Three popular diet lifestyles offer new ways to approach how you eat
If you’re striving to eat healthier, chances are you’ve considered a number of options. Before you fix up some avocado toast or order a plant-based burger at your favorite brewpub, here’s a look at three of the most popular ways people are approaching the way they eat these days.
Paleo was first introduced in the 1970s and became widely popular beginning in 2014. It’s modeled on the diet of early (paleolithic) humans — in other words, cave people. The theory behind it is that the human body hasn’t evolved to handle the processed foods so prevalent today. People who follow the paleo diet eat fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, meats (especially grass-fed) and fish. They avoid grains, potatoes, legumes or highly processed foods.
The keto diet is similar in some ways to the Atkins diet. Keto meals are high in fat and extremely low in carbohydrates. Typically, carbs are limited to around 50 grams a day. The theory behind keto is that the body is forced to get its energy from fat rather than carbs, thus going into a state of fat-burning “ketosis.” Results can come fairly quickly for a lot of people, but some nutritional experts say the keto diet might be hard to keep up long term.
Intermittent fasting offers a couple of approaches. One approach is to eat very few calories on certain days and normal amounts on others. The second approach is to only eat during certain hours of the day. For example, no eating between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. For most people, this means fewer overall calories consumed, resulting in weight loss. It also shows promise in improving insulin sensitivity and boosting brain function.
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Sources: Kmotion Research; Mayo Clinic News Network. You should always consult with your doctor or other medical professional before starting a new diet.
This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC.