Fad diets are always presented in a bad light both by the media and reputable institutions. Despite this, a lot of people still subscribe to its false promises and strict compliance because of the quick results they bring, not to mention the fact that celebrities are living testimonies of the efficacy of these diets.
But not all fad diets are necessarily wrong. There are quite a few ones that are proven to be useful in shedding those extra pounds. Aside from that, a few of them can also aid in the health of vital organs such as the heart and brain. In fact, two of the diets listed here are being prescribed by dietitians across the globe to help improve the health of their patients.
Without further ado, here are three of the most popular fad diets you might want to consider trying that are surely effective:
Atkins diet
Founded in the 1970s by the cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins, this fad diet is characterized by a very-low-carbohydrate, high-protein, and high-fat meal plans. The Atkins diet is classified as a form of ketogenic diet since it follows the same mechanism concerning weight loss.
The Atkins diet has four stages:
- Induction phase, wherein you drastically decrease your carbohydrate intake to 20 grams per day for two weeks;
- Balancing phase, wherein you gradually bring back fruits (enough to keep your carbs below 20 grams), vegetables, and some nuts;
- Fine-tune phase, wherein you start to increase your carbohydrate intake as soon as you reach your target weight; then
- Maintenance phase, which is pretty much self-explanatory.
The efficacy of the Atkins diet was shown in one study where it was compared with the LEARN, low-fat Ornish, and Zone diet for 12 months. The Atkins dieters lost significantly more weight than the others. But because of the restrictions it employs, very few can maintain the regimen. It also spurred the modified Atkins diet which is a liberal version of the popular fad.
Vegan diet
If you want to lose the unwanted weight while taking care of the planet at the same time, the vegan diet is for you. Many advocacy groups praise this eating pattern because it prohibits the consumption of animal products and promotes the production of plant-based food items that can help save the environment.
But the diet does not imply that all fruits and vegetables are allowed. Quality is still crucial for effective weight loss–even consuming potato chips can be considered vegan but we all know it is unhealthy. The efficacy of a high-quality vegan diet is well-documented across different age groups and nutritional status.
However, some people could not sustain the lifestyle full-time, specifically those who are so used to consuming meat ever since. Thus, nutritionists recommend taking the right supplements and having a “break” every 3-4 days to ingest meat in limited amounts. The quality must be taken into consideration as well.
Mediterranean diet
Contrary to the belief that the French and Italians pioneered the diet, the origins of this pattern cannot be purely traced or attributed to one ethnicity alone. The reason is that Mediterranean is a way of life in itself, with its own culture, traditions, and eating habits, formed by a fusion of different societies that share the same location and resources.
Because of its timeless appeal and the normalcy of the diet among the Europeans, the Mediterranean diet continues to be a favorite fad diet even among Americans who want to lose weight. And dieters are not disappointed–in one study performed in 2015, scientists revealed that this eating pattern could reduce as much as eight pounds in six months.
Another study also revealed that the diet significantly decreased the risk of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and stroke among adults because of its promotion of healthy fat consumption. However, the Mediterranean diet cannot be entirely adequate without exercise and portion control.
Despite the sound research and great results exemplified by these fad diets, nothing beats the same ol’ healthy-diet-and-exercise routine to achieve the weight you have always wanted. After all, you only have one body–feed it well.