Wednesday, 13th December 2017
Recently, the media has warned us that Britain has the highest rate of overweight people in the EU, with 30% of women and just under 27% of men affected. The truth is that if you’re overweight, following a dietary regime is a good thing, however we should still make sure that we enjoy the occasional treat. In this post, we will discuss three diet ideas that may work for you.
This diet takes a sensible approach to eating and aims to balance hormones and fight inflammation. The Zone’s tenets are similar to those espoused by the Mediterranean diet, in that you can eat lean protein sources, low glycemic carbs including fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil and avocados.
To lose weight on The Zone, you must eat within an hour of waking up, and again every three to four hours. You should aim to consume three meals and two snacks every day.
An easy way to follow this diet is to allow yourself a specific number of ‘blocks’ -11 for women and 14 for men. (One block equals 7 grams of protein/ 9 grams of carbs/ 1.5 grams of fat). All meals should comprise 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs.
Who is this diet ideal for? Those who can’t imagine life without healthy carbs.
Take note:
2. A Vegetarian Diet
Studies have shown that if you really want to shed the pounds, vegetarianism is the way to go. Recent research indicates that vegetarian diets can be twice as effective, both at helping us lose fat and boost our metabolism. Going vegan or vegetarian does not mean you can eat anything you like, of course; it’s still important to make healthy choices and avoid snacks such as crisps and foods made with refined flour and sugar.
To lose weight, aim to consume around 500 calories less than you would need to maintain weight.
Who is this diet ideal for? Those who would like to stop relying on animal sources of food, and those who want to shed an optimal amount of weight, as well as those suffering from metabolic syndrome, and/or diabetes.
3. A Ketogenic Diet
There are many ketogenic (high protein, low carb) diets on the market, arguably the most famous of which are the Paleo and Atkins Diets. This type of regimen works through the production of ketones, which arise when the body burns fat for fuel.
The key to success is to consume high quality fats, such as cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil, ghee, raw cacao butter, organic-pasteurised egg yolks, raw nuts, organic butter from grass-fed cows, and coconut oil.
Start with a ratio of 1:1 (fats to protein & carb) ratio and eventually start restricting the amount of starchy carbs and some (high glycemic) fruits. (Avoid dairy if you can, as it can interfere with ketosis.)
Who is this diet ideal for? Those who have an active social life - imagine going to your favourite restaurant and ordering a juicy steak and avocado salad. No-one will ever know you are on a diet!
Finding the diet that works for you is sometimes a matter of experimentation; factors such as time, food preferences and ethical concerns will lead you in one direction or another but simply making an effort to lower your intake of unhealthy foods, and trying to exercise regularly, will bring about noticeable results in just a few weeks.
Blog by Jennifer Dawson