Humans are social animals, and nowadays we spend most of our time on social media platforms, which are dominated by before and after videos, pics of weight loss and gain, which happens in a short span of time. In this era of cyber dominance, everyone is sharing their experience of transformation and asking others to follow their methods, who don’t possess nutritional or medical degrees. Thus, the common public follow them blindly without knowing the side effects. As per Ayurveda, the constitution of an individual is different from the other or as we say in Ayurveda, everyone is having their own distinctive prakruti, so the method which worked out for one individual may not work for the other one and may even cause hazardous effect, as we turn our body into an experiment lab.
Methods of improper weight gain and its side effects: –
As an easy way to bulk up muscles, people have started to take steroid pills such as Trenbolone and Dianabol, which can cause kidney and liver problems, muscle pulls and cramps, breathing problems, nausea, and diarrhoea.
People also depend on protein powder, most weight gainers, or mass gainers, are powders that you mix with water or any other favourite beverage. These powders contain varying amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, individual amino acids and other supplements such as creatine etc. These powders work because they are relatively high in calories, making it easier to boost caloric intake significantly. Some weight gain supplements come in tablet or capsule forms, but they do not deliver sufficient calories, so they are not useful for adding pounds. Health risks and effectiveness of weight gain powder are one of the most researched topics by nutrition experts. According to health experts, inappropriate weight gain by powder consumption causes muscle cramps and other adverse side effects. Inadequate consumption can lead to kidney damage, liver problems, heart problems, dehydration, and diarrhoea. Weight gain powder is extensively rich in vitamin C and iron content, which are the reasons for diarrhoea and stomach problems. To avoid unnecessary health ailments, one must use weight gain powder only after consulting a doctor.
Rapid weight loss and its effects on the body:
People are following starvation diets, keto diet, diet pills and supplements, and a very low-calorie diet to reduce their weight in a quick period. Rather than following exercises and a nutritional diet, they want a quick and easy way out. Nowadays there is a trend of weight-loss surgeries also. We can see so many advertisements of weight-reducing tablets, especially Ayurvedic in social media and in medical shops, which should be given only under the supervision of a physician. But in the current scenario, the public can easily get their hands on that product and use it without knowing its side effects. Some of the side effects of rapid weight loss are gallstones, dehydration, malnutrition etc especially due to low intake of protein, electrolyte imbalances, Headaches, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, constipation, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, muscle loss.
How the world of Ayurveda can help: –
Ayurveda clearly talks about the way to take care of our body by following dinacharya (day to day regimen), which can be implemented in the present day of our life. It also precisely quotes the dietary habits that should be followed by the people of certain Prakruti. Thus, Ayurveda quotes that krisha or a lean stature of the body is better to have than a stout body, but the way to get to that stature or to maintain that stature, we should not take any shortcuts. Thus, by making people aware about the ways to attain a good physique through Ayurveda and by practising yoga is where the future lies.
