
Another thing I distrust about many diets is that their
promoters often have an evangelical air. It’s as if this diet is the breakthrough solution for everyone. There’s no
allowance that there might be other patterns of eating that could also work.
Here’s a rundown of some currently popular diets. These will
all work for some people. There are good aspects to most. But they all restrict
and divide food into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ which to me is not healthy or enjoyable.
Sugar Free
Premise: Sugar is toxic and it’s sugar (especially fructose), not fat, that makes us fat.
What’s not allowed: sugar, honey, fresh and dried fruit, all processed foods containing fructose.
What’s good: Encourages lots of fresh whole foods; lots of vegetables and home cooking. Cutting down added sugar is generally a good idea.
What’s not good: Could lead to unhealthy obsession with cutting out one thing. Potentially difficult to stick to. No fruit!
Premise: Sugar is toxic and it’s sugar (especially fructose), not fat, that makes us fat.
What’s not allowed: sugar, honey, fresh and dried fruit, all processed foods containing fructose.
What’s good: Encourages lots of fresh whole foods; lots of vegetables and home cooking. Cutting down added sugar is generally a good idea.
What’s not good: Could lead to unhealthy obsession with cutting out one thing. Potentially difficult to stick to. No fruit!
5:2/intermittent
fasting
Premise: Fasting two days a week helps you lose weight and lowers your risk of disease.
What’s not allowed: Nothing is banned, but on two days a week you’re restricted to one meal’s worth of calories.
What’s good: Restricted calories means you will probably lose weight.
What’s not good: The diet teaches nothing about healthy eating. You could follow it while eating a very unbalanced diet. Potentially difficult to stick to and unsociable.
Premise: Fasting two days a week helps you lose weight and lowers your risk of disease.
What’s not allowed: Nothing is banned, but on two days a week you’re restricted to one meal’s worth of calories.
What’s good: Restricted calories means you will probably lose weight.
What’s not good: The diet teaches nothing about healthy eating. You could follow it while eating a very unbalanced diet. Potentially difficult to stick to and unsociable.
Paleo diet
Premise: We haven’t evolved to a modern diet. Eating like our paleolithic ancestors is better.
What’s not allowed: processed foods, sugar, all grains, all dairy, beans and legumes, vegetable oil, potatoes.
What’s good: Encourages lots of fresh whole food, lots of vegetables, no processed foods.
What’s not good: Lots of restrictions means it could be very difficult to stick to. Vegetarians would struggle. Potentially expensive. Unsociable.
Premise: We haven’t evolved to a modern diet. Eating like our paleolithic ancestors is better.
What’s not allowed: processed foods, sugar, all grains, all dairy, beans and legumes, vegetable oil, potatoes.
What’s good: Encourages lots of fresh whole food, lots of vegetables, no processed foods.
What’s not good: Lots of restrictions means it could be very difficult to stick to. Vegetarians would struggle. Potentially expensive. Unsociable.
Dukan diet
Premise: Limiting carbohydrates forces your body to burn fat.
What’s not allowed: all carbohydrates.
What’s good about it: Not much!
What’s not good: Extremely restrictive and unbalanced. Not enough vegetables, fibre or calcium. Unpleasant and unsociable.
Premise: Limiting carbohydrates forces your body to burn fat.
What’s not allowed: all carbohydrates.
What’s good about it: Not much!
What’s not good: Extremely restrictive and unbalanced. Not enough vegetables, fibre or calcium. Unpleasant and unsociable.
So if you’re considering trying any new diet, ask yourself “What am I not
allowed to eat on this diet?” If it’s something you think you could live
without forever, maybe it’s worth trying. If not, perhaps the old-fashioned approach
of ‘a little bit of everything in moderation’ might be worth considering.
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