Almost everyone has been on a diet at some point in their life. There are so many different diet types, though, that choosing one that works for you is not an easy task. These diet types have been categorized by the National Institutes of Health so you can better understand them. Choosing the right diet type is key to losing weight and meeting your goals.
One of the diet types is a fixed menu diet that specifies what you should eat. This is one of the easiest diets for people to use because there is no shopping for food and making food choices. The problem is people who go on this diet do not get the skills they need to make good food choices after they are off the diet. The food on a fixed menu diet may also not be very tasty. When you are not at home, it is hard to stick to a fixed menu diet plan. The fixed menu diet plan is not one of the diet types that is really recommended if you want to lose weight and keep it off.
An exchange diet allows you to make food choices from a variety of food groups. You can choose foods that are starches, for example, including rice, pasta or potatoes. This diet allows you to eat a lot of different types of foods and is easy to follow because the rules are simple. When you use an exchange diet you are teaching yourself how to eat healthy for the long run.
A pre-packaged meal diet requires you to purchase foods in portions that are predetermined. That means you can select the type and amount of food as long as you do so within the guidelines. This diet type can be costly and again you are not really learning how to choose healthy foods so you may end up gaining any weight you lose back.
A formula diet requires you to drink a liquid for all your meals of the day. These diet types provide liquid formulas that have a lot of protein and carbohydrates but are very low in fat. This is not a very expensive diet type and it is easy to take the formula with you wherever you go. This type of diet can help you lose weight but you cannot stay on it forever so you may gain the weight back over time.
Experts say that the types of diet you should avoid are those that require you to eat certain foods together. These diet types help keep your calories low but you do not get enough nutrition in most cases. They are not good long-term solutions.
A flexible diet is one that allows people to make choices about what they eat and how much they eat. You can go on a flexible diet that focuses on controlling fat, calories or both. When you use a flexible diet you are likely to eat less fat and calories but you may increase the amount of sugar you eat to an unhealthy level.
There is some evidence that the diet types that focus on reducing fat intake and increasing carbohydrate intake can work. These diet types are thought to be successful even without worrying about calories or exercising. However, other research, including one done by Gary Foster of the University of Pennsylvania says that this is not true. He believes that eating too many carbohydrates daily and not reducing your calorie intake is actually going to cause you to gain weight in the long run. The original study maintains his theory that the body processes fats and carbohydrates differently so it is not necessary to watch one's calorie intake.The American Dietetic Association believes that weight loss can be accomplished by using many of the different diet types available.
Since there are so many diet types out there and no one really understands which work and don't work, you should talk to your doctor about using a nutritionist to help you come up with a diet plan that will work for you. That way you know you are getting good advice and you can develop a diet plan based on your body type and your needs.
The most successful types of diet are those that include both diet and exercise. When you include both of these, you know your body is able to get the most out of your food. You will see your muscles increase and become stronger as you lose weight. If you are not sure which of the many diet types is right for you, call your physician and talk to him.
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After years of neglect, I found that my health had suffered. My website, www.CompleteOnlineHealth.com contains the result of my journey back towards health. Paul Strachocki
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