Should New Year Diets come with a health warning?

flu

I have recently come across an article from The Daily Mail advising that one should wait until spring before losing weight as the latest research suggests that “having a healthy appetite in the winter protects against flu” and the article further suggests that New Year Diets are not just bad for your health, but for your spirits too. Hmmmm, I thought, how very interesting, I could not resist to comment.

Well, the research from Michigan State University supports the popular idea that nourishing winter meals can stave off colds and bugs and it suggests that having a body ready to fight a virus will lead to a faster recovery and less severe effect and that we need the reserves so our body is ready for any additional stress, including fighting a virus.

The researchers believe that cutting down on food impairs the immune system and reduces the production of antibodies to fight infection and say the findings, based on the study on mice, also apply to people – and that eating sensibly in the flu season can protect against viruses.

So, is this just a lot of nonsense? Well, depends on how you read it. To many who do indeed need to lose weight, I am afraid that this might just give another excuse to prolong overeating as, while research is pretty clear, I do not think that the message is.

What the article is not clear about is that “diets” do not need to mean that one needs to starve to lose the weight. Diets that they refer to where calories are cut by 60% should be out of the question at any time during the entire year.

Of course those diets will weaken your body in the same way as having a “healthy appetite” suggested in the article can too weaken your body as it is not about a “healthy appetite” but “healthy eating” full stop. This actually could make a lot sense if people indeed are looking after their diet and their weight during the entire year by living on more wholesome, fresh and cooked-from-scratch meals. It is quite easy to eat a nourishing balanced diet and also stay healthy and slim.

Statistics show that 90% of American diet is processed food and us Britons can not be far behind as the majority of the population in the UK (that also happens to be overweight, surprise, surprise) also lives on processed foods.

When it comes to calorie restricted diets, the truth is – if you cut the amount of food that you eat, you also cut on the nutrition your body gets. Meal Replacements are ideal way to control your weight without compromising on nutrition, but not all of them are created equal as majority, especially those bought across the counter, i.e. in the shops, not to mention any brands, while they will indeed reduce your calorie intake, they will not be able to nourish you properly and, therefore, are not a long term solution.

I personally enjoy nourishing and absolutely delicious Herbalife’s meal replacement shake for breakfast. I have been doing it for over 4 years now, since August 2004, virtually without exception. It has about 300 calories with all the fruit that I add to it and it has a perfect balance of nutrients, i.e. carbs, protein, fibre and fats are all in perfect balance with 23 different minerals and vitamins also added. My young children enjoy them too with their meals.

I enjoy the shake for dinner too on most evenings and will tuck into a regular, balanced meal during the day with a couple of snacks mid morning and afternoon. I also supplement using highest quality supplements, from Herbalife naturally, and my diet is still around 1700 calories per day minimum, which helps me to control my weight with no stress or much effort, but, more importantly, I hardly get sick.

This winter in particular, while flu epidemic is all around me, I do not think I even sneezed once. Actually, friends will know that I am not even avoiding to give them a good hug despite them being completely stuffed, as I know just how strong my body is. I am very grateful for my health, but I know it is not an accident.

Now, it is a whole new year, a new year that has enormous possibilities of a better life for you and your loved ones. For abundant success. For turning the tide against the negative impacts of last year. My wish to you is your best health ever and your weight is absolutely crucial to how you manifest great health, therefore, remaining overweight is not the path to feeling fit and fabulous! But, please do take caution… many weight loss methods can indeed compromise your health. So, educate yourself on healthy eating and make it your priority as health indeed is your biggest wealth. You owe it to yourself!

So, make this year count! Let this year be the one when you will shed last year’s body and make it one of the greatest years of your life!