50 Signs Your New Diet is Making you Sick

So you’ve finally selected a diet you think is right for you. You’re motivated, you’re determined, yet something isn’t quite right. Maybe you don’t feel as well as you did before you started your diet, or maybe you’re having trouble balancing your budget to include the things your diet needs. Below are fifty signs that your new diet may be making you sick (or at least, broke).

Physical Changes

Granted, physical changes are what we all strive for on a diet. However, some physical changes aren’t so desirable.

1. If you suddenly find yourself shaky, even after a meal, you may be experiencing low blood sugar. Your body needs a certain amount of sugar to perform its regular functions, and cutting too much of the stuff from your diet may give you the appearance a fiending drug addict.
2. Has nausea become a regular part of life? It’s possible one of the foods you’ve been consuming isn’t sitting well with your digestive system. Unless you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t live with nausea on a daily basis. Try excluding foods that you think might be responsible until you feel relief.
3. Bathroom habits can be a sure sign that there’s something wrong with your diet. If you are suddenly dealing with constipation when it’s never been a problem, you might not be getting enough fiber. Left alone too long, constipation can require a trip to a doctor. Talk about an embarrassing visit.
4. Trouble in the bathroom can go both ways. Diarrhea is no more pleasant than constipation, and can lead to dehydration. If this is more of a concern for you, try adding more solid food to your diet. This can especially be a problem in liquid-based diets.
5. Feeling too tired to get out of bed for that three-mile run? If you’ve selected a very low-calorie diet, you’re not going to get enough calories for your body to want to do much more than snooze. Try increasing how much you’re eating, even if by only 100 calories.
6. Does it feel like your heart is about to break out of your chest? If you’re using a diet pill that contains caffeine, or if you’re consuming a lot of caffeine to suppress your appetite, you’re probably putting a strain on your heart. Cut back on your caffeine intake and your heart will appreciate it.
7. Is acetaminophen or ibuprofen becoming your best friend? If you are regularly experiencing headaches, there are two likely culprits. One is withdrawal: if you suddenly cut a regularly consumed substance from your diet (such as caffeine or sugar), your body may be crying for a fix. The other possible explanation is high blood pressure, a concern in high protein or broth-based diets. High blood pressure can cause serious health problems, so don’t ignore persistent headaches.
8. Are you experiencing right-sided stomach aches after meals? It’s not necessarily a sign you ate too much, but if you’re on a high-protein, high-fat diet, it may be a symptom of gallstones. The regular consumption of such meals increasing the risk of developing these painful little rocks. A potential complication of gallstones is acute pancreatitis; if left untreated, this can become a life-threatening condition.
9. Talk about pain: have you ever had a kidney stone? If you suddenly experience a low back pain that makes you want to run out in front of a truck, you might have one. Although some kidney stones result from underlying disease or heredity, excessive consumption of vitamin D, certain forms of calcium, oxalate-rich foods, or the use of diuretics can also contribute to your misery.
10. Maybe you’ve decided to try adding more citrus fruit, coffee, tomatoes, and garlic to your diet. Maybe it suddenly feels like someone lit a match in your chest. Congratulations, your diet is giving you heartburn! Cut back on your trigger food consumption and you should get some relief.
11. Who cut the cheese? Flatulence, while embarrassing, is pretty harmless. Unfortunately, many of the healthy foods needed in a diet are also gassy culprits. If excessive flatulence is becoming a problem, talk to your doctor or a dietitian about how to reduce your windy ways.
12. If you’re consuming an excessive amount of citrus fruit, or if you aren’t consuming enough of certain minerals, you may begin to notice an increase in canker sores. Lack of B-12, iron, or folic acid can contribute to this problem.
13. Have you decided to go vegan? Are you reading your labels carefully? If the answer to the first question is yes and the second question no, then beware of the following symptoms: canker sores, vomiting, swollen red mouth, fatigue, memory loss…. If you are experiencing these symptoms, stop what you’re doing. Go to the store and select either a niacin supplement or a big, lean steak. You’re probably suffering from pellagra.
14. Are you having trouble with your eyes? Maybe that blue sweater you bought doesn’t look so blue anymore, or you suddenly trip over every little thing in the dark on your way to the bathroom. Or perhaps you’re previously lustrous hair has become dry and brittle. If you have been avoiding animal products or certain vegetables, you may have a vitamin A deficiency. Better grab some carrots, or better yet, something animal-based. Retinyl esters are absorbed more than beta carotene.
