Alternating diets could be harmful

Weight loss is a recurring theme, whether for medical reasons or purely for self-image. There are a huge number of slimming diet solutions available, leading many people to follow a succession of different diets, which can be very harmful ...

In fact, two studies published in the journal 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 have suggested that a ‘𝐲𝐨-𝐲𝐨’ 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, i.e., the variations in weight that occur when there is a 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 achieved after dieting, or when there is a 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. To study the impact of the ‘yo-yo’ effect, the researchers fed mice alternating high-fat and low-fat diets and studied the effects on the 𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬.

The result was clear in both articles: the alternating diet 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 compared with a continuous high-fat diet. Atherosclerosis is a 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦, as the presence of atherosclerotic plaque increases the risk of blood vessel obstruction, which can lead to 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞. The researchers‘ hypothesis to explain this phenomenon is as follows: the changes in diet 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬’ 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, leading to an overproduction of interleukin 1β, which is pro-inflammatory in nature, and a reduction in macrophages.

It's worth remembering that before embarking on a drastic slimming regimen, you should first ensure that you eat a 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭, avoid snacking, eat at the most fixed times possible and avoid skipping meals. Moreover, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 is strongly recommended when dieting.