What happens when……

You crash diet

Crash and fad diets have become more popular than ever and often the finger of blame is pointed at celebrity culture. Every week celebs say they have dropped a stone in just a week as the result of some new age crazy diet such as the ‘Cabbage Soup Diet’ or the ‘Master Cleanse’. None are crazier than the lemon and maple syrup diet, which Beyonce said got her in shape for the filming of Dreamgirls.

When you dramatically restrict your calorie intake on a fad diet, after a few days your metabolism plummets. In doing this, we starve our bodies and as the brain senses there isn’t enough food coming in, it will desperately start to cling to your fat stores. This in turn causes it to burn lean muscle mass for fuel.

Muscle mass actually helps us to burn calories quicker, so when your body goes into starvation mode, you will find it increasingly difficult to lose weight healthily after a crash diet.

After a week following a low calorie crash diet, your level of omega 3 fats in your brain can fall. Approximately 30% of your brain is made up of these fatty acids, and without enough you are more susceptible to develop depression.

It is recommended that women consume no less than 1,500 calories per day, and men no less than 2,000. So make sensible choices when it comes to your diet, cut out the junk food and step up your exercise regime to lose weight healthily. A healthy weight loss is approximately 1-2lbs per week, and by losing weight gradually instead of crash dieting you’re more likely to maintain your weight loss.

You eat a high fat meal

When you consume fast food, the saturated and trans-fats cause your blood vessels to narrow and tighten. They stay like this for up to 4 hours, causing an increase in your blood pressure and reducing your blood flow and oxygen supply. After these four hours are up and your body starts to return to normal, you will be craving another high fat meal again, and the cycle repeats itself.

If you repeatedly eat this way, you run the risk of suffering with narrowed arteries, which is a fast track to heart disease

So, for the sake of your health, make high fat meals an occasional treat and not a regular part of your diet.

You binge on caffeine

Just minutes after you down a coffee, the caffeine kicks in and has an almost immediate effect on your body. When you drink more than 3 small cups in a few hours, your body produces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These increase your heart rate, tense your muscles and raise your blood pressure. You may feel more alert, but if you drink too much you will experience a quick come down later in the day.

It’s best to drink no more than 4 cups of coffee per day, in moderate amounts. And large cans of sugary energy drinks are a big no no!

You’re dehydrated

When you body is dehydrated, waste products begin to build up and more toxins start to accumulate. As a consequence you will have less energy, experience headaches, feel bloated and may be prone to constipation.

Also, if you are dehydrated your body may lead you to believe you are hungry too as the human brain finds it hard to differentiate between hunger and thirst. By drinking more water, you won’t feel as hungry and so will find it easier to avoid tempting treats.

The amount of water your body needs depends on the amount you sweat and the amount of water in your food. To be on the safe side, its best to stick with the recommended 8 glasses per day. You will know you are drinking enough if you’re urine is clear and not yellow in colour.