15. Plenty of people have heard of iron-deficiency anemia (most commonly linked to alcoholism), but there are other types as well. Pernicious anemia (caused by a B-12 deficiency) can be problematic for vegans. The best sources for B-12 are meat and dairy products. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, yellowish skin, and a host of other things.
16. Are you guilty of overcooking your vegetables, or not eating enough of them, period? That’s a great way to end up with folate deficiency anemia. Even if you aren’t pregnant, you need folic acid. The symptoms of folate deficiency anemia are similar to pernicious anemia.
17. If you begin bleeding from your hair follicles, have trouble healing when cut, or notice your gums are bleeding, you better grab a glass of OJ. Congratulations, you have scurvy. Scurvy has been around longer than all of us and it will continue to plague those who don’t consume enough vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for a lot of our functions, and aside from scurvy, a deficiency can contribute to anemia.
18. Check your fingernails. Do you see white bands or spots? Is your hair coarse and brittle when it used to be smooth? How’s the skin on your elbows and knees? Is it abnormally red and thick? If you’re following a vegan diet, you may have a zinc deficiency. Zinc can be found in non-animal products, but you’re going to have eat a lot of almonds, chickpeas, and kidney beans to make up for what you’re missing from the animal kingdom.
19. If you’re experiencing the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia (fatigue, bruising, slow clotting), but you’re CERTAIN you’re getting enough iron, you may have a copper deficiency. It’s hard not to get enough copper, so what causes a copper deficiency? Too much zinc. That’s right; don’t go crazy on zinc supplements just because you’re diet is lacking. It’s better to just eat a balance of foods that have zinc naturally. Copper is important too, folks.
20. Have you been experiencing a lot of stomach aches? Is your tongue green even though you haven’t been drinking green food coloring? If you’re taking a supplement that contains a large quantity of vanadium, it’s probably the culprit.
21. Stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are symptoms of food poisoning, but they’re also symptoms of overuse of creatine. If you’ve decided to boost your diet and exercise regimen with a creatine supplement, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced these gastric woes.
22. If you’ve decided to utilize whey protein as an appetite suppressant or as a substitute in some foods, you may notice you feel dizzy or bleed more when you injure yourself. Exercise extreme caution with this supplement if you are on blood thinners or are hypoglycemic.
23. Maybe you decided to try that wacky cranberry juice diet. Remember I mentioned kidney stones and how pleasant they sound? If you have developed one, in addition to diarrhea and stomach aches, it’s probably because of all that cranberry juice.
24. Here’s another reason to avoid a fruit juice diet. Have you ever heard of arginine? Neither have I, but it’s very important. It comes from a whole host of grains, nuts, and meats, none of which are part of a fruit juice diet. If you’re on one of these diets and are experiencing constipation, hair loss, and trouble with wound healing, you have a deficiency. Put down the stupid juice and eat some brown rice and chicken, for crying out loud.
25. Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure are common if you’re taking a diet pill that contains guarana. Guarana is a caffeine alkaloid, so the symptoms are similar to a caffeine binge.
26. How do your teeth look? Has your dentist noticed a lot of cavities, but you’re on a sugarless diet? Even sweeteners such as molasses, honey, fructose, and barley malt can contribute to tooth decay. Don’t assume because a product says “sugar-free” it’s a free pass to brushing and flossing well.
27. E. coli food poisoning is rather unpleasant; if you’ve experienced numerous cases of food poisoning recently and have been consuming an all-organic diet, there’s a pretty clear link there. Many of the fertilizers used on organic farms are untreated poo. In other words, wash your fruits and veggies better.
28. If you’ve decided to utilize the diet drug phentermine, keep an eye out for the following side effects: heart palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, high blood pressure and high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. Joy of joys, another pill that hates your heart.

Mental Changes

Okay, so dieting can be a little daunting. You may not feel like yourself every day, but if you find yourself having one bad day after another, it may be time to reevaluate what you’re eating.

