Simple Diets to Follow

Simple diets are those that are easy to follow and allow you to incorporate long-term healthy eating habits into your lifestyle. Rather than looking for the next Atkins or South Beach diet, think of a simple diet as a permanent lifestyle change. Understand the following principles, and you'll be eating a simple, lasting diet in no time.

The Importance of Calories

According to a research study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, low-carb, low-fat or low protein diets do not make any difference when it comes to weight loss. At the end of the day, reducing the amount of calories you eat results in weight loss regardless of the amount of protein, fat or carbs you eat. So ditch all the previous fad diets you've heard about and focus on the amount of calories you're eating. If you want to follow a simple diet to lose weight, eat fewer calories ... period.

Eating the Right Carbs

With that being said, eating the right types of carbohydrates is still important to maintaining optimal health. Good carbs are those that come from whole grains. These carbs have not been milled and processed and, therefore, still have all of their vital nutrients and fiber intact. Avoid refined grains or "bad carbs" because they have been milled and stripped of many of their nutritional benefits. A simple diet is one that contains whole grains such as whole-wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, oatmeal and fruits as carb sources rather than refined grains and sugar.

Eating the Right Fats

Eating the right fats can also be beneficial for your health. "Good" fats are either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated and come from sources such as olive and canola oils and nuts. These fats may help lower LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. "Bad" fats, on the other hand, are saturated or trans fats and can raise LDL cholesterol levels and lead to a variety of heart problems. Avoid fatty cuts of meat, fast food and processed foods. So, a simple diet also contains lots of olive oil, canola oil and nuts and not a lot of beef, pork, fast food and processed foods.

Eating the Right Proteins

Eating the right types of protein is also important to maintaining optimal health and following a simple diet. Eat protein that comes from lean sources such as fish, chicken, turkey and beans rather than fattier meats like beef and pork.