Diet is the most popular topic nowadays. It has become a trendy topic among girls and women. Here you can find all the practical information on diets, their types and origins, good and bad sides, and recent statistics.
General information about diets
Diets comprise types and amounts of food. Not only we as human beings, but also other living creatures have their diets. For example, animals can be herbivores (plant-eating), omnivores (eating both plants and meat), insectivores (insect-eating), or nectarivores (nectar-eating). A diet provides life sustainability and growth. Timing and frequency are also essential factors. Some people eat every day two or three times. A vital part of the diet is also water. It is the main factor for body functions such as digestion, absorption, circulation, saliva creation, nutrient transportation, and body temperature. The amount of drinking water needed can vary depending on age, sex, weight, physical activities, and overall health. A balanced diet gives the body all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs. It is essential to keep fit. There are two main categories of diet.
Traditional diets ( Mexican, Indian, Armenian, and so on) include national dishes. The recipes have a long history, and every nation has its own.
Modern diets can be processed and packaged foods or fast food. Modern diets may also include dishes from different cultures or special diets. However, both types can be healthy or unhealthy. It depends on the food ingredients.
Popular diets in the world
1. Atkins and Keto are low-carb diets. They ban carbohydrates to promote weight loss and improve sugar quantity in the blood. Robert C. Atkins, a heart specialist (cardiologist), developed the Atkins diet in the 1960s in New York, USA. The American physician, diabetologist, epileptologist, and medical researcher Russell Wilder was the first to introduce the term ketogenic diet to describe a nutritional treatment for epilepsy in 1920. In 1911, physicians carried out the first research on the ketogenic diet in France.
2. Ornish and Pritikin are low-fat diets. They reduce the consumption of fat. As a result, they lower cholesterol and improve heart health. The American physician and researcher Dean Ornish discovered the Ornish diet in the USA in 1977, and the American inventor, engineer, nutritionist, and longevity researcher Nathan Pritikin introduced the Pritikin diet in 1970.
3. Mediterranean diets include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats like olive oil. It becomes beneficial for the heart and supports longevity. The Mediterranean countries like Southern Spain, Southern Italy, and Crete formulated their traditional food as the Mediterranean diet in the early 1960s. It is distinct from Mediterranean cuisine, which covers the actual cuisines of the Mediterranean countries.
4. Vegetarian and vegan diets exclude meat. But some vegetarians can eat fish, and some can eat eggs. Generally, it is a plant-based diet. It has common ethical, environmental, or health reasons. Vegetarianism originated in India in 3300–1300 BCE, particularly in northern and western ancient India.
5. People who keep raw food diets consume food in raw conditions. Human organisms consume nutrients in such conditions fully. Thus, People keep all vitamins in food this way. The physician and pioneer nutritionist Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner spoke on a raw food diet in the 1800s in Switzerland.
6. The only aim of detox diets is to remove toxins from the organism. Detox diets also contain certain foods or food groups. Detox diets originated with the American naturopath Stanley Burroughs in the early 1940s when he introduced his Master Cleanse diet.
7. The Paleo diet was popular among Paleolithic humans in the Stone Age. It includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds but excludes pre-cooked and processed legumes, foods, grains, and dairy.
7. Intermittent fasting Diets involve different periods of eating and fasting. People believe that it aids in the reduction of weight and metabolism. But it is called a diet. As a diet, People have practiced it throughout the world since the earliest antiquity. Fasting is a part of rituals in many religions with a purification meaning.
Besides diets, there are also special weight-watching programs and apps to make healthier choices regarding food.
It is nice to keep a diet, but as for special diets, we should be very cautious. The best diet should always be sustainable and enjoyable for us. Thus, to avoid health problems, it is good to consult with healthcare professionals and skilled doctors before starting a new diet.
Pros of keeping a diet
1. A well-planned diet can improve health by consuming nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
2. It can help individuals maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
3. It can increase energy and reduce fatigue.
4. It can positively influence mental health, reducing issues such as depression and anxiety.
5. It can regulate digestion and prevent constipation.
Cons of Keeping a Diet:
1. Diets can be restrictive, limiting the types of consumable foods, which can raise negative feelings such as deprivation and frustration.
2. They can demand time, becoming time-consuming. As the Armenian philosopher said once, "We do not live for eating, but eat for living." Thus, is it worth spending time planning, shopping, and preparing healthy stuff when we are born to live?
3. Some diets can also be too expensive.
4. Some diets can lead to social isolation because of ridiculous eating habits, especially from the point of view of family gatherings, which are part of family norms regarding all nations in the world.
7. Many diets are not sustainable for the long term, leading to a cycle of weight gain and loss. They can also contain hidden, deadly risks because of nutrient deficiencies.
