Despite their reputation, crash diets are still popular for those wanting to lose weight fast. Even though experts warn that they are more at risk of regaining weight after they finish the diet and resume normal eating again, it doesn’t deter people from following them.
Dr Michael Mosley is an advocate for rapid weight loss diets and suggested why crash diets have such a bad reputation.
During an appearance on Studio 10, he said: “The reason they get a bad wrap is because there were lots of dodgy ones around in the 70s when there was lots of bad quality protein.”
He added: “The trouble with the original crash diet such as the cabbage soup diet or the juicing diets, is that you’re not getting an adequate amount of protein.
“You need a good amount of high-quality protein to maintain muscle mass.”
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Dr Mosley’s Fast 800 Diet includes foods that are protein-rich as well as high in fibre and healthy fats.
Despite eating 800 calories a day, they are calories well spent in the form of foods that are consumed within a low-carb Mediterranean diet in order to feel full.
If following this weight loss technique, Dr Mosley recommends adults consume at least 50g of protein daily.
If a person is wanting to burn fat fast, he suggests they up their protein intake to a larger amount.
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He also claims those who eat less than the recommended amount of protein could be harming their metabolic rate.
He said: “Your body will cannibalise your muscles and your metabolic rate will go down.”
The expert added: “It’s really important to have a decent amount of protein, which is 50-70g a day.
“You can mainly get protein from meat or from fish, and you can also get it from legumes, but you have to eat rather more.”
According to Healthline, a protein-rich diet helps to boost the metabolism as well as lead to an automatic reduction in calorie intake and cravings.
This is because high-protein foods help to suppress appetite, keeping slimmers fuller for longer.
“The reason for protein is you need it for your muscle,” Dr Mosley said, revealing the Fast 800 Diet also includes protein shakes or protein bars to help them increase their intake of the macronutrient.
“We do have meal replacement shakes which are very rich in protein, and we’re also aiming to produce protein boosters, to help people who might otherwise struggle with it,” he said.
Source: Daily Express | Diet