1. Everyone gets the blues sometimes, but did you know your diet can cause depression? If your diet is high in sugar, fat, processed meats, or refined cereals, you may be contributing to your own condition. Try substituting some steamed veggies and lean protein in; your mood is bound to improve.
2. Would you believe a severe vitamin deficiency could affect your brain permanently? That is, if you leave it untreated. Have you been experiencing a great deal of confusion, ataxia (a.k.a., you can’t coordinate your muscles to move properly), and memory loss, you may have a thiamine deficiency, also known as Wernicke encephalopathy or beriberi. Thiamine, or vitamin B-1, is found in foods like organ meat, pork, and enriched breads and cereals.
3. Are you moody? Has your visual perception changed? Are you having trouble with verbal memory? Remember what I said about a zinc deficiency? Well, it’s not just bad for your hair and nails.
4. Have you recently been experiencing very nasty migraines and restless, fitful sleep? If you aren’t eating enough leafy veggies, whole grains, and nuts, you may have a magnesium deficiency. Not only is your mind affected by this, you heart can be, too. Magnesium is important in the contractions of the heart. Too little magnesium and your heart might “forget” how to beat properly. Hmmm, that doesn’t sound good at all.
5. If you’re taking diet pills with a high level of caffeine, a pounding heart beat isn’t the only thing you may experience. Too much caffeine can make you irritable and prevent a good night’s sleep.
6. Are you having trouble controlling your temper? Did you have a temper tantrum the last time some dandelion fluff landed on your shoe? As crazy as it may sound, studies indicate that diets can make you irritable and aggressive. It doesn’t matter what kind of diet it is, anything that limits your allowed foods can make you a super grouch.
7. If you’re following the Atkins Diet approach, you may notice your memory has begun to slip. Diets high in saturated fats can contribute to memory loss.
8. Don’t think you’re safe from memory loss just because you aren’t consuming a ton of saturated fat. Diets that include a lot of soy products, especially tofu, can also make you forget where you put your keys.
9. Yet another reason to avoid an extremely low-fat or liquid diet: vitamin E deficiency. Do you remember crossing your eyes as a kid just for giggles? Well, you won’t be able to prevent it if you lack vitamin E. It’s not just your eyes that may be affected; if you are on a very-low calorie diet and are having trouble coordinating your muscle movements or feel as though your muscles are weak, get to a doctor immediately. Don’t rely on supplements, because vitamin E toxicity is just as bad as a deficiency. Untreated, your deficiency can lead to permanent blindness and dementia.
10. If, for some stupid reason, you have decided to circumvent U.S. laws against ephedra and are using supplements purchased from other countries, there’s a very good chance you’re experiencing mania, hallucinations, depression, suicidal thoughts, irritability, and a slew of other abnormal mental conditions. Not to mention that your heart is probably ready to explode. I don’t care what the media tells you, you CAN be too thin, especially when attempting to be that thin kills you.
11. Here’s a list of symptoms for you: mild paralysis, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, convulsions and respiratory rate depression, weakness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and faintness. Maybe you’ve decided to substitute honey whenever you’d normally use sugar. If so, make sure it’s not honey from Rhododendron plants. If it is, you probably have what is known as honey intoxication.
12. Have you ever fainted? I bet you have if you’ve decided to utilize some silly super-low-calorie diet. Improper nutrition isn’t just responsible for numerous vitamin deficiencies; it can lower blood pressure and blood sugar to dangerous levels. Start carrying around one of those oh-so-fashionable Victorian fainting couches. You’ll look ridiculous, but a fluffy couch is better than an unforgiving floor.

Environmental Changes

Who’d have thought your diet would not only make you miserable, but make others miserable too?

