect to lose between 8-12 lbs. During this phase of the South Beach Diet you must adhere to a very limited no carbohydrate diet. In South Beach Diet Phase 1 you are certainly allowed no alcohol.

South Beach Diet Phase 2: Reintroduction
.The second phase of the South Beach Diet allows for the gradual reintroduction of good carbohydrates back into your diet. Of course this phase of the south beach diet doesn’t suggest that you consume a huge bowl of pasta on the 15th day, but to begin eating low processed carbs. In general you can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week during South Beach Diet phase 2. Continue on South Beach Diet Phase 2 until you have reached your goal weight.

South Beach Diet Phase 3: Maintenance
Once you have reached your goal weight, South Beach Diet Phase 3 kicks in, which is less a weigh loss diet and more a lifestyle change. From now on you are under Phase 3 of the South Beach Diet and you need to adhere to the foods without bad carbs and fats. If you do binge, and go off the South Beach diet and regain some of your weight back, it is suggested that you return to South Beach Diet phase 1 and begin shock therapy to get you back on the wagon. In general eating according to South Beach Diet Phase 3 is a good, nutritious way to eat. Click .to see South Beach Diet Food Lists.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

South Beach Diet Food Lists

South Beach Diet Food Lists:

  • Boiled Ham
  • Canadian Bacon
  • Canola Oil
  • Chicken Breasts (skinless)
  • Cheese (fat-free or low-fat - American, Cheddar, cottage, cream substitute, feta)
  • Cornish Game Hen
  • Eggs (whole)
  • Fish (all types)
  • Green Vegetables
  • Lunchmeat (lean)
  • Peanut Butter
  • Peanuts
  • Pecans
  • Pistachio Nuts
  • Olive Oil
  • Seasoning/Spices (broth, butter sprays, pepper, anything containing no sugar)
  • Shellfish
  • Sirloin
  • Sweets * (chocolate powder, cocoa powder (baking type), hard candy, sugar substitute(sugar-free)
  • Tenderloin
  • Tofu
  • Turkey Bacon
  • Veal
    Vegetables (artichokes, asparagus, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, legumes, lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini)

South Beach Diet Food Lists: Foods to avoid

  • Alcohol *
  • Baked Goods **
  • Beef (brisket, liver, rib steaks, fatty cuts)
  • Bread **
  • Breast of Veal
  • Cereal (all kinds) **
  • Cheese (full fat, brie, edam)
  • Crackers **
  • Fruit
  • Fruit Juice
  • Honey-Baked Ham
  • Ice Cream
  • Matzo **
  • Milk (whole, low-fat)
  • Oatmeal **
  • Pasta **
  • Pastries **
  • Poultry (chicken wings, legs, thighs, wings, duck, goose, poultry products)
  • Soy
  • Vegetables (barley, beets, black-eyed peas, carrots, corn, pinto beans, sweet potatoes,
  • white potatoes, yams)
  • Yogurt



Cabbage Soup Diet

Cabbage Soup Diet

The cabbage soup diet is a humorously ludicrous diet invented by a society obsessed with dieting, weight loss and a thin body image. The Cabbage Soup Diet is one of those statements about what goes into a diet when really all diets do is remove the food we want to eat. The Cabbage Soup Diet in particular is a diet that deprives the dieter of all food they wish to eat and pushes them towards the point of starvation in order to lose weight.

The cabbage soup diet replaces the food the dieter wishes to eat with one of the least tasty food options, cabbage soup. The Cabbage Soup Diet is intended for only 1 week and should not be pursued beyond 1 week without the potential for serious health repercussions. In general the Cabbage Soup Diet forces the dieter to abdicate eating protein, so the weight loss is primarily muscle mass and water weight. Therefore as a real dieting solution the Cabbage Soup Diet is not a viable long term weight loss option. In the short term dieters will pursue this temporary weight loss fix for a variety of superficial reasons such as weight loss bets, fitting into an outfit, or a misguided attempt to kick start a diet. If you must you can see a daily list of foods you can eat while undergoing the cabbage soup starvation diet:

  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 1: Cabbage Soup + Fruit
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 2: Cabbage Soup + Vegetables
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 3: Cabbage Soup + Fruit + Vegetables
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 4: Cabbage Soup + 8 Bananas + Skim Milk
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 5: Cabbage Soup + 20 Oz of Beef + Six Tomatoes
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 6: Cabbage Soup + Beef + Vegetables
  • Cabbage Soup Diet Day 7: Cabbage Soup + Rice + Vegetables + Unsweetened Juice

As you can see above the menu is quite bizarre and limited in the Cabbage Soup Diet. Also to make matters worse, the vegetables listed above can’t include potatoes and the fruit can not include bananas. The make up of the cabbage soup in the cabbage soup diet, includes onions, tomatoes, canyons, peppers, celery, carrots and a vegetable soup stock. If you aren’t sick of cabbage by the end of day seven then you should go see the doctor.

Vegetarian Food Pyramid

A common approach to healthy, sustainable food consumption is vegetarianism. Vegetarian food is generally lower in fat, doesn’t contain growth hormones that the meat industry is notorious for using to maximize profits and is the most efficient consumption of food by eating lower on the food chain. Though there are a great many benefits of being a vegetarian, the challenge in leading a healthy life, consuming sufficient protein and having enough energy to fight of infection needs to be addressed. To counteract the challenges of eating vegetarian, researchers at Arizona State University came up with the vegetarian food pyramid. The vegetarian food pyramid is the corollary to the food pyramid learned in grade school and the one diet suggested by the FDA. The vegetarian food pyramid is an effective guide for vegetarians to promote eating protein and avoid enervation. Below is a detailed daily list of the vegetarian food pyramid:

  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 1: 2-3 tsp of Oils (olive, canola)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 2: 1-2 ounces of nuts (almonds, sunflower seeds)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 3A: 3 servings of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 3B: 2-3 servings protein (including beans, eggs, and tofu)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 4A: 2-3 servings of greens (spinach, arugala)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 4B: 2-4 servings of vegetables (carrots, squash)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 4C: 2-4 servings of fruit (fresh, dried)
  • Vegetarian Food Pyramid Level 5: 6-11 servings of whole grains (bread, cereal)

The above list a sample of the foods available in the vegetarian food pyramid. To avoid enervation and a lack of protein, follow the above guidelines.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Lose Water for Weight Loss

Though water in and of itself is not a way to achieve weight loss, water can help to speed up weight loss primarily through making you feel full and therefore diminishing your drive to eat more. Water help to weight loss therefore is not a recommended nutritional diet approach. Water has no calories but also no nutrition so it can be a good policy to eat citrus fruits that have a lot of water content as well as nutritional value to help with weight loss.

On the other hand, if you are not looking to lose permanent weight and are just trying to win a weight loss bet, then you can quickly trim lbs by losing water weight. Water weight loss can be a dangerous way to loose weight and there are danger stories associated with wrestlers and other athletes who need to make certain weight restrictions and loose water weight. This type of weight loss is often banned in high schools where water help to weigh loss is very common. Below are some common albeit bizarre suggestions for water weight loss.

  • Put a plastic bag over your torso, sweats and run laps for 45 minutes. Your body will not be able to breathe, you will sweat profusely and water weight will come dripping off.
  • Sit in a steam room or sauna for much longer than the doctor recommended (dangerous) by overheating you will sweat off a great deal of water weight.
  • Don’t drink any water 12 hours before the weigh in and while doing any of these methods. Not drinking water too far in advance will cause your body to go into starvation mode and you will not have water weight loss success.
  • Take drugs or substances that are a diuretic or make you pee, this also increases water weight loss.

All of the above methods are dangerous and are not recommended but are pursued often for short term goals to hit certain weights. Water help to weight loss is not a real diet solution.