Is your diet MAKING YOU SICK?

If you don't lose weight sensibly, you could end up feeling unwell

- SAMANTHA WOOD

Bombarded with information when it comes to dieting? With so many methods to try, it’s hard to know which will shift pounds in a healthy way. 'Losing excess weight can lower the risk of serious illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, but if you’re not careful how you do it, you can cause additional problems,' warns weight-loss coach Claire Jones, author of How To Eat Less*. Here’s what you need to know.

Cutting out carbs

This can leave you feeling lacking in energy, grumpy and nauseous. 'Low-carb diets can often mean low fibre intake too, which can cause constipation and reduce good gut bacteria, affecting digestion,' says Claire. 'You can also miss out on vital vitamins and minerals, affecting thyroid hormones and immune function.'

Do it right

* REDUCE DON'T CUT

Opt for high-fibre carbs, such as oats, sweet potato, bananas and beans.

* DITCH PROCESSED FOODS

Swap biscuits, muffins, crisps and chips, and white, refined carbs such as white pasta, for wholegrains like wholewheat pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread.

* WATCH PORTION SIZES

While unrefined carbs can be great for overall health and weight loss, they can also be easy to overdo, so try weighing and measuring.

Obsessively counting calories