List of Good Diets

There are many fad diets out there and an overabundance of information on the best ways to lose weight. The macrobiotic diet, raw food diet, calorie-counting diet and glycemic index diet are a few diets that actually work well and help you lose weight in a healthy way. Each diet allows you to eat different foods and different portions. Knowing the difference between the diets can help you decide which one is best for you.

Raw Food Diet

Raw food diets are based on only eating natural, organic food. It encourages you to eat vegetables and fruit uncooked so that you get all of the vitamins and nutrients that often get destroyed in the cooking process. The idea is that raw, uncooked foods have a natural enzyme that can improve your digestive system. The diet can be restrictive but the fiber, vitamins and nutrients in the food may help prevent heart disease.

Macrobiotic Diet

Macrobiotic diets are similar to pesco-vegetarian diets and are centered around whole grains, vegetables, beans, soups, sea vegetables and fish. The diet includes principles like chewing slowly and eating and drinking only when hungry or thirsty. Chewing food slowly is supposed to aid in digestion because the food is chewed thoroughly and is easier to coat in digestive juices in the stomach. The diet is based on ancient eastern philosophies of achieving balance. The macrobiotic diet recommends that you avoid over-processed foods, sugar, meat and alcohol.

Calorie-Counting Diet

Calorie-counting diets restrict the amount of calories you eat daily. Every person needs a specific amount of calories each day just to sustain his or her current weight. Calorie-counting diets require you to eat less calories than your body currently needs. This will force your body to burn off extra fat to get the rest of the calories it needs. The focus of this diet is less on the types of food being eaten and more on the calorie content in the food.

Glycemic Index Diet

The glycemic index diet is about selecting foods that are low or moderate on the glycemic index. This helps control your blood sugar levels and digestion. Foods that are low on the glycemic index digest slower and release a more stable amount of sugar into the system at a time, which will keep your blood sugar levels steady. These types of foods will keep you feeling fuller for a longer amount of time and help you control your appetite.