Diet And Weight Loss Tips!

Guest post by: Bill Lyon

Each year, millions of people fail in their quest to lose weight. Fad diets in general can lead to weight gain over time and often do more harm than good. No one diet suits everyone. The key to losing weight is to eat less energy than you burn up.

Those who successfully lose weight and keep it off typically eat breakfast on a regular basis, follow a low-fat diet, monitor their weight regularly, and exercise almost daily. They are not consumed with the thoughts of having to follow a low carb diet, a high protein diet, or any of the other hundreds of diets out there, but are more interested in a healthy eating plan that they can sustain indefinitely.

New research has found that Atkins-style diets can lead to clogged arteries and may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The Harvard Medical School professor who launched the study has even ditched his own low carb, high protein lifestyle after initial findings.

THE ATKINS DIET

Atkins is the most famous of the low carbohydrate regimes, banning carbohydrates such as flour, sugar and potatoes, while allowing protein and fat. Some fruit and vegetables are also restricted on the diet. After being mired in controversy; the Atkins diet has evolved in recent years, and now includes a small amount of low carb pasta and bread.

Research suggests that, at least in animals, these diets could be having adverse cardiovascular effects. The studies are still in the early stages and experts say the same changes may not occur in humans.

Any Atkins-style diet is a novelty approach to eating, encouraging bad eating habits for short-term weight loss, at the expense of long-term health. The Heart Foundation doesn’t recommend foods high in saturated and trans fat, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

CABBAGE SOUP DIET

This diet has been around for decades and is nutritionally inadequate. It includes mainly fruit and vegetables with a little protein later in the week. It is low in calcium, iron, zinc, protein, carbohydrate and healthy fats.

Following the cabbage soup diet for much longer than a week could prove dangerous. It will result in loss of fluid and muscle and once you stop the diet you will stack the weight back on again. It is not a long term way of eating and does nothing to help people develop healthy eating habits.

CSIRO DIET

The CSIRO Total Well Being diet is a higher-protein, moderate-carbohydrate, lower-fat weight-loss plan. While it recommends more animal-based protein-rich foods and less carbohydrate-rich foods than the government’s Australian Guide To Healthy Eating, it still meets the nutritional needs of most people by including fruit, vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals.

Some people already eat more meat and protein foods than recommended by more conventional weight loss diets and may therefore find this diet easier to adopt than other eating plans. The diet promotes lean cuts of meat in line with current dietary recommendations.

Scientific studies into the Total Well Being diet showed that over 12 months, weight loss on this diet was the same as on a conventional higher-carbohydrate weight-loss diet. However, it is a better alternative to many fad diets because it is based on evidence and was developed by respected Australian nutrition researchers.

MACROBIOTIC DIET

The macrobiotic diet involves eating wholegrain foods, vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish and nuts. The aim is to eat minimal amounts of processed foods that are high in dietary fiber.

While these foods are healthy, some important nutrient-rich foods are eliminated, including dairy food and meats. The macrobiotic diet may be low in calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. While it is possible to follow a healthy macrobiotic diet that meets nutritional needs, it does take careful planning and some people may find this difficult to do.

It is easier and more practical to eat a well-balanced diet that includes foods from all food groups, such as wholegrain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, dairy food or a calcium-rich alternative, meat and meat products, and a small amount of healthy fats and oils.

Bill Lyon is a widely syndicated health writer who has recently researched cellulite creams , including the Revitol cellulite solution .