Diets - Danger of
Curbing Hunger Artificially
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary to a
very outdated perception, this harm is not limited to those who suffer
from obesity[1]. In reality, according to the Directors of Health
Promotion and Education, the majority of Americans exhibit unhealthy
eating habits, with just over one in four women and only one in five men
claiming to eat the minimum five daily servings of vegetables and
fruits[i].
In response to this growing wave of American malnutrition, a number
of nutrition-based solutions have been proposed. This has been both a
positive, an ironically, a negative, development.
This has been positive in light of the simple fact that it has helped
increase basic “nutrition IQ”. The fact that most urban centers are home
to dozens of diet and weight loss centers, and that many malls now have
at least one health store has advanced awareness of America’s unhealthy
eating problem.
So, too, have the numerous television shows and news reports that
have covered the popular diets that dominate current weight loss
discussions, such as: the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Zone
Diet, and more. The fact that a vending machine may actually contain a
piece of fruit these days is further positive expressions of this
growing nutritional awareness.
However, there is a downside as well. This increasing information has
created a dizzying health and nutrition marketplace within which some
irresponsible products are being offered. Among these products – and
arguably the worst kind -- are those that artificially suppress
appetite.
There are two equally important reasons why appetite suppressants are
dangerous and irresponsible nutrition ideas.
The first reason is that they delude dieters into thinking that real
weight is being lost. For example, an unfortunately popular choice for
some dieters is to take diet pills. These pills are often diuretics that
promote weight-loss through water loss. As such, while a dieter will
feel less hungry and lose weight while taking the diet pills, both of
these effects will cease when taking the pills cease. Weight gain will
return rapidly, as will appetite[ii].
This leads to the other reason why these appetite suppressant
products are irresponsible and harmful. The human body is home to a
vastly intelligent network of systems, cells, chemicals, and
neurotransmitters. Regardless of one’s personal view of evolution of how
the human body came to be this way, it is agreed by both creationists,
evolutionists, and everyone else that the human body is a remarkable
example of comprehensive intelligence.
For example, the human body is able to synthetically produce –
without any conscious help from the owner of that body – 12 of the 20
amino acids that comprise protein[2]. Or consider the blood, whose
plasma carries platelets that enable minor wound blot clotting. Both of
these examples reflect a special kind of intelligence that the human
body humbly and quietly exhibits throughout life.
When hunger is artificially suppressed it interferes with this
intelligence. The body and its intricate network of problem-solving
mechanisms become confused. Basically, the body is still hungry, but it
does not feel hungry. The body is still craving the basic nutrition it
requires to survive: proteins, essential fats, nutrients, vitamins, and
calories. Yet because the hunger signal is not being effectively
transmitted from these systems to the brain – due to the appetite
suppressant – the individual dieter is not responding. In the
short-term, a dieter may lose some pounds[3]. In the long-term the
dieter will suffer from some form of malnutrition.
Clearly, appetite suppression “solutions” are not solutions at all.
They are irresponsible and potentially damaging – even fatal –
biological short cuts that undermine the innate intelligence of the
human body. They also often render the dieter weaker and in worse shape
than before, particularly if the inevitable post-pill weight gain leads
to a bout of emotional eating and subsequent additional weight gain.
What is required is a rather dated staple of healthy weight loss: a
healthy diet[iii][4]. This is, however, easier said than done
particularly since, as noted above, in America only about 25% of women
and 20% eat enough fruit and vegetable servings per day.
Within this rather complex scenario or problems and limitations,
however, there are some pioneering companies that are enjoying critical
acclaim from both the medical and the weight loss fields.
These companies – and admittedly there are extremely few of them --
offer dieters a balanced meal supplement that can also be used as a meal
replacement. This is of particular value to dieting business executives,
university students, and other frenetically busy people who do not have
the time to prepare balanced, diet-conscious meals.
Of greater importance is that these advanced solutions do not
suppress hunger at all, nor recklessly deny the body the nutrients and
vitamins required for healthy survival. Instead, the body is given the
fuel that it needs via vitamin fortified, low-calorie, fat-free food
that is well-balanced and nutritionally sound.
It will remain unacceptable, offensive, and disturbing to see
so-called “diet solutions” that are little more than appetite
suppressants that can -- and often do -- create much more harm than
superficial, temporary good. It is expected that, eventually, such
products will be exposed for the irresponsible items that they are, and
banned from the marketplace.
However, until that happens, it will be up to the responsible
nutrition companies in America to continue developing solutions that
truly help dieters help themselves in the long term.
About Protica
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with
offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica
manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact,
hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero
carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at
www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.
[1] Obesity, which is caused mainly by unhealthy eating, is
responsible for an estimated 300,000 deaths per year and all of them
preventable.
[2] The remaining 8 amino acids are called the “essential amino
acids” and must be obtained through diet.
[3] This kind of diuretic weight loss, however, will come at the
expense of muscle and not fat.
[4] In addition to diet, customized exercise plans are also proposed
to aid and maintain healthy long-term weight loss.
References
[i] Source: “Physical Activity and Unhealthy Eating”. The Directors
of Health Promotion and Education. http://www.astdhpphe.org/pubs_facts_physicalfactsheet3.asp
[ii] Source: “Potentially Dangerous Diet Strategies”. PDR.Net.
http://health.yahoo.com/centers/weight_loss/30004
[iii] Source: “Weight Loss: What Really Works?”. WebMD.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/49/40236.htm
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