Medical conditions often require the use of a special diet that either contains or lacks certain chemicals. For example, a person who has diabetes is often on a diet designed to carefully regulate their blood sugar level, sufferers of celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet, the lactose-intolerant omit milk and dairy products, and people with kidney disease must follow a strict low-sodium diet to ease the strain on their kidneys.
Treatment for mild hypertension includes a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fat-free dairy foods, and low in fat and sodium, to lower blood pressure.
Vegetarian diet
As noted above, while many vegetarians and vegans adopt their diet for religious or ethical reasons, there is a growing body of evidence that vegetarian diets can prevent obesity and lower disease risks.
According to the American Dietetic Association, "Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer." (source: American Dietetic Association. 2003. Position paper on vegetarian diets. J Am Diet Assoc. 103:748-765.)
As for weight loss, vegans on average weigh 10% less than non-vegetarians (source: Davis, B. and Melina, V. 2000. Becoming Vegan. pg. 22), and in a year-long study comparing Dean Ornish's vegetarian diet to Weight Watchers, The Zone Diet, and The Atkins Diet, Dean Ornish's diet showed the most weight-loss. (source: Dansinger, M.L., Gleason, J. L., Griffith, J.L., et al., "One Year Effectiveness of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets in Decreasing Body Weight and Heart Disease Risk", Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions November 12, 2003 in Orlando, Florida.)
Very Low Calorie Diets
The Very Low Calorie Diet, or VLCD, is a special diet to be undertaken with medical supervision. It offers rapid fat loss but can be dangerous. It consists of the consumption of a special powder mixed in with 200-300 ml of water to be taken three times a day. The drink, similar to a milkshake, provides approximately 1914 kJ (456 Cal) of energy per day when consumed at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It contains all necessary vitamins and minerals, although there is a risk of overdosing on selenium if a person consumes more than they should (more than three times per day). VLCDs should only be used for dieting when a person's body mass index exceeds 30. In addition, at least two liters of water must be consumed per day and a person should consider using dietary fiber supplements regularly. Without this, the person risks severe constipation.
VLCDs can be very successful, but only when used over a six- to 12-week period. Because the body is essentially starving, it is burning up its fat stores and lowering its metabolic rate. As soon as the diet ceases and normal food is consumed again, there is an immediate increase in weight. Short-term use of VLCDs (one to four weeks) will have little, if any, benefit for the dieter, as the increase in weight will negate the weight lost in the first place. Once the full course of the diet is finished, it is up to the successful dieter to maintain their current weight, via exercise and sensible eating, otherwise they will put on weight again. VLCDs put a great deal of strain on a person's body, and should only be undertaken with medical consultation.
Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and an online advice expert. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Visit her for Advice & Counseling, or take a free Depression Screening today.
Subscribe to the growing self-help ezine "Better Choices".
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Dieting". You are free to copy & use this article under the terms of the license. *Please note that a courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
