Are faddy diets harmful?

Dairy-free diet

Why do it?

About five per cent of the British population is intolerant to lactose - the sugar in milk. Symptoms include bloating, nausea, stomach cramps and wind.

What can go wrong?

Dairy is one of the best sources of calcium, so cutting it out can put you at increased risk of osteoporosis. Diets rich in dairy also seem to protect against abdominal weight gain, so cutting out milk may mean you put weight on instead of losing it.

Keep safe

Even if milk is a problem for you, there are grades of intolerance, and by keeping your system challenged with a small amount of dairy every day, you may be able to keep it in your diet. Your GP can give you a breath test to ascertain how lactose intolerant you are, if at all. If you have to cut milk out completely, be sure to have calcium-fortified substitutes, such as soya milk, nuts, broccoli and canned salmon.

Click here for our guide to healthy dairy-free alternatives