A Quick Fix Diet
Fitness coupled with a healthy lifestyle has become extremely popular nowadays. Millions of people spend a lot of time and effort trying to sculpt the body of their dreams. Some stick to expert-approved methods that lead to a gradual weight loss, while others experiment and try out every new diet that promises instant results with zero effort. If you are looking for a quick weight loss fix, then this 3-day sweet potato diet might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
If you are not interested in a rapid weight loss and want to reach a sustainable result, then the Better Me app is exactly what you need! Calorie tracker, personalized weight loss meal plan, customized workout plan, and many other features are there to help you sculpt the body of your dreams.
Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
Before diving into the basics of the 3-day sweet potato diet, you need to find out more about the food that this diet is focused around. Sweet potatoes are quite rich in various nutrients, including fiber, potassium, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and protein. They also contain antioxidants, that help fight inflammation. In general, sweet potatoes can offer you the following benefits:
- May help control blood sugar levels
- May lower the risk of certain types of cancer
- Promotes healthy digestion and bowel movements
- Improves immunity
- Boosts eye health
- Provides you with lots of nutrients
- Prolongs the feeling of fullness
- Low in calories
The Concept of a 3-Day Sweet Potato Diet
As the name suggests, this nutritional plan focuses on the consumption of sweet potatoes. Although there are different variations of the 3-day sweet potato diet (https://betterme.world/articles/3-day-sweet-potato-diet/), the most popular type is where you are allowed to eat only this vegetable. The problem with this nutritional plan is that it is extremely poorly balanced, just like any other mono-diet. Despite sweet potatoes being quite nutritious, the diet fails to provide you with everything your body needs, including the proper number of calories. This results in an extreme caloric deficit, which can slow down your metabolism and lead to a rapid weight loss. Such a slimming pace is not approved by health specialists since it is often accompanied by such symptoms as dehydration, malnutrition, headaches, dizziness, constipation, hair and muscle loss, and others. If your goal is to shed a couple of pounds in a healthy way, then you should reduce your daily caloric intake by 500-1000 calories. This will lead to a gradual and safe loss of 1-2 pounds a week. Such a result is sustainable and can be reached with the help of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
The original sweet potato diet is not the healthiest nutritional plan there is, since it may lead to nutrient deficiencies, yo-yo effect, and unsustainable results. Another possible drawback of this dietary plan is that overconsumption of sweet potatoes may turn your nails and skin a little orange.
This diet is not recommended for people who suffer from kidney stones, since the high oxalate levels of this food can add to the formation of calcium-oxalate kidney stones.
What Foods Can Make The 3-Day Sweet Potato Diet Healthy?
Although sweet potatoes can provide you with a lot of benefits, having only this food for each meal will do your body no good. But who said that you can’t follow a healthy version of a 3-day sweet potato diet? So, here are the recommendations on what to consume to get all the vital nutrients from your diet while losing weight:
- Replace all refined and simple carbs with complex carbs from whole grains.
- Make sure to consume plenty of high-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and legumes.
- Consume a proper amount of healthy fats found in fish, avocadoes, olives, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
What to Avoid On This Diet?
It is only natural that to successfully slim down you are encouraged to eat more healthy foods and less unhealthy products. And the same goes for this diet. Here are the foods that should be avoided when following a 3-day sweet potato diet:
- Sugary drinks and beverages
- Alcohol
- Foods with added sugar
- Foods with refined carbs
- Greasy fried foods and foods rich in saturated fats
For more healthy meal plans, download the BetterMe app! It can also offer you a rich variety of healthy recipes with detailed cooking directions.
Conclusion
The original 3-day sweet potato diet is not the best weight loss plan out there since it encourages daily consumption of the same food, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies. But if you make sure to consume all the vital nutrients from other foods along with sweet potatoes, and create a caloric deficit, you may be able to successfully slim down in a healthy way. Make sure that your diet includes plenty of protein, healthy fats, complex carbs, vitamins, minerals, and water. Try to keep away from refined carbs, sugars, saturated and trans fats. You should also stick to a regular workout plan to keep your body toned and add to your daily calorie expenditure. Remember, that before starting any diet, it is required to consult a health specialist.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
