Side Effects to Slim Fast

From LoveToKnow Diet

If you are considering a new diet program, you must weigh both the benefits and side effects to Slim Fast.

Slim Fast is a popular diet program that involves drinking one meal-replacement shake for breakfast, another for lunch, and then eating a traditional meal for dinner. Dieters also have the option of eating two servings of fruit and one Slim Fast nutrition bar in addition to the shakes and meal. The goal of the Slim Fast diet is to cause weight loss through a combination of caloric reduction and good nutrition.

While many people lose weight on the Slim Fast diet, the weight loss program may potentially cause a number of unpleasant side effects. Rarely, these side effects are severe enough to force dieters to abandon use of the diet products altogether. Strictly following the program guidelines is crucial, as the most serious side effects are not caused by the product itself, but by rapid weight loss.

How Does Slim Fast Affect the Body?

The Slim Fast diet is successful for the same reason it leads to side effects. Dieters consume far fewer calories while using the shakes as meal replacements than they did before beginning the program. This reduction in calories may cause fatigue and other symptoms in some people.

Slim Fast and other meal-replacement products cannot provide dieters with the same level of nutrition found in a healthy balanced diet. Over time, this may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Dieters should not use meal-replacement formulas as a substitute for healthy eating, according to the American Heart Association.

Side Effects to Slim Fast Diets

The purpose of Slim Fast shakes and nutrition bars is to replace two daily meals with lower-calorie substitutes. Unfortunately, many dieters rely on the meal-replacement products alone, resulting in a very restricted caloric intake, rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and health complications. Most side effects are temporary and will cease as the body adjusts to the diet.

Short-Term Side Effects

Transient side effects include constipation, headache, loose stools, intense hunger, gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort. These side effects typically disappear with continued use of the shakes, but may persist in some people. Dieters who are lactose intolerant may experience significant bloating and gas while using milk-based Slim Fast shakes.

Potentially Serious Side Effects

Serious side effects are typically a result of rapid weight loss, and rarely occur with proper use of the product. Some dieters report hair loss, gallstones, low blood pressure, abnormal blood glucose levels, abnormal QT intervals, ECG abnormalities, and cessation of menstruation.

Using the shakes and nutrition bars as directed will generally not reduce your total daily caloric intake to a dangerous level. However, if your dinner meal is inadequate in the amount of calories or nutrients it provides, you may experience potentially dangerous side effects to Slim Fast.

Warning: Liquid Diets and Rapid Weight Loss

Doctors often recommend low-calorie and very low-calorie diets to obese patients at risk for weight-related health complications, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. When used as directed and under medical supervision, these diets are very beneficial. However, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases warns that these diets can be dangerous when used by mildly or moderately overweight dieters.

Gallbladder disease is the most common severe side effect associated with rapid weight loss. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, rapid weight loss increases the production of cholesterol by the liver, resulting in super saturation and an increased risk of gallstones. Losing more than 3 pounds per week impairs functioning of the gallbladder, decreasing its ability to contract and expel bile. This risk is as high as 12 percent following 8 to 16 weeks on a restricted-calorie diet.

While very low-calorie diets cause considerable loss of fat, they also cause dangerous muscle loss. Moreover, it is very difficult to maintain weight loss once eating habits return to normal. Unless you commit to healthy eating, engage in regular exercise, and change your lifestyle, you will very likely regain the pounds you shed during your diet. To ensure your weight loss attempt is successful, consult your doctor before beginning any new diet program, follow the program guidelines carefully, and engage in regular physical activity.

Short-term use of meal-replacement products can help jump-start a weight loss program and offer a convenient way to shed a few pounds. When used as directed, Slim Fast provides numerous health benefits with minimal risk of side effects.

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