7 diets for quick weight loss

After spending a whole year in quarantine, it is safe to say that we have become more aware of our lifestyle and want to change it for the better. 

Even those who were not mindful of their calorie intake before the pandemic have become more conscious of what is going into their bodies. 

There are popular diets that have been tried and tested over time to lose weight. However, none of these should be continued for a long time. 

According to Sumaiya Rafique, a clinical nutritionist at BIHS Hospital, a combination of a balanced diet with daily exercise is still the ideal way to lose weight. 

She shared with us, "For healthy individuals, crash diets or things like keto diets would not be very harmful in the short run. They may even lose some weight. But social media does not give clear information on how these diets could be harmful to the elderly, especially those with diabetes, heart or kidney diseases."

"We often get diabetic patients who developed hypoglycemia and fainted due to the wrong kind of dieting. Too much protein or fat intake could put the kidneys or heart under pressure or cause hypertension," she added.

The expert suggested that fruits, vegetables, or carbohydrates should not be completely removed from one's diet because it might cause micronutrient deficiency. 

Here are some popular diets and their details: 

The paleo diet

The paleo diet requires individuals to forgo any form of processed food, grains, dairy products, and sugar except for the sugar from fruits. Only natural food can be consumed such as fish, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and meat as long as they are grass-fed. 

For more information visit: www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/the-paleo-diet.aspx

The blood type diet

Each individual falls into a specific blood type category. For example, those with blood type O are recommended to eat food that is high in protein whereas those with blood type A are advised to avoid meat. 

After a thorough study of the person's needs combined with their data, a diet is then recommended to those interested. 

For more information visit: www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-blood-type-diet-review

The vegan diet

Many individuals have opted for this diet for health and environmental reasons. Veganism excludes any form of animal exploitation which can include food, clothing, or even beauty products. 

To cover for the lack of nutrients one receives from meat, vegans are recommended to take protein and vitamin B-12 supplements. 

For more information visit: foodinsight.org/basics-of-vegan-diet/

The South Beach diet

The South Beach diet centers around finding a balanced diet for an individual that includes a selection of fats, proteins, and carbs. While eliminating some but not all carbohydrates, most people find it easy to maintain this diet over a long time. 

For more information visit: www.healthline.com/nutrition/south-beach-diet

The Keto diet

The keto diet encourages a low-carb, high-fat diet. The individual is asked to significantly reduce their carbohydrate intake while fat replaces it.

This process then puts the body into a metabolic state known as ketosis. The body then sources its fuels from the existing fat and produces ketones in the liver which supplies energy to the brain. 

For more information visit: www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto

The Mediterranean diet

This diet consists of increasing one's vegetable intake but simultaneously decreases meat consumption. Fish is recommended over chicken with added vegetables every meal. Nutritious foods such as nuts, herbs, and whole grains are also to be added to one platter. 

For more information visit: www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-dep...

The raw food diet

As the name suggests, this diet eliminates any form of processed or cooked foods. Any food which is pasteurised or even produced with additives is strongly advised against. 

As mentioned earlier, if you want to lose weight healthily, you should take your time and build a routine around it, and be patient. There is no shortcut to a healthier lifestyle. 

For more information visit: www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/power-raw