1- Diet soda

Almost every popular sugar-sweetened beverage on the market has a “diet” version,  which prompted people to switch their everyday beverages. “Switching from regular to diet soda won’t fool your body for long,” says registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD. “Research suggests that your body reacts to certain non nutritive foods, including the artificial sweeteners in diet soda, in ways that may actually harm your health.” According to research, diet soda has been linked to weight gain! Ironic huh? It also causes chronic kidney disease due to the high phosphorus content of soda, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease in several studies. So next time you grab your no-sugar beverage, make sure it has natural sweetener like stevia as found in Aegis, your go-to free-of-guilt cold drink.

2- All calories are equal

In the run of losing weight, it’s important to achieve a calorie deficit, but, calorie counting doesn’t reflect the quality of your diet, namely because not all calories are made equal. For example, 100 calories of salmon cannot be compared with 100 calories of a soft drink; one has beneficial nutrients like omega 3, whilst the other is high in sugar and preservatives.

If this term is taken too seriously, one might binge on taking only sugary foods but with a specific calorie count. This will lead to an imbalance in your diet, where you don’t take your necessary nutrients for all the body processes.

3- Carbs are your enemy

Just as all kinds of fat are blamed for causing weight gain, carbs are also pinned for causing diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. But in fact, carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. While you want to limit your intake of simple carbs, by cutting them out completely you will be missing out on the fuel your body needs to function.

4- Diets and cleanses help remove toxins

A toxin is a chemical ingested through food or water and has harmful impacts on the body. Thankfully, our body has its own cleansing system the liver, kidneys, urine, poop, and sweat. So by doing these harsh diets, you are limiting your nutrient intake. Some Detox supplements contain laxatives which make people go to the bathroom more often, this may lead to problems like dehydration and electrolyte and water imbalances. 

5- A very low-calorie diet is the best way to lose weight

When you’re looking to lose weight, dashing out your calories seems very tempting, especially when you see those pounds dropping right away.

But in the long run, cutting your calories too low leads to a reduction in metabolic rate, increased feelings of hunger, and alterations in fullness hormones, in addition to constant hunger, fatigue, hair thinning, dizziness, and much more.