1. One important rule for anyone on a diet: don’t use your diet on your kids. Some of the crazy diets adults use can be very damaging to growing bodies. If you’ve cut out milk and dairy products in your diet and your child’s diet, you may be putting them at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. A lack of vitamin D in young children can manifest as rickets, and may give your child the tell-tale bow legged appearance. You may be too old for rickets, but you aren’t too old for early-onset osteoporosis. Have some milk, take a supplement, go play outside for 15 minutes, anything!
2. Are you using diet pills to aid in your weight loss goals? If you aren’t careful, you may suddenly realize your bank account is empty. If you’ve been ordering your pills from the television or the internet, be sure to read the fine print: many orders automatically enroll you in a monthly “subscription.” If you click through with your purchase, you may be giving them unlimited access to your funds.
3. Maybe you’ve decided to utilize meal replacement shakes in hopes of shedding a few pounds. You go to the store, buy a pack of six shakes for around $14. But wait, that’s only enough for three days! You’ll need ten of those per month. Don’t forget the snack bars for the daily munchies. Six of those for $5, and you can eat three a day. Well, that’s only a two day supply! Fifteen boxes ought to do you. Oh, but you still need food for the rest of your family, and for your one full meal a day. If you’re on a budget, you may find yourself buying your family Hamburger Helper for every meal just so you can afford your diet.
4. Boy oh boy, the right amount of zinc is REALLY important. Here’s another example of what happens when you force your diet on your kids: if you are suffering from a zinc deficiency, so are your children. Children who don’t get enough zinc can exhibit signs of stunted growth, attention problems, and difficulty with hand-eye coordination.
5. Maybe you signed up for one of those sweet “we’ll send all of your meals to you” diet plans. For anywhere between $250 and $400 dollars a month, you can forget cooking for yourself, just eat all those tasty little tidbits they send your way. Wait, $400 for one person’s meals for a month? I wouldn’t call that cheap. I wouldn’t call the meals “meals”; I’d probably call them “snacks.” Spend all that money and still be ravenous every day? Yep, sounds like a stupid diet to me.
6. Is your loved one ready to strangle because you absolutely INSIST on buying green tea extract pills, diet pills, supplements, and every other “diet” item known to man? Have you considered that not only are you wasting money, but you’re making a fast enemy of your spouse? Shame on you.
7. Remember how I said that dieting can increase irritability and aggressive behavior? If you try to force your family to diet with you, you’re going to have the angriest house on the block. Really, is it worth it?
8. Sometimes, it’s the people around us that can affect our diets and our choices. If your friends and family are encouraging insane eating habits, maybe it’s time to get some new friends and family. Okay, scratch that last part; just ignore them.
9. If you aren’t on a wacky diet, but a family member is, you may be subject to seemingly innocuous claims about your weight. Don’t take the bait; know when to put your foot down.
10. If you’re on a diet and family members are encouraging you to have more cake, more roast beef, more anything, consider two possibilities. One, they’re sick of your diet. Two, your diet is making you sick, and they’re trying to help you.

Taken From So you’ve finally selected a diet you think is right for you. You’re motivated, you’re determined, yet something isn’t quite right. Maybe you don’t feel as well as you did before you started your diet, or maybe you’re having trouble balancing your budget to include the things your diet needs. Below are fifty signs that your new diet may be making you sick (or at least, broke).

Physical Changes

Granted, physical changes are what we all strive for on a diet. However, some physical changes aren’t so desirable.

