Our dietitian-nutritionist Andrea Grau Domingo, nutritionist at Clínica EGOS, has taken part in an article published by 20minutos analysing some of the food trends that have become popular on social media and can have negative consequences for health.
With the arrival of summer, searches for quick ways to lose weight increase and social media becomes a showcase of diets, challenges and formulas that promise record-time results. Faced with this, at Clínica EGOS we stress the importance of approaching nutrition from a professional, individualised perspective based on sustainable habits.
In this context, Andrea Grau Domingo, dietitian-nutritionist at Clínica EGOS, contributed her professional view to the article published by 20minutos, warning about the risks of certain practices that have gone viral.
Evidence-based nutrition, far from fads
The rise of social media has made certain weight-loss methods spread quickly. Extreme fasting, detox diets, completely cutting out carbohydrates or meal-replacement products are some of the trends that can create unrealistic expectations.
As our specialist explains, a nutritional strategy should not be based on following the latest fad, but on finding an approach adapted to each person’s needs, goals and circumstances.
"Nutrition is not a fad, it is health."
At EGOS we advocate nutrition that prioritises food education and building habits that can be kept up in the long term, rather than extreme restrictions or quick fixes.
The five trends analysed by our specialist
In her contribution to 20minutos, Andrea Grau Domingo focuses on five especially popular practices:
1. Taking intermittent fasting to the extreme
Intermittent fasting can be used within certain nutritional strategies, as long as it is properly planned. However, extending fasting periods excessively can be counterproductive for some people and lead to intense hunger, anxiety or larger meals afterwards.
2. Detox diets
Plans based exclusively on juices or smoothies promise to “cleanse” the body, but our body already has organs such as the liver and kidneys in charge of these processes.
In addition, this type of restrictive diet can make it harder to meet nutritional needs properly.
3. Eliminating carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are not the enemy. Their place in a balanced diet depends on factors such as the type of food, the amount and individual needs.
Eliminating this food group completely can make it harder to stick to the diet and cause lack of energy in some people.
4. Basing your diet on meal-replacement products
Shakes, bars and other preparations can have specific occasional uses, but they should not routinely replace a varied diet.
As our nutritionist points out, they can work as an occasional resource, but not as a long-term solution.
5. Restricting during the week to make up for the weekend
Eating very little for several days to make up for weekend excesses can create a cycle of restriction and loss of control that ends up affecting both eating habits and your relationship with food.
Our specialist’s participation in 20minutos reflects Clínica EGOS’s commitment to rigorous and accessible nutritional information, especially at a time when social media is full of messages promising quick results.