Seven Famous Fad Diets in the US, their Pros and Cons

[Larry_OHF]

7 Fad Diets to Avoid
by Sabrina Rogers
http://fitness.msn.com/articles/edit...addiets_121202

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1- The Zone (Mastering the Zone - Barry Sears, Ph.D.):

How it works: Sears claims that most people gain weight because they suffer from insulin imbalances that can be corrected by consuming exact proportions of carbohydrates, protein and fat. The average number of calories consumed per day ranges from 1,000 to 1,700.

Pros: The average American diet is already close to the 40/30/30 ratio of carbs/protein/fat, which makes it fairly easy to follow in the short-term. As well, consumption of saturated fat is reduced since the plan recommends sources of lean protein.

Cons: Serving sizes of carbs such as pasta, grains, starchy vegetables, and bread are ridiculously small (1/8 cup of baked beans or 1/8 cup cooked pasta). This can be especially difficult for big guys to follow.

Long-term: This plan is very difficult to maintain since the number of calories is low and the combinations of protein, carbs and fat allowed at every meal are strict.
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2- Atkins Diet Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution - Robert C. Atkins, MD

How it works: The author states that processed carbohydrates and insulin, rather than excess calories, are responsible for weight gain and obesity. You can eat all the protein you want (meat, eggs and even cheese), as long as you eliminate carbs and sugar from your diet. The plan allows between 1,200 and 1,800 calories a day.

Pros: It's simple and easy to follow. A significant number of calories are eliminated through the restriction of carbs and sugar. It is billed as especially effective for people who've tried low-fat, high-carb diets.

Cons: Eating large amounts of saturated fats, such as that found in meat, can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. In addition, high-protein diets can cause nausea, fatigue, headaches, harmful fluid loss, and carbohydrate cravings. This diet is also too low in whole grains, fruit, calcium, and fiber.

Long-term: It is very difficult to maintain a low-carb diet indefinitely. As soon as carbs are reintroduced, weight gain is inevitable.
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3- The Blood Type Diet Eat Right For Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer and Achieving Your Ideal Weight - Peter J. D'Adamo, ND

How it works: According to D'Adamo, you should choose certain foods and avoid others depending on your blood type. If you eat the wrong foods, the effect on your body is similar to receiving a transfusion of the wrong type of blood. The recommended daily number of calories varies.

Pros: All blood types are encouraged to consume many servings of fruits and vegetables. Sources of lean protein are also recommended. This plan can be easier to follow than diets that severely restrict calories.

Cons: D'Adamo's claim isn't supported by scientific research and is widely criticized as being based on false assumptions.

Long-term: The author suggests unusual foods that can be very difficult to find (except on his website, of course). And how the heck are you supposed to prepare meals for a family whose members have different blood types?
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4- Pritikin Diet The Pritikin Weight Loss Breakthrough: Five Easy Steps to Outsmart Your Fat Instinct - Robert Pritikin

How it works: This diet restricts fat intake to 10-15% of total calories in an attempt to curb the "Fat Instinct," which Pritikin claims is a biological drive to avoid exercise and eat too much high-fat food. The consumption of complex, fibrous carbohydrates, such as fruits and veggies, is encouraged.

Pros: Lean cuts of meat are recommended, which reduces calories and the risk of heart disease.

Cons: Most men won't feel satisfied for a long period of time after eating a meal containing such a small amount of fat, which may then lead to overeating.

Long-term: A diet this low in fat is very difficult to maintain over time.
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5- The Cabbage Soup Diet The New Cabbage Soup Diet - Margaret Danbrot

How it works: This word-of-mouth diet was finally put into writing by Danbrot, who claims that you can lose up to 20 pounds in seven days by consuming a vegetable-based soup (cabbage, onions, peppers, tomatoes, celery, and onion soup mix) and one other food. However, she stresses that it should not be followed for more than seven days since it consists of less than 1,000 calories a day.

Pros: Rapid weight loss.

Cons: The weight loss, which is due to loss of water or lean body tissue, is temporary. It can also lead to side effects such as nausea, lightheadedness and gas... so don't plan a date if you're on this diet.

Long-term: As with most "crash" diets, weight loss is practically impossible to maintain.
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6- The Grapefruit Diet The Grapefruit Diet - Creator unknown

How it works: Although it has never been put into writing, this diet is one of the most popular in the United States. It requires you to eat a grapefruit at every meal, along with a small amount of protein (eggs, beef or chicken), black coffee, and salad. Since grapefruit is believed to contain a fat-burning enzyme and the average number of calories consumed is a mere 800 per day, rapid weight loss will occur. Many claim to have lost between 12 and 20 pounds after following this diet for a week or two.

Pros: You'll be getting high amounts of vitamin C and fiber.

Cons: This diet is nutritionally deficient since it restricts followers to a few specific foods. Most men will find it very difficult to survive on so few calories.

Long-term: You'll gain back what you lost once you return to your old eating habits.
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7- The Caveman Diet Neander-Thin: Eat like a Caveman to Achieve a Lean, Strong, Healthy Body - Ray Audette

How it works: According to Audette, modern processed foods such as wheat and grains are to be blamed for obesity. He also opines that the caveman stayed lean thanks to a diet composed of lean meat, fish, nuts, seeds, berries, and fresh fruits and veggies.

Pros: The recommended "whole" foods contain more vitamins and nutrients than processed foods. This program may be easier for men to follow than calorie-restricted diets.

Cons: His theory isn't supported by research.

Long-term: You'll likely fall victim to carbohydrate cravings and gain back the lost weight.

[Attalus]

Oh, Larry: I have lost 85 lb + on the Atkins diet, and Galadria lost 30+ LB ON IT. So, we are prejudiced.

[Larry_OHF]

Dietary nutritionalists major in knowing the science of food consumption and what it does to one's body.

Doctors treat ailments and restore health to one's body.

Both deal in the well-being of a person's health...but the schooling and background is an important aspect to consider, when faced with topics such as this.

[Leonis]

I've done the blood type diet for health reasons and still maintain something very close to it. It works very well for me but was not nearly as good for my wife (different blood type)

I would recomend seeing a trained medical specialist for dietary problems though - their advice, combined with research, listening to and observing my own body and it's many reactions to different foods has proven to be the best method, rather than copying a diet from a book/website etc...

Thanks for the info Larry!

[Sir Kenyth]

The problems I have with a healthy diet is that my grocery/restaurant bill tends to double! Good foods tend to be quite expensive. Lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nuts all tend to be quite pricey. Not to mention the fact that my son won't touch most of it and it requires a lot more preparation. I was on a healthy diet for a while and slowly losing weight. Then came bigger bills and the grocery list had to be streamlined.