Health fad diets (continued)

Meanwhile, overseas and across borders, diet fads are no longer uniquely American. Spread across the globe, international diets like the Israeli Army diet, the Brazilian Bikini Body Program, The Russian Air Force Diet, and The Asian Banana Diet represent each particular culture’s wish to be thinner, healthier, and more gastronomically disciplined. At Translators, Inc., we don’t recommend any diet fad even when it is internationally recognized as popular, well named, and non-lethal. Here are some international favorites:

1. The Israeli Army Diet.
This classic diet fad dates back to the 1970s. As with most fad diets, the name has nothing to do with the source—the Israeli Army Diet has no connection whatsoever with the Israeli Army. Also, the diet has a number of factors in common with typical crash diets: low calories, poor nutrition, and subsequent weight gain. The diet’s simple strategy has a person eat the same food for two days out of an eight-day cycle. For instance:
Days 1 – 2: Apples
Days 3 – 4: Cheese
Days 5 – 6: Chicken
Days 7 – 8: Salad
The Israeli Army Diet may very well be one of most nutritionally unbalanced diets around, but people love any diet that gets militant on your overweight body.

2. The Brazilian Bikini Body Program
This diet is more legit than the Israeli Army diet, but it is equally as international, so we love it. The diet was created by fitness professional Regina Joseph who advises on how to eat and exercise the Brazilian way. Everybody knows that Brazil boasts some of the most beautiful and bikini-prone women in the world. This diet focuses not only on Brazilian superfoods (acai berries, Cashews, Brazil nuts, and coconuts) that boost nutrition, but it also includes fun ways to exercise with a combination of Pilates and the Brazilian martial art, Capoeira. At Translators, Inc., we love the Brazilian emphasis on reducing stress by adopting passion and joy into your lifestyle. We also love bikinis. That’s why the Brazilian Bikini Body Program is one of our favorite international diet fads.

3. The Russian Air Force Diet
We don’t know much about this diet, but it’s Russian, and it’s military. We’re guessing that Vodka is essential to the diet. Enjoy!

4. The Morning Banana Diet 
This Asian diet fad is so popular that Japan had a shortage of bananas just because of it.
Now, this diet can get a bit complex and confusing for some, so pay attention.
Here it is:
a. Eat a raw, uncooked, unfrozen banana (or four) for breakfast.
b. If you are still hungry 15 or 30 minutes after your banana, you can eat another banana. If there are no more bananas, like in Japan, other food can be substituted. (The Japanese inventor ate a rice ball two and a half hours later).
c. Eat normally for lunch and dinner, but dinner must be eaten by 8 p.m. at the latest.
d. Do not eat a dessert after dinner.
e. Drink lots of room-temperature water.
When engaging in the Asian Morning Banana Diet, try to remember the following Japanese proverb: Hara hachibu ni isha irazu, “A stomach eight-tenths full needs no doctor.” This is the opposite of the American proverb: “You might as well constantly fill your stomach because no one can afford a doctor anyway.”

5. The International No Diet Day (INDD)
O.k., this is the antithesis of a diet fad, but it is international. Therefore, we have included it on the list. INDD is an annual celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity. This day is also dedicated to raise awareness of the dangers in diets. Observed on May 6, its symbol is a blue ribbon, similar to the red ribbon of the World AIDS Day.

In all seriousness, Translators, Inc. is in no way specialized in weight loss, dieting, or health care and we are being mostly facetious in our run down of international diet fads. However, we are specialized in foreign language solutions, and this month we wanted to address the international importance of maintaining a healthy life style. Across the globe, no matter what local foods and crops are available, people of all cultures can achieve optimal health by eating right and exercising daily.

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