Top 10 Most Popular Alternative Dietary Lifestyles

Top 10 Most Popular Alternative Dietary Lifestyles

Many people think of “diet” as a dirty word, as it has come to mean depriving oneself, usually for the sake of weight loss or as a means of nutritionally correcting a body imbalance such as high cholesterol or diabetes. But the word “diet” means “the kind of food you eat;” it is a synonym of “nourishment,” and health experts agree that there is a science to taking care of your body through nutrition. An alternative dietary lifestyle is a more appropriate way to think of eating plans of deprivation, because by definition they identify what is and isn’t okay to eat. It’s important to avoid fad diets, which are usually based more on hype than science.
One thing is certain: The “Western diet” — which describes the “normal” American diet loaded with processed foods, high-fat dairy products, red meat, and sugar — is a quick way to an early grave, or at least loads of nutritionally based health problems. Here are the top ten most popular alternative dietary lifestyles.

#1: Mediterranean Diet

The inhabitants around the Mediterranean Sea are vaunted for their long life spans and low rates of cancer and cardiovascular ailments. Their diet — really it’s more of an eating pattern than a structured diet — is low in red meat, sugar, and saturated fat. They instead eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices. Seafood is preferred over other types of meat, and a moderate enjoyment of eggs, cheese, and yogurt is encouraged. Sweets and red meat are reserved for special occasions, but red wine and exercise are daily components.

#2: Weight Watchers

The name brand in structured, weight loss-oriented diets, Weight Watchers has been around since the 1960s and boasts a legion of enthusiastic followers. The cornerstone is the points system, in which every food is allotted a certain number of points, and you’re allowed to eat a certain number of points a day. The system is designed to achieve a calorie deficit of 1,000 calories a day, meaning you’ll lose two pounds a week if you are faithful and stick with the somewhat tedious points tallying. No foods are off-limits, and the Weight Watchers website catalogs 40,000 foods and their point values (no points for fiber-loaded fruits and veggies, high points for things like candy). But the biggest benefit of Weight Watchers is the support network; members are encouraged to attend in-person meetings at least a few times a month. Of course, this is how the company makes money: A monthly pass to unlimited in-person meetings is $39.95, which also includes access to eTools. Or you can pay as you go; meetings are $12 to $15 per week, with a one-time $20 registration fee. To follow online only, a three-month plan is $65. Long-term lessons that stick with you after the program include the ability to choose between nutritionally dense foods and those with little value. Exercise is encouraged, and you get bonus points (to eat more) for enough activity.

#3: Mayo Clinic Diet

This diet, developed by one of the country’s leading medical groups, is focused on breaking bad habits and picking up good ones. You follow the Mayo Clinic Diet book; the first two weeks, you focus on the 15 key habits that are outlined by the authors, which restricts certain foods but allows unlimited snacking on fruits and vegetables; after two weeks, it becomes a calorie-counting and learning exercise, and nothing is off-limits — but you’re supposed to develop a pattern of healthy eating consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, high-fiber whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Alcohol is somewhat restricted, and exercise is part of the plan. The book costs about $20.

#4: Vegetarianism

It’s pretty simple: Stop eating meat, and you’ll likely lose weight and fend off chronic diseases. Of course, some non-healthy items — like French fries and birthday cake ice cream — are perfectly compatible with a vegetarian diet, so it’s really up to you to make good choices. This may be a hard switch for hardcore carnivores, but if you’re already not putting meat at the center of every meal, going veggie shouldn’t be too stressful. These days, most every restaurant and wedding reception has a vegetarian option, and hundreds of cookbooks and websites exist to support vegetarian lifestyles. Exercise isn’t an inherent element of a vegetarian diet, but it’s encouraged for everyone.
Veganism — skipping all animal products, namely meat, eggs, and dairy — is touted as the more hardcore version of the vegetarian diet. It’s more of a philosophy than a diet; vegans are often animal rights activists. It’s very restrictive; beyond the obvious, vegans can’t eat any items made with lard (refried beans), whey (margarine), or Jell-O (gelatin, which is made from animal bones and hooves). True veganism requires serious planning and commitment, so it can be hard to stick with.

#5: Volumetrics

The theory behind volumetrics is that people tend to eat the same weight — like, literal poundage — of food each day, regardless of the number of calories. For example, a pound of low-density carrots contains as many calories as an ounce of high-density peanuts. So if you fill your plate with foods that are less energy dense, meaning they have fewer calories per gram, then you’ll be eating fewer calories without eating less food. It’s about making smart swaps; sweet potatoes for white potatoes, Again, this is more of an eating pattern than a structured diet, but The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet book is a good guide, developed by the diet’s original pioneer, Penn State University nutrition professor Barbara Rolls. The plan focuses on eating, but Roll recommends walking for 30 minutes most days of the week, which can be achieved by parking farther from the store or getting off the bus a few stops early. The book costs about $15.

To Take And Read The Other 5 Click Here For FULL Article