A very low calorie diet is just one type out of the many different meal plans out there. Ideally you shouldn’t start one of these diets
without consulting a medical professional for some guidance because these diets restrict your calorie intake to levels that are severely low. People who need to shed some pounds quickly are sometimes recommended this kind of diet, however they may not be safe for everyone. We shall be looking at some of the things related to very low calorie diets in this article. How many calories should i eat a day While some experts claim that very low calorie diets are unhealthy, there’s an alternative point of view that says they are they key to longevity. It’s claimed, based on one theory that has research mainly done on animals, that you can slow the aging process down and prevent a number of diseases by cutting your calorie intake severely. People who subscribe to this view may go on a very low calorie diet even if they’re not overweight, because they believe it will help them live longer. An organization dedicated to this practice exists, and it’s called the Calorie Restriction Society. This theory hasn’t been either proven or disproved with humans, but it’s certainly something that could be studied further. 1200 calorie diet There has been research done that suggests there are no benefits from going on a very low calorie diet as opposed to a diet that’s just low calorie. A very low calorie diet restricts your calorie intake at 800 calories or less, whereas a typical low calorie diet only restricts you between 800 and 1500 calories. If you’re on a very low calorie diet you’ll see a lot of weight loss to begin with, however a good amount of it is from the loss of fluids. After a number of months, however, some studies have suggested that a VLCD isn’t any better than a low calorie diet in regards to weight loss. A VLCD, furthermore, often has unpleasant side effects, including fatigue, dry skin, hair loss and headaches, to name a few. Even though a very low calorie diet might be best in cases where there’s a medical reason, a normal low calorie diet will probably be most comfortable for people looking to lose weight. How many calories to lose weight In England in the 1970s the Cambridge Diet, which is a very low calorie diet, was developed. Due to you receiving foods that are pre-packaged on this diet, your calorie intake will be low in addition to having all of the essential nutrition you need calculated for you. These are in the form of shakes, soups and meal bars. Many people have been successful with this diet and it has been around for a long time, however it does come with its down sides. Exercise can only be done at very low intensity and drinking a lot of water is a must in order to avoid dehydration. People might also discover that they become very tired and bored of consuming nothing but packaged meals. Asking your doctor if such diets like the Cambridge Diet are safe for you is important before going on one.

For short term weight loss very low calorie diets can be very useful, however their effects in the long term are certainly questionable. For the people who are obese and under the supervision of a medical professional this may be an appropriate kind of diet. For other people it’s important that they get sufficient nutrients that their body requires. After all, in addition to losing weight you want to stay healthy.