The low down on diet comparison

The low down on diet comparison

Low carbs and high protein is the way to lose weight, or so you’ll hear from one diet guru, and he has the testimonials to back it up. Low fat, lots of carbs and fresh fruits and veggies, says another – and he’s got the back up from satisfied users, too. A third swears that you need to count the amount of sugar; another tells you the enemy is white flour – if you want to lose real weight and keep it off, who do you listen to? 

Now take a look at the brief summaries below for a quick overview of the pros and cons of each of the popular types of diet plans. 

Low Carb-Hi Protein Diets 

Diets like the Atkins, the South Beach and the Zone Diet all recommend restricted carbohydrates and allow liberal amounts of protein, including protein derived from animal sources. Generally, they limit the overall value of carbohydrates or teach you to differentiate between “good” and “bad” carbs. Bad carbohydrates, which are forbidden, include white flour, white bread, and white sugar. 

Pros: 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 diets makes it easy to find low-carb foods. 

Cons: The allowance of eating all the protein and fats you like flies in the face of conventional medical wisdom. A diet high in saturated fats could lead to heart disease, diabetes, gout, and other chronic health conditions. Following the diets’ cautions and advice to keep portions reasonable should mitigate that concern, though. 

Weight Loss “Programs” 

Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, SlimFast and several other weight loss programs rely heavily on pre-packaged ‘diet’ foods. They incorporate professional coaching, social structure, and reinforcement. 

Pros: The professional coaching and nutritional benefits are a big plus, as is the reinforcement and support aspect of the diets. Meals and supplements are pre-packaged in the right proportions, and if you stick to the foods and exercise as directed, you will lose weight. 

Cons: The weekly fees and cost of meals can be expensive. Besides, if you rely entirely on the packaged foods, you miss out on the re-education of your eating habits, which is essential to maintaining any weight lost. 

The Real Mayo Clinic Diet 

This is not the diet that has circulated for the past thirty or more years and purported to have originated at the Mayo Clinic! The real Mayo Clinic’s nutrition and diet center recommend a healthy eating weight loss plan based on limiting fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, counting calories and deriving most of the daily nutrition from vegetables, grains, and fruit. 

Pros: There’s no ‘diet.’ Instead, you’re encouraged to take control of your eating. Portion control and sensible balance of nutrients are the cornerstones of a weight loss plan that takes the weight off gradually and helps you keep it off permanently. 

Cons: It may be challenging to stay on a diet. Counting calories and portions can be difficult if you’re eating out or on the run. 

Many diets promise to take the weight off quickly and painlessly, without exercise or changing your eating habits. The three significant variations of foods above all will result in 1-2 pounds of loss per week, which most doctors believe is the optimum way to lose weight for long-lasting results.