Diet of the Day

I'm going to start this post with a warning: I am not a nutritionist, a dietician, or a doctor (yet!!). I'm just a little self-educated blogger. This post is purely my opinion from personal research and experience so take it with a grain of salt. :)

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." - La Rochefoucald

It seems like every day, there's a new fad diet. From paleo diets, to low carb diets, to gluten-free, to raw food, to South Beach diet, to the Mediterranean diet, there are so many conflicting opinions on which diet is best for us. So I'm here to break it down and tell you the basics, as well as the pros and cons, to some of these diets that we've been hearing so much about.

Paleo Diet
Overview: This is a fairly new craze that focuses on eating lean cuts of unprocessed meats, vegetables, and fruits, and limits grains, dairy, sugar, salt, oils, and processed foods. It has a relatively low percentage of calories coming from carbohydrates because of the limitations on grains and sugar.
Theory: Since our bodies haven't changed too much in the past million years or so, supporters of this diet suggest that we eat food that we would have eaten a million years or so ago. Basically it's a caveman diet with food that we would have eaten before the development of agriculture.
Pros: I love that this is a diet that focuses on whole, natural, unprocessed foods and limits unhealthy sugars, oils and processed foods. I also like that while the diet is naturally low in carbohydrates, it doesn't completely restrict them, or completely restrict any particular macromolecule. It has a little more freedom in what you can eat than some of the other diets you'll see below.
Cons: I don't love that it is a diet with it's focus on animal protein. Animal protein can be high in saturated fat and is acidifying and hard to digest for the body.

Gluten-Free Diet

Overview: Gluten is a protein that is naturally occurring in wheat, barley and rye (and products containing these grains like bread, pasta, and baked goods). This diet basically eliminates those foods.

Theory: People with celiac disease cannot digest wheat, and some people have sensitivities to gluten even if they don't have celiac disease. Supporters of this diet also claim that wheat is an inflammatory and that most people can't digest wheat fully. They also say it can cause toxins to leak out of your digestive system and into your bloodstream.

Pros: If you have a sensitivity to wheat, this can really help you and make you feel much better, clearing up your skin, relieving stomach issues, and reducing asthma symptoms. 

Cons: Many gluten-free substitute products are now being marketed to keep up with this diet craze, but without whole grains, a lot of these foods are nutritionally deficient and can have more calories and fat with less fiber and vitamins. 

Raw-Food Diet

Overview: This diet is basically what it says. You eat raw food. Nothing is cooked over 115 degrees. Most followers are vegan, however some eat raw unpasteurized dairy products and fish. 

Theory: The theory is that essential enzymes are destroyed by the cooking process, and by eating raw food, you are eating food that is more "alive" and healthy. 

Pros: This type of diet focuses on lots of fruit and veggies and nuts and lots of good stuff. It naturally cuts down on calories and fat.

Cons: There is a TON of prep work and special equipment needed for this type of diet. Also, some nutrients are better absorbed when they're cooked, like lycopene in tomatoes, for example. And I like soup. And cold, raw soup just doesn't appeal. But you know, that's a personal thing. Maybe some people like cold soup. 

Atkins and Other Low Carb Diets

Overview: These low carb diets were very popular a few years ago. They involved limiting carbohydrates to almost none.  

Theory: When your body has extra carbs, it stores them as glycogen in your liver until you need them. When you need energy and you don't have any glycogen stores, your body breaks down fat to use as energy. One of the products of this break down is Acetyl-CoA. If you're still low on carbs this gets converted to ketone bodies in the liver to be used as fuel. This is known as ketosis. Developers of this diet claim that this can help you lose weight by burning fat. Eating less carbs also causes your insulin to not spike so your blood sugar is at a more constant level.

Pros: Initially this diet can help burn fat from your body. 

Cons: Fruits and vegetables are mainly carbs and cutting those out is never a good thing. This diet has more of an emphasis on protein, fats and processed foods, especially meat. Carbohydrates are the only fuel your brain can use. Cutting them down to such an extreme level can be dangerous. Ketosis is acidifying for your body and can be hard on your kidneys. Besides, carbs taste good. 

South Beach and Similar Diets

Overview: This is a less extreme version of the really low carb diets. This type of diet reduces, but doesn't completely eliminate carbs. It focuses on healthy fats and carbs with lower glycemic indexes (i.e. not super starchy or sugary foods). It allows healthy whole grains and unsaturated fats. 

Theory: Similar to the theory of Atkins.

Pros: This type of diet causes a person to see food items individually. Not just "carbs are good"/"carbs are bad," but instead "this kind of carb is healthy and this kind is less healthy."

Cons: These types of diets still criminalize one type of food, which are essential for a healthy diet. 

Mediterranean Diet

Overview: This is a diet that focuses on heart healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, red wine, seafood and whole grains. It suggests limiting sweets, meat, and processed foods. 

Theory: All the foods encouraged by this diet are foods foods that help keep your heart healthy. 

Pros: This type of diet makes you think about healthy foods in general and isn't complicated with what you can and can't eat. And any diet that tells me I need to drink more red wine is one I can get on board with. 

Cons: The only con I can think of is that you should watch which seafoods you choose because some can have high mercury levels and you want to make sure to keep those in check.

I have a previous post on vegan and macrobiotic diets if you want to check those out too. 

My ideal diet would be a kind-of-paleo, sort-of-raw, almost-vegan, nearly-macrobiotic, semi-Mediterranean,  one. There are aspects of all of these diets that I love, but I don't agree with any one in particular. I like the whole, natural approach of the paleo diet. I like the focus on fruits and veggies of the raw diet. I like the health benefits of the vegan diet. I like the balance of a macrobiotic diet. I like the focus on specific nutrients of the Mediterranean diet. I would like to have a diet that consists of vegan, natural, whole ingredients that are kept in their purest form to create a balance of the essential nutrients we need! Whew wouldn't that be awesome?! 

Food is a science to me. Perfecting a diet is difficult, and it's ok to not be perfect all the time. What is important is to keep the basic principles of nutrition in the forefront of your mind for most meals. You don't have to pick one of these diets and stick to it. You can make it your own and tailor it to your needs. And although achieving a perfect balance may be complicated, keep your food simple. The less processed it is, the better it is for you. Period. 

What's best for me may not be best for you, so if there is something you like from one of these diets, than incorporate that into your life. Experiment until you find a balance of nutrition that makes you feel good. Fueling your body with good stuff will improve your life in so many ways. Good luck everyone!! :)