Break Bad Health Habits

Food nourishes us, but some eating behaviours, like following fad diets, can be harmful. Here are five food habits you should quit

- Vida Li Sik

THERE’S a bewildering amount of information about wellness circulating on the internet, including many debates surrounding what healthy eating is. And while most of us would agree that when it comes to eating healthier, it’s best to consult with an expert, not all of us can afford to see a professional such as a dietician.

We asked Kezia Kent, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the Association of Dietetics in South Africa, to separate fact from fiction around food choices. Here are five things she urges people to stop doing.

1 FOLLOWING FAD DIETS

Just because a “new” diet is trending on social media or a friend has had success with it doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily work for you, Kezia warns.

“Our individual relationships with food are complex and unique. People eat for a variety of reasons other than sustenance for survival and energy,” she explains.

“For example, if you’re an emotional eater, a fad diet and immediate weight loss won’t resolve the fact that you use food as a crutch. Take the time to evaluate all of the factors behind your obesity or undesired weight. It’s not just about what you eat, but rather why you eat,” she adds.

One diet that has been used by many to lose weight is the intermittent fasting diet, which involves significantly reducing kilojoules only on some days and eating regularly the rest of the time. This has helped many lose weight because there are fewer days requiring self-discipline. However, intermittent fasting is not for everyone as there are several negatives.