Luciana Barrionuevo, nutritionist of the Northwest Operational Area, reported on the pros and cons of popular diets and their impact on health. In addition, he presented his perspective on fad diets, which often promote rapid weight loss without solid scientific foundations.
Barrionew said these diets are generally restrictive or include unusual foods, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, especially micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
Among the most popular diets are ketogenic, intermittent fasting, and low-carb diets. Regarding the first diet, the graduate explained that it is characterized by a very low intake of carbohydrates, mostly replaced by good quality fats. Its benefits include rapid weight loss and a feeling of satiety, but it can have adverse effects such as tiredness, fatigue, headache, and gastrointestinal complications.
In this sense, Barrionuevo provided information about low-carbohydrate diets: “They are more nutritionally complete than ketogenic diets and can help reduce fasting blood glucose and triglycerides. However, research reveals no significant differences in long-term weight loss between these and diets with a normal amount of carbohydrates.”
In this context, he highlighted that intermittent fasting has also gained popularity: “It is a practice that alternates periods of fasting with periods of eating, with benefits such as fat loss and improved insulin sensitivity,” he points out. However, it warns: “It is not suitable for everyone, and is contraindicated in pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, the elderly and people with eating disorders.”
Barrionuevo concluded by emphasizing the importance of professional supervision: “Any eating plan must be guided by a nutritionist, who is the expert in food and nutrition. It is essential that it adapts to individual needs and is based on a healthy diet that covers all nutritional requirements.”
