A new reason to beware of Fad Diets

I got this story from a list-serve that I belong to. Interesting story about how a woman was advised to start the “Amazing Hydration Diet” ie., drink lots of water and cut salt intake. Because it’s a bogus, and dangerous, diet, she had an epileptic fit and brain damage. So, she sued the “nutritionist” and won. Now, my question of course is whether the “nutritionist” was actually a “registered dietitian“. Turns out she’s not….

After googling “Barbara Nash” (the nutritionist in the story below), I came across her website. Turns out she is a DNN/Nutrition Therapist. After doing some research on the UK’s standards of nutritionists and dietitians, it seems similar to the US standards for dietitians versus nutritionists (almost anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist”, but only those with a degree in dietetics and nutrition are registered dietitians; see this site for more details in the UK). So, before you take any nutrition advice, remember to ask for credentials!!!!

“Mother awarded £800,000 after ’6 pints of water a day detox diet’ left her brain damaged:

A dieter suffered permanent brain damage after being advised to drink 6 pints of water/day & cut salt intake to lose weight. Dawn Page, 52, has been awarded £810,000 in damages from her nutritionist, although the practitioner denies fault.

Mother of two Mrs Page, became ill within days of taking up the Amazing Hydration Diet. She had been told by the nutritionist to drink 4 extra pints of water/day & drastically reduce her salt intake. The first stage of the regime left her suffering from severe vomiting & stomach cramps, but she was told these were just part of the detoxification process.

However, the nutritionist ordered her patient to tack on another 2 pints (total of 6 pints) per day, and even less salt. This resulted in a massive epileptic fit and brain damage, thanks to sodium deficiency. And she’s left with even more physical and mental problems such as memory, concentration, speech and mood swing problems.

Speaking from the family home in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, he said: ‘She was not obese or even mildly obese, but like a lot of women, Dawn liked to look after her weight.

Since the fit, she has had to rely on written notes to remember basic instructions, & finds it hard to recall simple info.

Mr Page, who launched the 6 ½ year legal action, added: ‘It’s important that people understand how dangerous diets like these are, & not to enter into them without knowing all the dangers.’

The salt-rich plasma acts as a protective layer around the brain, but because Mrs Page’s contained such low levels of the mineral, water had entered the brain, causing permanent damage.

As a note, the article also adds more specific information about the dangers of “hydration diets“.

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