Which diet is best for weight loss
From Slim Fast shakes of the 70s to Atkins in the 80s, we’ve long been bombarded with which trendy diet is best for weight loss. Let’s fast forward to now and look at the facts.
Our diets constantly change from one decade to the next. Take the 1980s: more women in the workplace meant working mums spent longer hours earning and more time stressing. Predictably, the food industry jumped on the bandwagon with the introduction of processed convenience foods - saturated in unhealthy fats, depleted of nutrients and ready in seconds at the ping of a microwave. With junk readily available, it’s not difficult to see how our diets changed and our bodies gained weight.
Then came the diets. Countless diets; each declaring that it’s best for weight loss. But if this was true, there’d be no need for new diets. It’s about time we got to the facts. In no particular order, let’s explore which diet is best for weight loss.
Keto (or ketogenic) diet
An ultra-low-carb diet acclaimed to burn off more fat, keto diets are supported by doctors for their health benefits. The keto diet works from absorbing energy from the fat store. By eating less carbs and small portions of protein, the body burns more fat and helps you to lose weight. But does it work? Like any diet, it comes with caution. Ask all qualified professionals about diets and they will tell you that they’re most valuable for rapid weight loss in clinically obese people. For everyone else, it’s probably best sticking to three meals a day.
Flexitarian diet
Cutting back on meat is definitely better for us all. This semi-vegetarian diet is ideal for those who don’t want to miss out on their favourite dishes. It’s main food sources are grains, vegetables and dairy, which make it ideal for many. According to Webmd, the flexitarian diet is affordable, allows for dietary restrictions, promotes good health, and lowers cholesterol and fats gained from red meat. How much you actually eat still matters, but studies have shown that vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat-eaters. Eating more plants helps your health in all kinds of ways - so there’s no reason not to try it.
DASH diet
The DASH diet was ranked one the best diets for weight loss, thanks to its low salt intake and specific servings of certain food groups. It’s brilliant at lowering high blood sugar and in turn works well for people with diabetes. To succeed with losing weight on the DASH diet, it’s recommended you stick to the daily measurements of each food group, including meats, fish, grains, dairy and even sugar. As long as you limit salt, this diet is achievable, helping you lose weight while still allowing your favourite foods.
The Mediterranean diet
Ranked repeatedly as the best diet for weight loss, this ancient and long-coveted diet allows wholesome dishes without fake additives or restrictions of other diets. The Mediterranean diet is a low-sugar diet and is rich in olive oil, fruit, vegetables, oily fish, nuts and even a sneaky glass of wine. As with all diets, it’s expected that you don’t rely on the diet alone for weight loss - regular exercise is also needed.
So which diet is best for weight loss?
Make of it what you want. One size doesn’t fit all. Many personal factors need to be considered such as your lifestyle, dietary needs, how much body weight you want to lose, medical considerations and your overall goal. Only you can choose what’s right for you.
What is interesting is that a familiar pattern emerges about diet: those with the best weight-loss success (while also participating in regular exercise) are the diets which are natural, filled with the nourishing and nutritious whole foods Earth provides for us, such as the Mediterranean diet. Now that’s food for thought.
