The healthy way to start 2015 and diets to avoid

ARE you sick and tired of it yet — the media frenzy heralding a new year and a new you, asks Clodagh Finn?

The celebs, bless them, are rolled out in their red-carpet finery to show how they achieved their sculpted body on a selection of diets that range from the weird and the faddy to the downright dangerous.

Have you heard of the Breatharian diet, for instance? It claims people do not need food for survival and can live on fresh air alone.

Most of us will probably give that a wide berth in our attempts to lose a few pounds in time for Easter/that summer wedding/your child’s graduation.

However, other diets — such as the celeb-endorsed Paleo diet and the sugar-free diet — have gained a large following in recent years.

You might be surprised, then, to hear that the British Dietetic Association has put both on the list of worst celebrity diets of 2015 — and warned people not to try them.

If the experts agree on one thing, it is this — there is no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight, says consultant dietician Sian Porter.

The most successful programmes are those that promote slow and steady weight loss.

“Go for the marathon approach, rather than the sprint finish,” she says.

“Don’t think about ‘going on a diet’ or just what changes you need to make over a month or two. Think about the changes you need to make for ever to lose that weight and, as importantly, keep it off.”

Any healthy eating plan should include a rich variety of foods, appropriate portion sizes, moderation and, not to be underestimated, enjoyment.

If a diet makes you miserable or leaves you feeling socially isolated, it’s bound to fail.

And you can forget the notion of ‘detoxing’. It’s nonsense, according to the British Dietetic Association, an organisation that counts more than 7,500 food and nutrition professionals among its members.

Nutritionist Ciara Wright of Positive Nutrition agrees that the body can detoxify efficiently on its own and advises against any radical detox regimes.

“Restrictive diets can reduce the wide variety of nutrients you need for good health and for weight management,” she says, adding that people who follow a long-term, low-fat diet are often deficient in fat-soluble vitamins.

“However, many of us could benefit from a general dietary spring clean; reducing our consumption of caffeine, alcohol, sugary and fatty foods,” she adds.

“Pick three changes that you can keep up in the long term,” she suggests. “They might be as simple as drinking more water, having treats only at weekends and eating five portions of vegetables every day.

“Write down your goals and review them every week.”

Now, that sounds like a much more healthy way to start 2015.

DIETS TO AVOID IN 2015

The celebs may love them, but the British Dietetic Association (BDA) has warned against the following:

The Paleo or Stone Age diet: Miley Cyrus might think it’s the way to go, but the British Dietetic Association says it’s just a Jurassic fad.

While it’s good to cut down on processed foods and sugar, cutting out entire food groups — such as dairy, grains, and legumes — could led to nutrient deficiencies and compromise your health and your relationship with food.

The sugar-free diet: Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin are said to be devotees of this diet, which excludes all types of sugars and often all carbohydrates. While you are encouraged to cut down on sugars and to be label-aware, some versions of this diet ask that you cut out all sugar and put vegetables, fruit, dairy products, and nuts on the banned list. Not the way to a healthy, balanced diet, says the BDA.

The VB6 diet: Beyoncé and Dita Von Teese have reportedly followed this scheme, which suggests you follow a vegan diet until 6pm, but eat whatever you want after that. While plant-based foods such as beans, pulses, and wholegrains are good for health, it makes no sense to allow a free-for-all (and eating foods high in salt, sugar, and fat) after 6pm. Don’t do it.

The Clay Cleanse Diet: Zoe Kravitz is said to have tried a daily spoon of clay, which supposedly helps you to detox and stay in shape. Bonkers, say the experts. The Food Standards Agency has also warned against it after high levels of lead and arsenic were found in some clay-based detox drinks.

READ MORE: Clodagh Finn’s diary of a non-dieter