1. If you suddenly find yourself shaky, even after a meal, you may be experiencing low blood sugar. Your body needs a certain amount of sugar to perform its regular functions, and cutting too much of the stuff from your diet may give you the appearance a fiending drug addict.
2. Has nausea become a regular part of life? It’s possible one of the foods you’ve been consuming isn’t sitting well with your digestive system. Unless you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t live with nausea on a daily basis. Try excluding foods that you think might be responsible until you feel relief.
3. Bathroom habits can be a sure sign that there’s something wrong with your diet. If you are suddenly dealing with constipation when it’s never been a problem, you might not be getting enough fiber. Left alone too long, constipation can require a trip to a doctor. Talk about an embarrassing visit.
4. Trouble in the bathroom can go both ways. Diarrhea is no more pleasant than constipation, and can lead to dehydration. If this is more of a concern for you, try adding more solid food to your diet. This can especially be a problem in liquid-based diets.
5. Feeling too tired to get out of bed for that three-mile run? If you’ve selected a very low-calorie diet, you’re not going to get enough calories for your body to want to do much more than snooze. Try increasing how much you’re eating, even if by only 100 calories.
6. Does it feel like your heart is about to break out of your chest? If you’re using a diet pill that contains caffeine, or if you’re consuming a lot of caffeine to suppress your appetite, you’re probably putting a strain on your heart. Cut back on your caffeine intake and your heart will appreciate it.
7. Is acetaminophen or ibuprofen becoming your best friend? If you are regularly experiencing headaches, there are two likely culprits. One is withdrawal: if you suddenly cut a regularly consumed substance from your diet (such as caffeine or sugar), your body may be crying for a fix. The other possible explanation is high blood pressure, a concern in high protein or broth-based diets. High blood pressure can cause serious health problems, so don’t ignore persistent headaches.
8. Are you experiencing right-sided stomach aches after meals? It’s not necessarily a sign you ate too much, but if you’re on a high-protein, high-fat diet, it may be a symptom of gallstones. The regular consumption of such meals increasing the risk of developing these painful little rocks. A potential complication of gallstones is acute pancreatitis; if left untreated, this can become a life-threatening condition.
9. Talk about pain: have you ever had a kidney stone? If you suddenly experience a low back pain that makes you want to run out in front of a truck, you might have one. Although some kidney stones result from underlying disease or heredity, excessive consumption of vitamin D, certain forms of calcium, oxalate-rich foods, or the use of diuretics can also contribute to your misery.
10. Maybe you’ve decided to try adding more citrus fruit, coffee, tomatoes, and garlic to your diet. Maybe it suddenly feels like someone lit a match in your chest. Congratulations, your diet is giving you heartburn! Cut back on your trigger food consumption and you should get some relief.
11. Who cut the cheese? Flatulence, while embarrassing, is pretty harmless. Unfortunately, many of the healthy foods needed in a diet are also gassy culprits. If excessive flatulence is becoming a problem, talk to your doctor or a dietitian about how to reduce your windy ways.
12. If you’re consuming an excessive amount of citrus fruit, or if you aren’t consuming enough of certain minerals, you may begin to notice an increase in canker sores. Lack of B-12, iron, or folic acid can contribute to this problem.
13. Have you decided to go vegan? Are you reading your labels carefully? If the answer to the first question is yes and the second question no, then beware of the following symptoms: canker sores, vomiting, swollen red mouth, fatigue, memory loss…. If you are experiencing these symptoms, stop what you’re doing. Go to the store and select either a niacin supplement or a big, lean steak. You’re probably suffering from pellagra.
14. Are you having trouble with your eyes? Maybe that blue sweater you bought doesn’t look so blue anymore, or you suddenly trip over every little thing in the dark on your way to the bathroom. Or perhaps you’re previously lustrous hair has become dry and brittle. If you have been avoiding animal products or certain vegetables, you may have a vitamin A deficiency. Better grab some carrots, or better yet, something animal-based. Retinyl esters are absorbed more than beta carotene.
15. Plenty of people have heard of iron-deficiency anemia (most commonly linked to alcoholism), but there are other types as well. Pernicious anemia (caused by a B-12 deficiency) can be problematic for vegans. The best sources for B-12 are meat and dairy products. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, yellowish skin, and a host of other things.
16. Are you guilty of overcooking your vegetables, or not eating enough of them, period? That’s a great way to end up with folate deficiency anemia. Even if you aren’t pregnant, you need folic acid. The symptoms of folate deficiency anemia are similar to pernicious anemia.
17. If you begin bleeding from your hair follicles, have trouble healing when cut, or notice your gums are bleeding, you better grab a glass of OJ. Congratulations, you have scurvy. Scurvy has been around longer than all of us and it will continue to plague those who don’t consume enough vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for a lot of our functions, and aside from scurvy, a deficiency can contribute to anemia.
18. Check your fingernails. Do you see white bands or spots? Is your hair coarse and brittle when it used to be smooth? How’s the skin on your elbows and knees? Is it abnormally red and thick? If you’re following a vegan diet, you may have a zinc deficiency. Zinc can be found in non-animal products, but you’re going to have eat a lot of almonds, chickpeas, and kidney beans to make up for what you’re missing from the animal kingdom.
19. If you’re experiencing the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia (fatigue, bruising, slow clotting), but you’re CERTAIN you’re getting enough iron, you may have a copper deficiency. It’s hard not to get enough copper, so what causes a copper deficiency? Too much zinc. That’s right; don’t go crazy on zinc supplements just because you’re diet is lacking. It’s better to just eat a balance of foods that have zinc naturally. Copper is important too, folks.
20. Have you been experiencing a lot of stomach aches? Is your tongue green even though you haven’t been drinking green food coloring? If you’re taking a supplement that contains a large quantity of vanadium, it’s probably the culprit.
21. Stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are symptoms of food poisoning, but they’re also symptoms of overuse of creatine. If you’ve decided to boost your diet and exercise regimen with a creatine supplement, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced these gastric woes.
22. If you’ve decided to utilize whey protein as an appetite suppressant or as a substitute in some foods, you may notice you feel dizzy or bleed more when you injure yourself. Exercise extreme caution with this supplement if you are on blood thinners or are hypoglycemic.
23. Maybe you decided to try that wacky cranberry juice diet. Remember I mentioned kidney stones and how pleasant they sound? If you have developed one, in addition to diarrhea and stomach aches, it’s probably because of all that cranberry juice.
24. Here’s another reason to avoid a fruit juice diet. Have you ever heard of arginine? Neither have I, but it’s very important. It comes from a whole host of grains, nuts, and meats, none of which are part of a fruit juice diet. If you’re on one of these diets and are experiencing constipation, hair loss, and trouble with wound healing, you have a deficiency. Put down the stupid juice and eat some brown rice and chicken, for crying out loud.
25. Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure are common if you’re taking a diet pill that contains guarana. Guarana is a caffeine alkaloid, so the symptoms are similar to a caffeine binge.
26. How do your teeth look? Has your dentist noticed a lot of cavities, but you’re on a sugarless diet? Even sweeteners such as molasses, honey, fructose, and barley malt can contribute to tooth decay. Don’t assume because a product says “sugar-free” it’s a free pass to brushing and flossing well.
27. E. coli food poisoning is rather unpleasant; if you’ve experienced numerous cases of food poisoning recently and have been consuming an all-organic diet, there’s a pretty clear link there. Many of the fertilizers used on organic farms are untreated poo. In other words, wash your fruits and veggies better.
28. If you’ve decided to utilize the diet drug phentermine, keep an eye out for the following side effects: heart palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, high blood pressure and high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. Joy of joys, another pill that hates your heart.

