Something You Should Keep In Mind
You should disregard the term “diet” as it is typically used because it implies the idea of restriction and removal. Instead, think of the word as a healthy eating lifestyle. The healthy eating lifestyles you’re about to see below have actually been categorized (erroneously) as fad diets:
The paleo diet is essentially based on the premise of eating just as our Paleolithic ancestors did some 10,000 years ago. This is when agriculture first began. It focuses on proteins, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, as well as some healthy fats. There are no grains, starchy carbs, sugars or dairy.
What the Paleo Diet Can Do For You
This diet is a great way to keep your blood sugar in check. It can also have positive effects if you happen to have Type 2 diabetes, as well as lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. People who have tried this diet report good weight loss results in addition to improved energy levels. One thing to note about the paleo diet is that the things that aren’t in it are just as important as the things that are. There aren’t any processed and manufactured foods, junk foods, artificial ingredients or chemical additives.
This relatively new diet became popular thanks to social media. The #whole30 hashtag allowed people to share their success with the diet. It involves dedicating a 30-day period to focus on eating nutritious whole foods such as meats, nuts and seeds, seafood, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. It requires the elimination of:
• sugar
• alcohol
• legumes
• grains
• dairy
• soy
Although it’s similar to paleo, it goes further by eliminating sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup. You can reintroduce the kinds of food that you removed after completing the 30-day period. This will allow you to discover the health consequences of eating them.
What the Whole30 Diet Can Do For You
Most people eat the same things day in, day out, and thus fail to realize the negative health consequences that certain foods can have. The whole30 diet allows you to make these realizations, as well as reset your taste buds, which are likely to have become desensitized due to processed and artificial foods and excess salt.
What has become an international dietary sensation is simply a way of life for the likes of the Greeks, Italians, and Maltese. This is coupled with higher activity levels, sunlight exposure, proximity to water, and generally lower stress levels. The diet generally looks like this:
• Fruits & vegetables
• Whole grains
• Legumes & nuts
• Replacing butter with olive oil
• Using herbs and spices instead of salt
• Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
• Moderate amounts of red wine
What the Mediterranean Diet Can Do For You
In a nutshell, the Mediterranean diet can do wonders for your heart by lowering the risk of heart disease and lowering bad cholesterol. A Mayo Clinic study involving 1.5 million people showed that the Mediterranean diet is also linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality, as well as overall mortality. The Mediterranean diet is far from a fad – it’s tried and tested by millions of people over millennia!
Our bodies have to deal with a ton of acidity due to the food that we consume in the present day. When the human body becomes too acidic, it’s possible for a condition called acidosis to arise, and this can lead to issues such as an upset stomach, breathing difficulties, headaches, weakness, and fatigue. In extreme cases, it can result in shock, coma, or death.
The alkaline diet aims to return the body to a more alkaline state, which is better for health. As a result, the diet focuses on alkaline-boosting foods such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, and legumes. It also recommends cutting out low-quality beef and chicken, dairy, eggs, grains, and alcohol.
What the Alkaline Diet Can Do For You
You’re likely to feel improved energy levels, have better mental clarity and better joint health after adopting the alkaline diet. This comes from cutting out inferior-quality foods, processed items, and alcohol.
Some Things You Should Remember
Sometimes, a fad isn’t actually a fad! The four diets outlined above are proof of this. The main thing you should take away from the information above is to focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods for better health and wellbeing.
Images by Deposit Photos.