It would not be surprising to hear your answer is "yes, I'm confused by all these so called diets." You may read from one expert that low carbohydrate (low carb) and high protein is the way to lose weight. Another will try to convince you that low fat, lots of carbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, is the right way to go. Yet another will try to convince you that you need to count the amount of sugar; or another that main culprit for your being overweight is white flour. So, if you are serious about losing weight, who should you listen to?The brief summaries below give a quick overview of the pros and cons of each of the popular types of diet plans.1. Weight Loss ProgrammesThere are quite a few well known weight loss programmes, for example SlimFast, Jenny Craig, and NutriSystem.
These and a number of other weight loss programmes rely heavily on pre-packaged 'diet' foods. However, they incorporate professional coaching into the programme; plus, they also offer some sort of social structure and support to reinforce the diet programme.Advantages of Weight Loss ProgrammesThe professional coaching and nutritional benefits of such diet programmes are a big positive factor, as are the reinforcement and support aspect of the diets. Meals and supplements are prepackaged in the right proportions, and if you stick to the diets and exercise as directed you should lose weight.Disadvantages of Weight Loss ProgrammesYou will normally have to pay weekly charges for this type of programme, plus the cost of the meals can be expensive. Furthermore, if you rely totally on the packaged foods, you will miss out on your re-education as far as your eating habits go. That could be important to maintaining any weight loss in the long term.2.
Low Carb & Hi Protein DietsDiets like the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and the Zone Diet all recommend restricted intake of carbohydrates, but allow liberal amounts of protein, including protein derived from animal sources. Generally, these diets limit the overall amount of carbohydrates, and/or teach you to tell the difference between "good" and "bad" carbohydrates. Bad carbohydrates, which are forbidden, include white flour, white bread, and white sugar. The diets all encourage learning healthy eating as part of losing weight. Deriving most of your daily calories from high fiber sources of carbs like leafy green vegetables and grains is generally considered the best diet for nutrition by the established medical community.
The popularity of the diets makes it easy to find low-carb foods.Advantages Of Low Carb DietsThese low carbohydrate diets do encourage you to learn healthy eating as part of losing weight. That will have long term benefits for you. A diet in which you derive most of your daily calories from high fibre sources of carbohydrates, such as leafy green vegetables and grains, is often recommended by the established medical community for good nutrition. Because these diets are popular, it is easy to find low-carb foods.Disadvantages Of Low Carb DietsThe allowance for eating all the protein and fats you like does go against conventional medical wisdom. it is thought that a diet high in saturated fats could lead to heart disease, diabetes, gout and other chronic health conditions.
These diets are accompanied by cautions and advice, which suggest you keep portions reasonable. Follow that advice and that concern may be allayed somewhat; but if in doubt, consult your doctor.3. The Real Mayo Clinic DietThis diet is not the one which has circulated for the past thirty or more years and purported to have originated at the Mayo Clinic! The true Mayo Clinic's nutrition and diet centre recommends a healthy eating weight loss plan that is based on limiting fats, proteins and carbohydrates, counting calories and deriving most of the daily nutrition from vegetables, grains and fruit.Advantages Of The Real Mayo Clinic DietReally, there is no 'diet' as such, in the sense we often use the word when we are talking about losing weight. Instead, you are encouraged to take control of your own eating. By doing so, you aim to achieve portion control, and a sensible balance of nutrients.
These are the pillars of a weight loss plan that takes weight off gradually, but then helps you keep your weight down permanently.Disadvantages Of The Real Mayo Clinic DietThis may be a difficult diet to maintain. Counting calories and portions can be difficult if you are eating out or on the run living an active and busy life, and often away from home.There are many diets claiming to take weight off quickly and painlessly, without exercise or changing your eating habits. Most doctors believe the optimum way to lose weight, for long lasting results, is to lose 1-2 pounds per week. The variations of the three major diets above are all capable of helping you do just that..
This diet comparison article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner of the Routes To Self Improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com Visit the website for many more weight loss and other self improvement articles.Fad Diets & Weight Loss
Fad Diets & Weight Loss Copyright [Please note that this article is not a subsitute for medical advise.You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines orelectronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entiretyincluding the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyrightinfo. ]A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy diet. People often start a fad diet for fast weight loss. They do not realize that quick weight loss and a fad diet is not the answer for their weight problem. They may lose weight initially but that may not be permanent.
The fad diets recommend to eat a certain group of foods and eliminate some foods or a group of foods from the diet. Such diets are not without a danger. Some of the fad diets are:Grapefruit Diet : This diet recommends to eat only grapefruit.Low Carb Diet : This diet recommends to eat foods low in carbohydrates.Low Fat Diet : This diet recommends to eat foods low in fats or eliminate...
Fad Diets & Weight Loss
Research Findings Reveal Interesting Aspects of Gout
Gout is a type of rheumatoid arthritis that causes pain, swelling and inflammation of the joints. Statistics indicate that there are more than 3.5 million people in the United States confronted with gout, most of them developing the disease after the age of 50. Although gout can be developed by both men and women, it predominantly affects the male gender. For many years, gout sufferers have been advised to limit the intake of purines and proteins in their diet, by avoiding fatty meats, seafood and even some purine-rich vegetables. Dairy products have also been considered to influence the development of gout, but in the absence of any clinical evidence.
Until recently, these recommendations were based solely upon the theory that purine-rich foods and a high protein intake are directly related with the occurrence of gout, by increasing the blood levels of uric acid. In order to reveal conclusive evidence regarding the contribution of a purine and protein-rich diet...
Fad Diets & Weight Loss
Fad Diets & Weight Loss Copyright [Please note that this article is not a subsitute for medical advise.You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines orelectronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entiretyincluding the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyrightinfo. ]A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy diet. People often start a fad diet for fast weight loss. They do not realize that quick weight loss and a fad diet is not the answer for their weight problem. They may lose weight initially but that may not be permanent.
The fad diets recommend to eat a certain group of foods and eliminate some foods or a group of foods from the diet. Such diets are not without a danger. Some of the fad diets are:Grapefruit Diet : This diet recommends to eat only grapefruit.Low Carb Diet : This diet recommends to eat foods low in carbohydrates.Low Fat Diet : This diet recommends to eat foods low in fats or eliminate...
Fad Diets & Weight Loss