| Meal replacement programs seem to have become | | | | * Irritability and confusion |
| more and more popular in recent years, and this | | | | * Inability to concentrate |
| worries me a great deal! | | | | * Muscle breakdown |
| They come in a range of options, including powders, | | | | * Problems with nerve and muscle function |
| drinks, soups, bars and biscuits. Some of these | | | | * Conditions such as osteoporosis, anemia, gout, |
| products can replace all your meals, while others | | | | gallstones, clinical depression, heart problems, renal |
| replace one or two meals per day, with the third | | | | failure, and liver disease |
| meal being something healthy you cook yourself. | | | | It's important to note that the lower your calorie |
| Obviously such programs do help some people lose | | | | intake, the greater the likelihood you will experience |
| weight. But, there are risks involved. | | | | some of these side effects. This is very worrying |
| Studies show that in the long run people usually can't | | | | indeed! |
| maintain this way of eating long term, and research | | | | Very low calorie plans such as meal replacement |
| has also shown that people on a 400 calorie per day | | | | shakes are unhealthy for a number of reasons, |
| diet lose no more weight than those on the 800 | | | | including: |
| calorie diet. | | | | * They don't encourage eating real food. |
| So, why bother trying to follow such dangerously | | | | * You risk vitamin and mineral deficiencies. |
| unhealthy low calorie diets? | | | | * They don't teach you how to choose healthy food |
| Very low calorie diets can lead to a number of | | | | or cook healthy meals. |
| uncomfortable side effects. These include: | | | | Are you still considering a meal replacement plan? I |
| * Dry mouth | | | | would caution that you first seek the advice of your |
| * Headache | | | | doctor, and visit a registered dietitian for a suitable |
| * Dizziness | | | | and safe plan. |
| * Fatigue and weakness | | | | If you've been struggle with motivation to change |
| * Cold intolerance | | | | your diet, perhaps a meal replacement plan isn't the |
| * Dry skin and nails | | | | answer to your problem, maybe you first need to |
| * Menstrual irregularities in women | | | | change what's going on in your head, before you can |
| * Hair loss | | | | begin to work on your diet. |
| * Constipation/diarrhea | | | | |