8 Diet Types And Their Health Benefits
What is your diet? What type of foods do you like most and what benefits do you get from those foods? Do you take the right diet?
These are some of the questions that are difficult to answer because the diet of a person depends on his needs. For example, if you want to lose weight, you will need a diet that can aid in your weight loss efforts.
The biggest problem with a diet is to make a routine. You need to adhere to a diet you want to follow. Luckily there are several diet options for health-conscious folks. Registered dieticians across the globe are working hard to create dietary patterns to suit different needs.
Here’re 8 popular diets to choose from. Each diet fulfills a specific need but you need to adhere to it. Go through the diets and their health benefits before making an opinion on a specific diet type.
- Mediterranean Diet
In 1960, it was found that the Mediterranean region especially Italy and Greece were healthier than others. Also, their life expectancy was the highest in the world. And the credit for their good health was given to their diet called Mediterranean Diet.
Diet: Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, potatoes, whole grains, herbs, seafood, spices, and extra virgin olive oil.
Red meat is rarely included but no sugar-sweetened beverages, high processed food, refined grains, or refined oils are added. Also, the food is consumed in moderation.
Health Benefits:
• Removing processed foods reduces the risk of heart ailments and strokes
• Nutrients gained will keep you agile even at an advanced age
• Overall improvement in cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood vessels reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• It reduces oxidative stress and associated risks like Parkinson’s disease
• A fiber-rich diet prevents the development of type 2 diabetes
- Flexitarian Diet
In 2009, the registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner coined the word Flexitarian Diet with her book “The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease and Add Years to Your Life.”
Flexitarian Diet is a combination of flexible and vegetarian. But, says Blatner, you can be vegetarian most of the time instead of removing meat completely from your food.
Diet: Focus more on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and go slow on non-vegetarian items. Reduce processed food and limit intake of added sugar and sweets.
Health Benefits:
• Weight loss
• Decreased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes
• Helpful in diabetes management
• Prevent cancer
- Plant-Based Diet
A plant-Based Diet is the best diet for controlling both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Moms-to-be suffering from gestational diabetes should switch to a Plant-Based Diet to control their blood sugar levels. This diet can even reverse the gestational and prediabetes symptoms.
Diet: Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, beans, organic soy, lentils, and fermented foods.
Health Benefits:
• Plants provide all essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants that improve the immune … Find more