Mental Changes

Okay, so dieting can be a little daunting. You may not feel like yourself every day, but if you find yourself having one bad day after another, it may be time to reevaluate what you’re eating.

1. Everyone gets the blues sometimes, but did you know your diet can cause depression? If your diet is high in sugar, fat, processed meats, or refined cereals, you may be contributing to your own condition. Try substituting some steamed veggies and lean protein in; your mood is bound to improve.
2. Would you believe a severe vitamin deficiency could affect your brain permanently? That is, if you leave it untreated. Have you been experiencing a great deal of confusion, ataxia (a.k.a., you can’t coordinate your muscles to move properly), and memory loss, you may have a thiamine deficiency, also known as Wernicke encephalopathy or beriberi. Thiamine, or vitamin B-1, is found in foods like organ meat, pork, and enriched breads and cereals.
3. Are you moody? Has your visual perception changed? Are you having trouble with verbal memory? Remember what I said about a zinc deficiency? Well, it’s not just bad for your hair and nails.
4. Have you recently been experiencing very nasty migraines and restless, fitful sleep? If you aren’t eating enough leafy veggies, whole grains, and nuts, you may have a magnesium deficiency. Not only is your mind affected by this, you heart can be, too. Magnesium is important in the contractions of the heart. Too little magnesium and your heart might “forget” how to beat properly. Hmmm, that doesn’t sound good at all.
5. If you’re taking diet pills with a high level of caffeine, a pounding heart beat isn’t the only thing you may experience. Too much caffeine can make you irritable and prevent a good night’s sleep.
6. Are you having trouble controlling your temper? Did you have a temper tantrum the last time some dandelion fluff landed on your shoe? As crazy as it may sound, studies indicate that diets can make you irritable and aggressive. It doesn’t matter what kind of diet it is, anything that limits your allowed foods can make you a super grouch.
7. If you’re following the Atkins Diet approach, you may notice your memory has begun to slip. Diets high in saturated fats can contribute to memory loss.
8. Don’t think you’re safe from memory loss just because you aren’t consuming a ton of saturated fat. Diets that include a lot of soy products, especially tofu, can also make you forget where you put your keys.
9. Yet another reason to avoid an extremely low-fat or liquid diet: vitamin E deficiency. Do you remember crossing your eyes as a kid just for giggles? Well, you won’t be able to prevent it if you lack vitamin E. It’s not just your eyes that may be affected; if you are on a very-low calorie diet and are having trouble coordinating your muscle movements or feel as though your muscles are weak, get to a doctor immediately. Don’t rely on supplements, because vitamin E toxicity is just as bad as a deficiency. Untreated, your deficiency can lead to permanent blindness and dementia.
10. If, for some stupid reason, you have decided to circumvent U.S. laws against ephedra and are using supplements purchased from other countries, there’s a very good chance you’re experiencing mania, hallucinations, depression, suicidal thoughts, irritability, and a slew of other abnormal mental conditions. Not to mention that your heart is probably ready to explode. I don’t care what the media tells you, you CAN be too thin, especially when attempting to be that thin kills you.
11. Here’s a list of symptoms for you: mild paralysis, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, convulsions and respiratory rate depression, weakness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and faintness. Maybe you’ve decided to substitute honey whenever you’d normally use sugar. If so, make sure it’s not honey from Rhododendron plants. If it is, you probably have what is known as honey intoxication.
12. Have you ever fainted? I bet you have if you’ve decided to utilize some silly super-low-calorie diet. Improper nutrition isn’t just responsible for numerous vitamin deficiencies; it can lower blood pressure and blood sugar to dangerous levels. Start carrying around one of those oh-so-fashionable Victorian fainting couches. You’ll look ridiculous, but a fluffy couch is better than an unforgiving floor.

