Hormonal diet: what method promises rapid weight loss?
The hormonal diet consists of regulating your hormones through a strict diet, detoxification, and cardiovascular and muscle exercises. This method would promote weight loss very quickly, but many experts warn of the dangers of this practice. We are evaluating.
On the Internet, there are many diets that claim to be the perfect ally for losing weight. However, it is best to be very vigilant with these "miracle" methods that promise significant weight loss within very short periods. because of ? The consequences can be very harmful to our body. So be careful with these trendy diets that are often run on the web.
For several years, the hormonal diet has been regularly quoted in the English and French media. There are approximately sixty hormones in our bodies and hormonal fluctuations can sometimes affect our weight. The goal of a hormonal diet? Control hormonal balance through diet.
In 2017, Natasha Turner, MD, a naturopathic doctor, published a book called The Hormone Diet: A 3-Step Program to Help You Lose Weight, Gain Strength, and Stay Younger, Longer. This method is based on three steps believed to be the synchronization of hormones. For six weeks, a person follows a strict diet along with detoxification. She should also engage in regular physical activity and consume nutritional supplements.
How does the hormonal diet work?
The first phase begins with a two-week detox. Dr. Natasha Turner recommends avoiding foods rich in gluten such as grains, cow's milk products, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, peanuts, meat, citrus and artificial sweeteners. During this period, you can eat gluten-free starches, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, vegetable milk, and dairy products made from goat's milk and sheep's milk. It is also recommended to take nutritional supplements such as turmeric and fish oil.
Regarding the second phase, it focuses on reintegrating certain foods into the diet while paying attention to the body's reaction. According to Dr. Natasha Turner, many food products have been banned. She cites in particular:
high-fructose corn syrup such as candy, waffles, or jam;
fish high in mercury, such as mackerel, salmon, or sardines;
meat;
non-organic coffee
raisins;
dates;
Peanuts.
In her book, Naturopath recommends cutting out processed products like artificial sweeteners, refined grains, deli meats, peanut butter, and chocolate.
The third stage focuses on physical and mental health. The person continues to follow the Phase 2 diet while doing cardiovascular and strength training exercises.
Is the hormonal diet good for health?
Dr. Natasha Turner claims in her book that her method allows you to lose up to 5 kg during the first week, but is a hormonal diet really healthy? Kristi Brissett, a dietitian and nutritionist, told The Washington Post in 2019.
According to Dr. Sunil Koliwad, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco Diabetes Center, no studies have been done yet on the effects of diet on hormones. "It's premature at this point to think that anyone knows exactly what components of the diet are needed to deal with a variety of hormones," the specialist told The Washington Post.
In an interview with American Byrdie magazine, dietitian Mary Wert also pointed out the drawbacks of the hormonal diet. She noted, "This diet has little benefit, and unfortunately there is no research-based evidence that a hormonal diet improves sleep, glowing skin, and healthy hair. Five pounds in two weeks, which is unrealistic and unsustainable for most people."
For her part, Kristi Brisset recommended several solutions to promote hormonal balance without going through serious restrictions on the body. In particular, you can eat lower calorie and better quality foods while drinking a good amount of water every day. According to the specialist, it is very important to prefer a diet rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Regular physical activity is also necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the body and thus the hormones. However, in case of hormonal imbalance, it is advised to consult a health professional before starting a potentially harmful diet.