Every day it seems that there is a new, faster way to get healthy. There are so many diets, dieting pills and workouts that can be done to make a drastic change in the way you look. But are these new diets really necessary to lose weight? It is important when starting a new diet to learn the benefits it offers because it may not even be beneficial, depending on your body and lifestyle. Collectively, these get-slim-quick schemes are known as fad diets.

When describing a fad diet it is important to know what is meant by “fad”. A fad is something that only lasts for a short amount of time, therefore, a fad diet is one that will only benefit you for a short amount of time. If you are trying to lose a fairly small amount of weight in a short amount of time then this could be a good diet, but if you are trying to increase your health or you are looking for something long term, a fad diet would probably not be the way to go.

An example of a fad diet that does not necessarily translate into being healthy is the gluten-free diet. In reality, going gluten free is only beneficial to those who have gluten intolerance. Gluten-free diets may cause an initial weight loss, but this may only be due to a change in eating habits, increased awareness of what you are eating or the limited options of foods available. 

Another diet with not-so automatic health benefits is that of a vegan. Going vegan is a very big commitment, because you cannot eat any animal products or byproducts. There are many different health benefits from becoming a vegan, such as a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, it is unlikely to ever reap any of them unless you are planning to become a long-term vegan. For short-term vegans, the largest benefit you will see is weight loss and even then, once your body gets used to being vegan the weight loss may very well stop.

Diets like vegan-ism, contrary to popular belief, are not foolproof. There are pitfalls to any type of diet. For example in veganism, there can be a struggle in getting natural vitamins such as iron, B-12 and vitamin D. No matter what your diet, getting essential nutrients is important — that is why they are called essential. This means that thorough research, or at least a complete understanding, of any new diet is also essential.

Of course, fad health regimes are not limited to diets. Regular exercise can tone you up quickly, but in order to stay healthy, and to keep from completely exhausting yourself, working out should be part of a regular routine, not just a quick fix to look good over spring break.

Becoming a vegetarian is an example of a diet that is usually a long-term diet. Many vegetarians do it due to some form of health problem for which they cannot eat meat. Being a vegetarian is not quite as demanding as becoming a vegan, therefore, supplements are in less of a demand among the followers of a vegetarian diet. In any diet it is beneficial to avoid supplements and use the most natural processes possible. 

Being healthy and having long-term health results requires more than just a fad diet or working out for a couple of weeks to lose a few quick pounds. It is unlikely that any fad diet will keep you looking good for a long time, because just like any other fad, it will fade and you will go back to your normal routine. Creating a good balance between long-term diet and exercise is the best route, because being healthy is lifelong endeavor.