Doctor Recommended Diets

When deciding on a weight loss plan, it helps to know you are following a plan designed or trusted by experts. Thus, it would behoove you to avoid the majority of "get-fit-quick" schemes on the internet and stick to more tried and true approaches supported by doctors and major health care organizations. While the following diets certainly are not guaranteed to help you lose "10 pounds in 10 days" or any other far-fetched claim, they are guaranteed to help you shed weight while keeping your body and mind as healthy as possible.

Mayo Clinic Diet

The Mayo Clinic Diet uses a pyramid approach to help you make proper food choices throughout the day. At the bottom of the pyramid (allowing for unlimited servings) are fresh fruits and vegetables. At the next rung, you are suggested to consume between four to eight servings of carbohydrates, preferably from whole-grain sources. Next comes protein and dairy---three to seven daily helpings will suffice. Second to last are fats, recommended for only three to five servings. Finally, you may top off your daily diet with no more than 75 calories from sweets. This diet aims for a reasonable weight loss goal of one to two pounds per week without counting calories obsessively.

Cleveland Clinic Diet

The Cleveland Clinic recommends the Mediterranean Diet for optimal health and weight loss. On the Mediterranean Diet, you will consume the following food types: fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, nuts, grains, potatoes, seeds and beans. Limit your consumption of fish and poultry to moderate amounts, further limiting consumption of red meat to very low amounts. Finally, keep your daily fat intake to no more than 25 percent to 35 percent of your total calories, and replace unhealthy saturated fats with a healthier choice such as olive oil wherever possible.

American Heart Association Diet

The American Heart Association recommends a similar approach to dieting. Generally speaking, replace consumption of nutrient-sparse junk foods with nutrient-dense healthy foods. In plain English, consume fewer sweets and more fruits and vegetables. Additionally, completely remove all trans fats from your diet while harshly limiting consumption of saturates---do this by choosing lean cuts of protein such as chicken and turkey over red meats. Additionally, the AHA recommends that you consume a serving of fish at least twice a week, as the omega-3 fats present in fish are extremely heart-healthy.

American Cancer Society Guidelines

Finally, the American Cancer Society recommends a diet limited to no alcohol consumption. Additionally, consume the bulk of your nutrition from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, as the additional fiber, vitamins and minerals present in these foods can ward off a variety of cancers. Strive to replace consumption of processed foods and refined flours with whole grains and more natural alternatives. Finally, favor so-called white meats over red, as these low-fat meats are linked to lower rates of developing cancer.

Considerations

As seen, although these recommendations come from four separate medical sources, they virtually overlap in nearly all of their recommendations. Thus, while modern medicine might not agree on a number of topics, they can nevertheless agree on what constitutes a healthy diet. Liberal consumption of quality carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains; moderate consumption of lean protein sources; and an aim to replace unhealthy fats with healthier versions (trading saturated fat consumption for unsaturates); while abstaining from sugars, salt and alcohol; can solve your weight control problems once and for all.