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4 big reasons not to go on a wedding diet

Photo credit: Caiaimage/Tom Merton
Photo credit: Caiaimage/Tom Merton

From Harpers Bazaar UK

With as much focus on Pippa Middleton's diet as the dress for her big day, it became clear that the tradition of pre-wedding weight loss isn't outdated-although perhaps it should be.

Of course, eating healthily is always an excellent idea, but going to extreme measures to achieve rapid weight loss isn't.

For the brides-to-be out there desperate to drop a dress size or two before wedding season, it's worth knowing the impact yo-yo dieting can have on your health in both the short and long-term. From how it affects your hair and skin to the gut and fertility, here are the dangers to be aware of.

"It could have an impact on her ability to conceive"

1.Your hair can shed

Dr. Daniel Glass of The Dermatology Clinic London, says that crash dieting can have a number of negative effects on your body, including hair loss. "Everyone's hair goes through a growth cycle, called the 'telogen phase', when the hair stops growing and sheds," he explains. "Approximately 10% of your hair is in the telogen phase at any one time, and this results in normal shedding levels of between 30 - 150 hairs every day. Compared to the average, if you are under severe stress, either physically or emotionally, up to 30% of your hairs may enter the telogen (shedding) phase of the growth cycle, resulting in excess hair loss. It's commonly recognised that marked weight loss and extreme dieting may cause this." Luckily for some, it tends to resolve itself, but losing your hair is something you definitely don't want to experience right before your wedding day.

2.Nutrient deficiencies can show in your skin

If you're cutting out certain food groups, in the longer term it's possible that dieting will show on your face-and not in a nice way. Dr. Glass says it depends on exactly what type of diet is being followed, and how long it is adhered to, with the effects on the skin varying depending on which nutrient you become deficient in. With this in mind he explains that, for example, an iron deficiency "may result in itchy skin, hair loss and a sore tongue". Meanwhile, a protein‐energy deficiency results in the development of skin texture changes, "which include rough red skin, with a scaly look, that can often be mistaken for eczema". A vitamin A or K deficiency "can cause changes in the skin colour and bruising," while a vitamin B deficiency "may result in a sore, red rash at both sides of your lips". Not pretty.

3.It may slow down your metabolism (and cause constipation)

Gut health has hit the headlines recently thanks to an explosion of new research confirming that good bacteria is associated with better health, but crash dieting can cause all sorts of problems. Nutritional therapist Claire Barnes explains that "sudden food restriction will have a huge impact on the gut microflora, by increasing harmful bacteria which may lead to damage of the intestinal tract. This will impact the immune system as undigested food particles and toxins are more likely to move freely into the bloodstream and circulate around the body." It doesn't stop there. "Crash dieting can slow the body's metabolism, which often results in slower digestive function, causing constipation," she says. Instead of restricting food, look to make changes to the diet to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. Barnes suggests "Eating prebiotic foods which encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, specifically, onions, garlic, banana and oats. Include home-made fermented foods such as sauerkraut to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, or choose a multi-strain live bacteria supplement, such as Bio-Kult." Another dietary addition she recommends is a live bacteria and high fibre supplement, like Lepicol Lighter, which will also aid sluggish digestion and constipation.

4.It may affect your fertility

With one in 10 fertility problems thought to be caused by factors relating to your weight, a wedding diet should set off alarm bells to those hoping to conceive. Dr. Kim Clugston, Fertility Expert at DuoFertility Mobile, explains: "Fat is important for hormone production and storage in females. Having sufficient fat in the body is vital to maintain the delicate balance of hormones needed to allow ovulation to occur in each cycle. Generally, if a woman remains within a healthy BMI range and is having regular periods, then dieting shouldn't have a large impact on her fertility, as long as she loses weight gradually and is still getting the right nutrients through her diet. But if too much weight is lost in a short amount of time, which is often the case with yo-yo dieting, this may send the body into starvation mode, shutting down non-essential processes such as those involved in reproduction to allow the vital functions to be performed." So while gradual, healthy weight loss may actually improve fertility if a woman is overweight, if she has a low BMI it can have a negative effect. "Not having enough fat means the body may not produce sufficient levels of oestrogen, which in turn can prevent ovulation from taking place and affect the ability to conceive. A low BMI in women may lead to no periods at all and when a woman with an already low BMI diets, it could have an impact on her ability to conceive through its effect on ovulation," Clugston further explains.

More reasons not to go on a 'quick-fix' wedding diet

Although you may fit into that smaller dress, weight loss from crash dieting is usually due to the loss of fluids and lean muscle mass - two things you don't want to lose. Dieting may also cause you to over-analyse your looks, when of course your wedding is about so much more, plus it goes without saying that your fiancé and family love you regardless. As Barnes concludes, as a whole, it would be much more sensible to avoid crash dieting before a wedding. "Instead, aim to incorporate a steady, healthy diet, with a variety of protein, fruits and vegetables into your meals each day." Not only would this be better for your physical and mental wellbeing, it would reduce the risk of effects on your health before-and after-the big day.

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