Experts explain why crash dieting is not good for your health

It always happens in January, when people rush to lose the holiday weight they've gained.

But health experts agree: crash dieting is never the solution.

In an episode of PinoyMD, General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Medicine Practitioner Dr. Oyie Balburias said crash dieting is not good for one's health.

For instance, when you subscribe to a diet that only has you eating one particular food throughout the day, for a period of time.

"Once dineprive mo ang sistema ng ating katawan ng kailangan niya na macronutrient, mag-aadapt at mag-aadjust ang ating katawan, at yun ang magdudulot ng consequences sa iyong metabolismo, immune system, blood pressure, and mental health," Doc Oyie said.

In the episode, PinoyMD featured Joicie Torio, who subscribed to a diet that had her only eating eggs. According to the doctor, even if eggs were rich in proteins, they did have enough fats and carbohydrates.

Subscribing to such a diet can have you suffer from nutrient deficiency; people after all need the three macronutrients protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

"Kapag bumaba ang iyong fatty acids sources mo dahli hindi ka kumakain ng whole sources of fats maapektohan 'yung iba pang system ng katawan mo lalo na [ang utak]," he said.

"'Yan ang pinaka matabang bahagi ng ating katawan mataas ang pangangailangan niya for fatty acids so if kulang ka noon magkakaroon consequences later," he added.

The PinoyMD episode stressed that the normal and safe weight a person can lose in a week is 1 to 2 lbs.

Losing more than that in the given period of time, Dr. Raul Quillamor said is not good for the health, especially for women as it can cause hormonal imbalance and fertility issues.

Meanwhile, there are those like Riza Mael Tullo who would even aid crash dieting with taking diet pills, a practice that got Riza to lose weight quickly but soon took a toll on her health.

She then started palpitating, experiencing headaches, and had a dry mouth.

"Hindi na rin ako makahinga hanggang sa napa-research ako sa gamot na iniinom ko kung FDA approved ba ayun dun ko na nakita na maraming nagcomplain na nagbounce back sila after nila itigil 'yung gamot," Riza said.

According to Doc Oyie, most diet pills contain a diuretic or a substance that promotes increased production of urine, which then affects a person's level of potassium.

"Ang potassium kasi kapag umiinom tayo ng any form of diuretic, lumalabas yun sa ating katawan kapag masyadong mababa ang ating potassium 'yung magko-cause 'yun ng  palpitasyon kasi importante ang potassium sa ating puso eh at sa blood vessels," Doc Oyie said.

Given this, he said a person could possibly experience high blood pressure.

Riza learned her lesson the hard way and decided to stop crash dieting and intaking the diet pills. "I learned na hindi minamadali ang dieting, yung na-gain kong weight hindi mabilis mawawala overnight," she said.

PinoyMD host, Connie Sison who went from 170 llbs to 140 lbs said there are no shortcuts to losing weight.

If you're struggling to lose the holiday weight gain, check out this article with weight loss tips from a professional fitness coach.

— Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News