Can diet foods help you lose weight? Doctor: Overdose may harm the body

The Green Dietary Fiber Capsules endorsed by artist Tao Jingying, which sold over NT$400 million, were suddenly removed from the shelves by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a precaution, causing an uproar among consumers. The reason was that some people experienced gastrointestinal discomfort after taking the Green Dietary Fiber Capsules, and the product was sent for testing, and it was found that the aloin content in the product might have exceeded the standard, which was then reported by the media and spread. Weight loss doctors emphasize that although this type of food is said to be "not easy to form body fat" and can delay gastrointestinal emptying and bring a sense of fullness, it does not have a weight loss effect and it is impossible to make the lower abdomen smaller and the curves slimmer.

Weight loss specialist Dr. Liu Bowen pointed out that real weight loss is about losing body fat, not body weight.

Liu Bowen, executive director of the Taiwan Obesity Health Education and Prevention Association and a weight loss specialist, pointed out that in recent days, the clinic has received cases of patients seeking treatment after eating some so-called weight loss foods for a period of time. The patients complained of palpitations, dizziness, and diarrhea.

Survey: 70% of consumers buy weight loss foods because of celebrity recommendations

According to a recent survey conducted by the Taiwan Obesity Medicine Association, among more than 1,000 telephone respondents in the country, 93% of the people believe that the current weight-loss foods on the market are completely ineffective, and only 5% of the people believe that they have a weight-loss effect within a week of consumption; another 70% of the respondents would purchase weight-loss foods based on direct sales or recommendations from celebrity endorsements.

In fact, the foods currently on the market that claim to have weight loss effects can be roughly divided into three types. Most of them are those that claim to contain dietary fiber ingredients, followed by high-protein weight loss foods and weight loss foods with diuretic effects. But in fact, these do not conform to the principles of healthy weight loss, and excessive intake may even cause harm to the body.

If you want to lose weight healthily, it is best to eat more fruits and vegetables, because in addition to dietary fiber, fruits also contain other antioxidant ingredients, as well as vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Dietary fiber cannot be digested and absorbed by the intestines, but it can promote intestinal peristalsis and help defecation. In addition, the weight loss effect is still not obvious if you consume high-protein or diuretic foods. If you want to lose weight healthily, you must reduce the total calorie intake. If you still eat too much high-fat food and your food intake does not decrease, it is impossible to lose weight by consuming more dietary fiber or high-protein foods.

Eating natural fruits and vegetables is the best way to lose weight without burden

Dr. Liu Bowen recommends that if you want to lose weight healthily, it is best to eat more fruits and vegetables, because in addition to being rich in dietary fiber, fruits also contain other antioxidant ingredients, as well as nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's daily dietary guidelines recommend that people should consume at least three servings of vegetables, each weighing 100 grams, and two servings of fruit, each equivalent to an orange, each day. Alternatively, you can eat at least one different fruit every day, or make your own fruit and vegetable juice, washing the peels as much as possible before blending them, and drinking them together with the residue to keep your intestines healthy and help you lose weight.