Every now and then we hear of new, trendy diets but have no idea about what they actually involve. Is that the one I have to give up eating nightshades (thanks Gisele and Tom Brady)? Is that the one where carbs are my worst enemy? How is the Paleo diet different from the raw food movement? It’s so confusing to keep track! So, to make life easier for you, we’ve curated a list of popular diets and decoded them so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.
1. Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet means eating lean protein where healthy fats and carbs are slowly introduced. Refined flour and sugar are avoided and the aim is to reach a well-balanced diet which entails eating equal amounts of fats, proteins and carbs.
2. Paleo Diet
The Paleolithic diet entails eating the food that cavemen ate. Translation: eating foods in their purest form. Fish, meat, fruits and veggies are all consumed while starchy veggies, grains, dairy products are avoided in order to focus on a nutrient-rich diet.
3. Raw Food Diet
The philosophy of this diet is that cooking breaks the enzymes in food, which results in it losing its nutritional value. A raw food diet ideally means cooking your food only up to 116 to 118 degree Fahrenheit. You can eat as much as you want, whenever you want, as long as it is raw and vegetarian. Processed food is not to be touched.
4. Mediterranean Diet
This diet involves including a lot of fish in your routine. It’s a heart-healthy diet that emphasises on the importance of Omega 3 fatty acids. It also includes food staples of people who live around the Mediterranean sea; nuts, legumes, veggies, whole grains and small amounts of red wine, for instance.
5. Vegan Diet
A vegan diet involves quitting all kind of animal-based foods such as eggs, dairy and honey. A vegan doesn’t eat meat or any other products that are directly or indirectly produced from animals. They eat only plant-based foods that are good for the environment.
6. Weight Watchers Diet
This diet entails eating balanced meals at all times. The basic philosophy revolves around the idea of eating whatever you like but in moderation so that you can maintain your weight. The diet also uses a point system to track your progress.
7. Volumetrics
This diet proposes consuming lower calories and easting foods that contain more water, which are healthier as they have a lower energy density. So, eating foods such as fruits and vegetables (with high water content) is encouraged to feel full along with the emphasis on cooking at home.