Environmental Changes

Who’d have thought your diet would not only make you miserable, but make others miserable too?

1. One important rule for anyone on a diet: don’t use your diet on your kids. Some of the crazy diets adults use can be very damaging to growing bodies. If you’ve cut out milk and dairy products in your diet and your child’s diet, you may be putting them at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. A lack of vitamin D in young children can manifest as rickets, and may give your child the tell-tale bow legged appearance. You may be too old for rickets, but you aren’t too old for early-onset osteoporosis. Have some milk, take a supplement, go play outside for 15 minutes, anything!
2. Are you using diet pills to aid in your weight loss goals? If you aren’t careful, you may suddenly realize your bank account is empty. If you’ve been ordering your pills from the television or the internet, be sure to read the fine print: many orders automatically enroll you in a monthly “subscription.” If you click through with your purchase, you may be giving them unlimited access to your funds.
3. Maybe you’ve decided to utilize meal replacement shakes in hopes of shedding a few pounds. You go to the store, buy a pack of six shakes for around $14. But wait, that’s only enough for three days! You’ll need ten of those per month. Don’t forget the snack bars for the daily munchies. Six of those for $5, and you can eat three a day. Well, that’s only a two day supply! Fifteen boxes ought to do you. Oh, but you still need food for the rest of your family, and for your one full meal a day. If you’re on a budget, you may find yourself buying your family Hamburger Helper for every meal just so you can afford your diet.
4. Boy oh boy, the right amount of zinc is REALLY important. Here’s another example of what happens when you force your diet on your kids: if you are suffering from a zinc deficiency, so are your children. Children who don’t get enough zinc can exhibit signs of stunted growth, attention problems, and difficulty with hand-eye coordination.
5. Maybe you signed up for one of those sweet “we’ll send all of your meals to you” diet plans. For anywhere between $250 and $400 dollars a month, you can forget cooking for yourself, just eat all those tasty little tidbits they send your way. Wait, $400 for one person’s meals for a month? I wouldn’t call that cheap. I wouldn’t call the meals “meals”; I’d probably call them “snacks.” Spend all that money and still be ravenous every day? Yep, sounds like a stupid diet to me.
6. Is your loved one ready to strangle because you absolutely INSIST on buying green tea extract pills, diet pills, supplements, and every other “diet” item known to man? Have you considered that not only are you wasting money, but you’re making a fast enemy of your spouse? Shame on you.
7. Remember how I said that dieting can increase irritability and aggressive behavior? If you try to force your family to diet with you, you’re going to have the angriest house on the block. Really, is it worth it?
8. Sometimes, it’s the people around us that can affect our diets and our choices. If your friends and family are encouraging insane eating habits, maybe it’s time to get some new friends and family. Okay, scratch that last part; just ignore them.
9. If you aren’t on a wacky diet, but a family member is, you may be subject to seemingly innocuous claims about your weight. Don’t take the bait; know when to put your foot down.
10. If you’re on a diet and family members are encouraging you to have more cake, more roast beef, more anything, consider two possibilities. One, they’re sick of your diet. Two, your diet is making you sick, and they’re trying to help you.

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