Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Low-carb diet findings and cautions
- What is the Mayo Diet?
- Why can you lose weight because of the mayo diet?
- What are the consequences if we limit salt intake?
- Side effects of a diet without salt
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Low-carb diet findings and cautions
You may have heard about mayo diet. Or maybe you have done it before? Many say that a diet that relies on foods without salt can effectively lose weight up to 5 kg in two weeks! Interested?
Wait a minute, is this diet healthy?
What is the Mayo Diet?
The long-circulating mayo diet is a type of diet that mainly limits the consumption of carbohydrates and salt. Those who follow the mayo diet will be asked to comply with the rules and restrictions that exist for 13 days. This diet promises to lose weight up to 7 kg during the 13 day cycle.
Currently there are many food catering that provides a menu of 13 days mayo diet, if you notice usually the type of menu served is processed by steaming or baking. There is no rice, the menu is dominated by vegetables and protein sources. Don't forget that the food is processed without salt.
By the researchers, this diet is also called fad diet, which means that the benefits for health have not been proven and the effects have not been known for the long term. This mayo diet has nothing to do with the Mayo Clinic. Fast weight loss claims in the mayo diet may be due to a drastic reduction in your carbohydrate intake.
Why can you lose weight because of the mayo diet?
As the main energy source, carbohydrates in the body will be stored in the form of glycogen which is then used as fuel for your activities. When these glycogen reserves run out, the body will use fat as an energy source.
However, when your body still does not get carbohydrates, over time the protein will be broken down to become an energy source. Because your body cannot store protein like storing carbohydrates, then over time the body lacks protein. Amino acids can no longer be used to repair damaged body cells. The most visible sign when your body lacks protein is a decrease in muscle mass. This can cause you to look thin.
What are the consequences if we limit salt intake?
Limiting salt consumption in this diet is claimed to be able to lose weight. This is not entirely wrong because salt is binding on water in the body. If you know the term bloating aka the body "swells", then salt is one of the causes bloating. Or if you feel thirsty after eating salty food, that's the nature of binding water to salt that's happening to your body.
The mayo diet greatly limits salt consumption, so it is not impossible for you to urinate frequently. This is because there is no salt that can bind water to your body. Salt also contains sodium, an electrolyte that works to maintain fluid balance in the body. Because there is no water bound and the frequency of urination increases, you experience drastic weight loss caused by loss of body fluids.
Side effects of a diet without salt
One of the effects of the mayo diet is the yoyo effect. When the 13 day cycle of your mayo diet is complete, you return to your old diet, and there is a weight gain. Because the mayo diet only limits your calories without overall lifestyle changes, then when you go back to eating like before dieting, your weight also slowly returns to normal.
Going on a mayo diet for a long period of time is not recommended, because it limits the types of certain nutrients and the calories that make you vulnerable to lack of nutrients.
