The real American Heart Association eating plan recommends that healthy Americans get no more than 30 percent of their total calories each day from fat, and also recommends eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Any diet that gives specific menus or suggests that the diet be followed for a set period of time is not from the American Heart Association. The real American Heart Association diet has been carefully researched and is intended for a lifetime of use. Most important, the real American Heart Association eating plan accommodates the needs of people with diverse food preferences. Unlike an incomplete liquid protein diet or other fad diets, a good diet can be eaten for years to maintain desirable body weight and good health.
Fad diets fail to provide ways to keep excess weight off.
Lack of physical activity is also a major risk factor for heart disease. Because fad diets require drastic changes in eating patterns, dieters can't stay on them for long. Fad dieters don't learn anything about permanently changing their eating patterns. Despite what fad diet books may say, the only sensible way to lose weight permanently is to eat less and maintain or increase physical activity. A healthful diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables in combination with regular physical activity can assist most people in managing and maintaining weight loss for both cardiovascular health and appearance.