If you’re looking for a diet, you’ve no doubt noticed that there are plenty of them to choose from.
In fact, there are so many, that you’re almost certain to be wondering which ones are the healthiest and the most effective.
Let’s take a closer look at the ten most popular and successful diets for weight loss.
1: The Paleolithic Diet
The Paleolithic, or Paleo Diet, is one of the newer ones, but it is extremely effective and very healthy. The premise of the diet is that we are designed to eat the way our hunting and gathering forefathers ate.
The diet consists of eating lean protein along with fruits and vegetables. No grains, dairy products, salt, alcohol, coffee or sugar are consumed. You are also advised to severely restrict potatoes, because the ones we eat today are much higher in carbohydrates than those of our ancestors.
As long as you’re eating the foods allowed on the diet plan list, you do not have to count calories.
2: The Dukan Diet
The Dukan Diet is one of the most popular in France, and it is gaining popularity around the rest of the world, too. It’s very much like the Atkins Diet, in that, during the first phase, your carbs are limited. It’s even more restrictive than Atkins, because in the first phase, where weight loss occurs very rapidly, you aren’t even allowed vegetables.
Throughout the other phases of the diet, you will add in vegetables and some other foods. However, throughout the duration of this diet plan, you’ll diet will be based mostly on eating protein.
3: The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet has been labeled as unhealthy. But the diet is perfectly healthy as long as it is followed correctly. For example, the initial, most restrictive phase is meant to be followed only for 2 weeks.
After this two-week period, it is important that more carbohydrates are added to the diet. As with any low carb diet plan, when you’re following Atkins, your focus must be on eliminating bad carbohydrates like white flour and sugar, and focusing on good ones like vegetables.
4: The Zone Diet
The Zone is a low carb diet plan, too, but it focuses mostly on the balance of what you eat. For example, more carbohydrates are allowed on The Zone Diet plan than on many other low carb diets, but carbs must always be eaten in combination with protein.
There are some other required combinations on the Zone diet plan, so it does take a little time to get used to some of the diet’s complexities.
5: The Protein Power Diet
Protein Power is another low carb diet plan. On this plan, however, the early phases are not quite as restrictive as some other diet plans. Carbs are still pretty minimal, however, and must be spread throughout your three meals.
6: The South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet is also a low carbohydrate diet. Its early phase is much like Atkins, but in subsequent phases it is a bit less restrictive. Fruit, for example, is allowed earlier on with South Beach than with Atkins.
7: The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is more of a lifestyle than a diet. You don’t count calories or carbohydrates. Instead, you focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
You’ll enjoy healthy fats like olive oil and even be allowed a glass of wine in the evening. You won’t eat processed foods, and you’ll strictly limit bad carbohydrates like sugar and white flour. You’ll also avoid fatty meats in favor of leaner ones like fish and chicken.
8: The Weight Watchers Diet
Weight Watchers has been around forever, and is still one of the most successful diet plans. Weight Watchers focuses on eating a balanced diet and portion control.
No food is off limits with Weight Watchers, but you will need to keep within your allotted “food points” every day. Weight Watchers is so successful, in part, because it focuses on making dietary changes that you can stick to for a lifetime.
9: The Glycemic Index Diet
The Glycemic Index diet plan focuses on eating foods that do not overly increase blood sugar levels. This is because when our blood sugar is elevated, insulin is secreted, and fat can be stored.
By minimizing insulin spikes, it’s easier to lose weight. This diet plan is less restrictive than a true “low carb” plan, but you’ll still have to stay away from simple carbohydrates like sugar and starchy foods, since they raise insulin levels.
10: The Sugar Busters Diet
Sugar Busters is another low carb diet plan. However, unlike many other plans, it focuses primarily on eliminating sugar. So, in addition to watching those obvious sweets, like cakes and pies, you’ll also be looking to remove less obvious sugars.
You’ll avoid white flour, and even fruits that are very high in fructose, and instead stick to fruits that are not as sweet. Even some vegetables, like carrots, which have a lot of starch, are restricted on Sugar Busters.
How to Choose The Correct Diet For You
As you can see, diets that minimize the consumption of simple carbohydrates are some of the best for losing weight. We have learned through research that the effect that simple carbs have on our blood sugar levels is very important to losing weight and keeping it off.
It is important, however, to have some balance in your diet when you are restricting carbohydrates. It is critical, for example that you eat the carbohydrates that are allowed, like leafy green vegetables, to ensure that you get proper nutrition. It’s also important to check with your doctor before you begin any new diet, especially if you have particular health concerns.
Any of these ten diet plans can help you lose weight. Choose the one that works best with your lifestyle and your food preferences. The most important part of sticking to any diet plan is consistency; so choosing the one you can stick with for the long haul is critical. So, choose one of these healthy diet plans, and be on your way to a leaner and healthier body.
Be the first to comment