18 Diet Trends from the ’80s That Experts Now Warn Against
The ’80s were an era of leg warmers, big hair, and fad diets. From cabbage soup to grapefruit cleanses, Americans were willing to try anything to shed those extra pounds. However, what seemed like quick fixes back then are now recognized as potentially harmful practices by nutrition experts. Here are 18 diet trends from the ’80s that would now be considered harmful:
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Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet gained popularity in the ’80s because it promised rapid weight loss. Followers consumed large quantities of low-calorie cabbage soup for seven days, along with specific foods on each day of the week. While some experienced short-term weight loss, the diet lacked essential nutrients, leading to fatigue, dizziness, and nutrient deficiencies.
Grapefruit Diet
The grapefruit diet was based on the belief that grapefruit enzymes burn fat. Followers consumed grapefruit or grapefruit juice with every meal, alongside limited portions of other foods. Despite claims of quick weight loss, the diet’s effectiveness was likely due to its low-calorie nature rather than any magical properties of grapefruit. The diet often left followers hungry and deprived, and its extreme restrictions made it unsustainable in the long term.
The Scarsdale Diet
Developed by Dr. Herman Tarnower, it gained popularity in the ’80s with its strict two-week meal plan. The diet emphasized high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals with limited fat and portion-controlled servings. While some experienced short-term weight loss, the diet lacked balance and could lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially in essential vitamins and minerals.
The Cookie Diet
The cookie diet was popular in the ’80s as an easy way to lose weight by replacing meals with specially formulated cookies. These cookies were often low in calories and nutrients, designed to suppress hunger and promote weight loss. While users may have seen short-term weight loss, the diet lacked the essential nutrients for long-term health and well-being. Additionally, relying on pre-packaged cookies for sustenance is not sustainable or conducive to developing healthy eating habits.
Slim-Fast
Slim-Fast became a popular weight-loss program in the ’80s with its meal replacement shakes, bars, and snacks. The program involved replacing two meals daily with Slim-Fast products and eating a sensible third meal. While convenient, Slim-Fast products often contained high amounts of sugar and lacked the nutritional variety needed for a balanced diet. Additionally, relying solely on meal replacements can lead to boredom and cravings, challenging long-term adherence.
The Beverly Hills Diet
The Beverly Hills Diet gained popularity in the ’80s for its unique approach to weight loss based on the concept of “food combining.” Followers were instructed to eat specific types of foods in specific combinations and sequences to optimize digestion and promote weight loss. However, this approach lacked scientific evidence, often leading to imbalanced eating habits. By restricting certain food combinations, followers risked missing out on essential nutrients and may have experienced digestive issues.
The Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse, also known as the lemonade diet, gained popularity in the ’80s as a detox and weight-loss regimen. For ten days, followers consumed a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. While some experienced short-term weight loss and detoxification effects, the diet lacked essential nutrients and calories needed for sustained health. Moreover, the extreme restriction of food groups can slow metabolism and lead to nutrient deficiencies.
The Air Diet
The Air Diet gained attention in the ’80s for its extreme approach to weight loss, where followers pretended to eat food without actually consuming it. This dangerous practice not only lacks essential nutrients but also promotes disordered eating habits and can lead to severe health consequences. By depriving the body of nourishment, followers risk malnutrition, weakened immune function, and other health complications.
The Tapeworm Diet
The Tapeworm Diet was a dangerous fad in the ’80s, during which individuals intentionally ingested tapeworms in hopes of losing weight. This extreme practice is not only ineffective but also poses severe health risks. Tapeworm infestation can lead to nutrient deficiencies, intestinal blockages, and other serious complications. Furthermore, intentionally introducing parasites into the body is unethical and can have long-lasting consequences on one’s health.
The Baby Food Diet
The Baby Food Diet gained popularity in the ’80s as a weight-loss strategy where followers substituted regular meals with jars of baby food. While baby food is nutritious and convenient for infants, relying solely on it for adult nutrition lacks the variety and balance needed for optimal health. The Baby Food Diet often led to inadequate calorie intake and nutrient deficiencies, as baby food is not meant for adults.
The Sleeping Beauty Diet
The Sleeping Beauty Diet was an extreme weight-loss method popularized in the ’80s that involved sedating oneself to avoid eating. Followers believed that sleeping for extended periods could bypass hunger and reduce calorie intake. However, this dangerous practice not only disrupts natural sleep patterns but also poses serious health risks, including dehydration, malnutrition, and metabolic imbalances. Relying on sedation to suppress appetite is both ineffective and hazardous, as it can lead to dependence on sleep aids and other health complications.
The Raw Food Diet
While the Raw Food Diet boasts fresh produce and increased fiber, it can be risky. Eating only raw foods makes getting enough calories, protein, and specific vitamins, like B12, difficult. Uncooked animal products raise the risk of foodborne illness. Cooking some foods improves nutrient absorption and destroys harmful bacteria.
The White Food Diet
The White Food Diet gained popularity in the ’80s for its simplistic approach to weight loss, which involved eliminating all white-colored foods, such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes. While proponents claimed that cutting out these foods would lead to rapid weight loss, the diet lacked scientific evidence and promoted restrictive eating habits. By focusing solely on the color of foods rather than their nutritional content, followers risked missing out on essential nutrients and developing imbalanced eating patterns.
The Morning Banana Diet
The Morning Banana Diet gained popularity in the ’80s as a simple and convenient way to lose weight. Followers were instructed to eat bananas for breakfast and avoid consuming anything else until lunchtime. While bananas are nutritious and low in calories, relying solely on them for breakfast lacks the variety and balance needed for optimal nutrition.
The Drinking Man’s Diet
The Drinking Man’s Diet was a popular fad in the ’80s that appealed to those who enjoyed alcohol but wanted to lose weight. The diet promoted high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals and allowed for generous consumption of alcohol, particularly spirits and dry wines. While followers may have experienced short-term weight loss due to reduced calorie intake, the diet lacked balance and nutritional variety. Excessive alcohol consumption not only provides empty calories but also poses numerous health risks, including liver damage, addiction, and increased risk of accidents and injuries.
The Beverly Hills Juice Diet
The Beverly Hills Juice Diet was a popular trend in the ’80s that involved drinking only fruit and vegetable juices for a set period to detoxify the body and increase weight loss. Relying solely on juices means your body won’t get the fiber and protein needed for satiety and balanced nutrition. Additionally, many commercial juices contain added sugars and lack the full spectrum of nutrients in whole fruits and vegetables.
The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet
The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet’s weight loss claims lack scientific backing. Though beneficial in small amounts, the vinegar’s acidity can irritate your throat, erode tooth enamel, and disrupt digestion in high doses. It might even slow down how quickly your stomach empties, leading to bloating and discomfort. While ACV may be included in a healthy diet, it’s not a magic weight-loss solution and can cause harm if consumed excessively.
The Last Chance Diet
The Last Chance Diet was an extreme liquid protein diet that gained popularity in the ’80s for its promise of rapid weight loss. Followers consumed only a specially formulated protein drink for an extended period, often resulting in severe calorie restriction and nutrient deficiencies. This extreme approach to weight loss posed significant health risks, including muscle loss, organ damage, and electrolyte imbalances.
