F.D. Flam: TikTok diets are helping people when medicine can’t. However …

The Rise of Extreme Diets: Can Medicine Keep Up?

As social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube continue to shape our understanding of healthy living, a new wave of extreme diets has emerged. From veganism to juicing, and from carnivore diets to keto regimens, these trendy lifestyles often come with claims that they can cure serious diseases. But are any of these diets safe or healthy?

While some may be beneficial for specific individuals under certain circumstances, others can be downright risky. The body requires a delicate balance of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, and fats to function optimally. However, nutritional experts have long recognized the importance of a balanced diet, and recent research has shed new light on the benefits of certain diets.

One diet that has gained significant attention in recent years is the ketogenic diet, also known as the "keto" diet. By eliminating or restricting carbohydrates, these diets rely heavily on fats for energy. While some people have reported remarkable weight loss and improved health outcomes, others have experienced side effects such as nutrient deficiencies and high cholesterol.

Despite warnings from doctors, some parents are even promoting a carnivore diet for their children, citing supposed benefits for brain function and overall health. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims, and experts warn that such diets can cause serious health problems in young people.

Vegan diets, on the other hand, may be beneficial for some individuals as long as they include all essential vitamins and minerals. However, a diet consisting primarily of processed foods and sugar can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health issues.

In a recent study, researchers followed patients with Type 2 diabetes over five years as they adopted a ketogenic diet, guided by doctors through telehealth. The results showed that a significant fraction of participants went into remission, a result that doesn't occur spontaneously.

So why are these diets gaining traction? Part of the reason is that years of heavy advertising have convinced the public that fruit juice is the healthiest option, while demonizing fats and pushing high-carbohydrate diets as best for everyone. Additionally, medical professionals have been slow to acknowledge the potential benefits of dietary interventions, leaving patients feeling empowered to take charge of their own health.

As one patient advocacy group noted, "Dietary interventions haven't been studied beyond a few conditions, there's still plenty of untapped potential." With advancements in medicine and technology, it's clear that more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of these diets. However, for now, it's clear that patients are leading the charge – and with the right guidance from medical professionals, they may just be able to achieve remarkable health outcomes.

The key takeaway is that no one-size-fits-all diet exists, and what works for one person may not work for another. By embracing adaptability and exploring different dietary options, we can unlock a world of possibilities for improving our health and well-being.
 
🤔 these extreme diets are like wildfire social media trends - everyone's jumping on the bandwagon without thinking about the long-term consequences 🌡️ some people might benefit from them but others will end up in hospital 🏥 keto diet can be good for weight loss but what about nutrient deficiencies? and carnivore diet is a recipe for disaster 💀 especially for kids 👶 we need to get our heads back to basics - eat a balanced diet, not just whatever's trendy on tiktok 📸
 
🤷‍♀️ It's like everyone's an expert on healthy living now 🙄. They try these crazy diets and think they're gonna cure whatever 🚽. Meanwhile, actual doctors are over here saying "hold up, let's study this stuff before we start promoting it as a miracle solution 🧬". And don't even get me started on the whole keto vs vegan debate 💁‍♀️... some people need to learn about balance in their lives, not just eat whatever they feel like 💯.
 
I don't get why people are so obsessed with diets 🤷‍♀️. Like, I know some diets can be helpful but others just sound super extreme to me 😂. And what's up with the keto diet? Isn't that like only eating meat and no veggies or anything? 🥩 My friend does that and she always seems so tired all the time... 🤯 Is that really a good thing? I mean, I know some people say it helps with weight loss but isn't that just a short-term fix? 💡 And what about veganism? Is it true that you can get all your nutrients from plants or is that just not true? 🌱
 
🤯 So like if you look at the stats on social media, 70% of people who follow extreme diets are women aged 25-35... 📈 And 90% of those women claim to have improved their mental clarity and energy levels after making the switch! 💪 But let's dive deeper into the science - did you know that only 30% of keto dieters actually get into remission? 🤔 Meanwhile, a study published in The Lancet showed that vegan diets can reduce the risk of heart disease by 27%! ❤️ What's going on here? Is it just a case of confirmation bias or is there really something more to these diets? 🤷‍♀️

By the way, have you seen the graph showing the rise of keto dieters among Gen Z? 📊 It's like they're more likely to follow this diet than Millennials! 👀 What does that say about our generation and how we approach health? 💭
 
I'm so down with the idea of extreme diets being all the rage rn 🤪. Like, who needs moderation when you can just go full-on keto or vegan and call it a day? I mean, if it's good enough for some people to get off their diabetes meds in like 5 years, then that's all the proof I need 💁‍♀️. And let's be real, doctors are always so slow to adapt, they're just jealous of patients who are willing to take control of their own health 🙄. Fruit juice is definitely not the enemy, and high-carb diets are probably not as bad for you as people make them out to be 🍎👌.
 
🤯 I mean, I'm all for trying new things to improve our health, but some of these extreme diets are just crazy 😱! Like, who thought it was a good idea to deprive your body of carbs and expect everything to be okay? 🍞 My grandma used to say that food is love, not a science experiment 🤖. And don't even get me started on the carnivore diet for kids... what's wrong with a balanced meal or two? 🥗

I'm glad researchers are starting to catch up and do some actual science on these diets, but I think we need to be careful not to create a culture where everyone is trying to follow a fad diet without consulting a doctor first 💊. And can we please just take a step back from the social media influencers who are promoting these diets and remember that everyone's body is different? 🙄 It's like they're all saying, "Oh, you just need to eat more protein and less carbs!" Um, no... I had a doctor tell me that too, but then I got tested for actual nutrient deficiencies and had to make some changes. 🤯

Anyway, I do think it's cool that patients are taking charge of their health and advocating for themselves – we should be supporting them, not just telling them what they can or can't eat 🙌. And yeah, a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains is the way to go... but hey, at least people are talking about it now 😊
 
i think its crazy how these diets are popping up everywhere online 🤯 and people are taking them to extremes... like some parents thinking a carnivore diet is good for their kids? nope 🙅‍♂️ it sounds like medical professionals need to catch up on the latest research but at the same time, patients are driving innovation here 💡 if done right with proper guidance, maybe we can unlock real health benefits for everyone 🌟
 
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