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Diet powder as a quick aid to lose weight?
Whether Almased, Slimfast or Precon: Many people rely on diet powder for weight loss and hope to get rid of a few pounds quickly and easily. The principle is quite simple: Whole meals are replaced by a diet shake, which saves a lot of calories, but still does not have to be "starved". But are the relatively expensive diet powders really promising? Or are consumers throwing their money out here to the window? An expert from the consumer center explains.
Losing weight without sports and calorie counting
After feasting on the holidays, many people hope to get rid of extra pounds quickly. Help promises numerous weight loss methods and diet products, which are advertised in advertising, magazines and on packaging as veritable "miracle cure". In addition to pills and diet programs such as "Weight Watchers", these include various powders which, according to the advertising, make it particularly easy and effective to lose weight. Because the so-called "formula diet" is comparatively easy to implement because neither sports, calorie counting nor elaborate cooking is on the program. Instead, meals are wholly or partially replaced by protein shakes or other ready-made foods such as broths, low carbohydrate meals, etc..
Diet drinks with benefits for a diet? Picture: Nitr - fotolia Powders cost up to 40 euros per can
The special formula products have very few calories, which should cause a rapid weight loss. "The diet that you are immediately looking at," it says. on the homepage of Slimfast, "Lose weight without starving" promises Almased on its website. But are the diet powders really promising? Or are the products just expensive? Because the powders, which are available in pharmacies, health food stores and drugstores, cost up to 40 euros per can. "The powders are not a magic potion, there is no ingredient that works wonders," explains nutrition expert Silke Schwartau of the consumer center Hamburg to the magazine "Stern". Instead, the success of the customer is ultimately due to the massively limited calorie amount in the formula products, so Schwartau on.
Warning on the packaging is required
In the beginning, the special diet in most programs will initially replace all meals with shakes. Subsequently, the powder is gradually reduced and it comes to individual self-cooked dishes. If all meals are replaced by pure liquid food, the warning "Can not be used for more than three weeks without medical advice" must appear on the packaging, according to the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv). An important point, because "such a radical crash diet is not harmless for the body," says Schwartau. Become e.g. Supplied with too little protein, the body begins to compensate with breaking down muscle mass.
Products fall under diet regulation
To ensure that the powder is not undersupplied, Formula products are therefore covered by § 14a of the German diet regulation. This prescribes a maximum content of 400 kcal per meal as well as the contained portion of carbohydrates, fat and proteins, as well as in the shakes a minimum quantity of vitamins, calcium and iron must be present. On the other hand, essential fatty acids still have to be added by consumers to most brands, e.g. mix a few drops of vegetable oil into the shake. To complain about, however, is the low content of fiber, because "usually only minimal amounts are included, for example, less than half a gram per 100 grams," said Schwartau. This is not enough in many cases, because the recommended amount for an adult is here, according to the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) at least 30 grams per day. "In the long term threaten with fiber deficiency digestive problems, especially if at the same time too little is drunk," said the expert.
Healthy diet with lots of vegetables and raw food promises more enjoyment
According to the expert, however, in people with severe overweight or obesity, it may be "sensible to use the powders at the beginning of a diet so that it shows an initial success." However, this should definitely be done under medical supervision. If there are no health restrictions, basically nothing speaks against trying out the formula diet for adults. However, it should always be ensured, in addition to the shakes, soups or similar. Drink enough to avoid dizziness or cardiovascular problems due to decreased calorie intake. Pregnant women, people with diabetes or kidney problems, however, should generally be away from the powders, according to Schwartau.
But there are other ways to lose weight: "For example, more vegetables and salad instead of fatty and sugary foods," explains Schwartau. This also benefits connoisseurs, because even if the shakes are available in different flavors such as strawberry, vanilla or chocolate, they are rarely delicious in the long term.
Pay attention to more exercise for long-term success
Moreover, in order to be successful in the long term, life habits would have to be changed, e.g. more sports driven and diet changed. Otherwise, there is a threat of the so-called "yo-yo effect", which causes the scales to display more at the end than before. "Those who only rely on the powders and fall back into their old habits after the crash diet are quickly gaining again," warns the nutrition expert. To avoid this, a professional accompaniment by a nutrition coach can help.
The German Nutrition Society also considers the formula diet critically. "For obese patients with a BMI over 30, it is particularly suitable for initiating weight loss and promoting motivation. However, only in the short term and under medical supervision, "said a spokeswoman for the" star ". On the other hand, those who want to lose little weight should, on the advice of the DGE, use other methods that have a lasting effect and are accompanied by a change in lifestyle habits. In general, according to the spokeswoman, it is advisable to consult with the doctor before starting a powder diet, as this can give a professional assessment.
Court judgments against Almased company
Although according to Schwartau using the Formula diets in the short term weight can be reduced - but many of the well-sounding promises from the manufacturers are probably a bit too high. This was also the opinion of the Verbraucherzentrale Sachsen, which classified the advertising of the Lower Saxon company Almased Wellness GmbH as "highly dubious, irresponsible and misleading". Confirmation received the consumer center (VZ) in this case from the district court Lüneburg, which issued two judgments against Almased.
According to the VZ notification, it will no longer be possible in the future to advertise concrete details on the duration and extent of weight reduction, such as "in just a few months from 75 to 60 kilograms". In addition, the product should no longer be advertised so that it can alleviate or ameliorate diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatism or diabetes. "After all, food is intended to be used for nutrition and not for the treatment of illnesses," says the court. Therefore, also previous statements such as "activated metabolism" and / or "verifiably regulates the blood sugar level" are inadmissible. (No)