In general, when you talk about a healthy lifestyle, weight loss, and exercise, one of the first words to pop into our minds is “diet.” We all know that a proper diet is essential if you want to stay healthy and shed those unwanted pounds.
Now, with all of the different diets that are coming up every day, it is easy to get confused as to which kind of diet you should follow. Should it be an all fruits diet? Or should we completely skip out on fruits? Is keto right for you? Or perhaps you should try something else?
In order to help you sort through this puzzle, we have come up with five great diets for you to try.
The Atkins diet
Atkins is perhaps one of the most popular diets of all time. It is often recommended for weight loss because it is a low carb diet. The Atkins diet was first discussed by Dr. Robert C. Atkins in 1972, in a book he wrote that described the diet and its benefits.
The Atkins diet is a four-phase plan that starts with a high fat, low carb, high protein diet, consisting of vegetables for the first two weeks. The second phase is about adding foods like nuts and fruits into the diet. During this time, you will notice that your weight starts to reduce gradually. The third phase is about slowly adding more carbs, once you are near your goal weight. The fourth and final phase allows you to eat as many carbs as you want without the fear of regaining the weight you have lost.
The paleo diet
The paleo diet, or the caveman diet, is also quite popular nowadays. It is called the caveman diet because it restricts your food intake to fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, fish, and oils, like olive oil. You are not allowed to eat food products that came after the Paleolithic era, about 10,000 years ago. Dairy products, legumes, and grains are a big no-no in this diet.
The Mediterranean diet
This is quite a healthy and satisfying diet. As the name suggests, the diet draws ideas from Mediterranean cuisine, and is based on the fact that a healthy diet should contain balanced portions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Research shows the Mediterranean diet has been linked with much better health in people who follow it. A popular dish in the Mediterranean diet is pasta. The carbohydrates come from a serving of whole wheat pasta, meat such as chicken or beef gives you the required protein, and a sprinkle of cheese or a drizzle of olive oil provides healthy fats.
The raw food diet
Although it does not sound very appetizing, the raw food diet is believed to help you lose weight by avoiding processed foods, and consuming the nutrition that is present in raw foods. The diet largely includes nuts, vegetables, fruits, and berries. In addition to reaping the nutritional benefits, the raw food diet also limits your daily calorie intake, since it is highly restrictive.
The South Beach Diet
Sound interesting right? Well, it is. A diet plan for quick weight loss that takes place in three phases, the South Beach diet is similar to the Atkins diet in the sense that it is a low carb, high protein diet. Nutritionist claim that the diet can help people lose between 8 to 13 pounds within two weeks.