What is the best way to stay healthy? While there is no perfect formula to achieve this, one thing is for sure: what you eat matters. In fact, what goes inside your body will spell a big difference.
To make sure you are on the right track, here are seven of the healthiest diets you need to try today:
Mediterranean Diet
Did you know that people living in the Mediterranean area are healthier compared to Americans? This is because their diet is composed of extra virgin olive oil and other healthy fats, seafood to be eaten at least twice a week, eggs, poultry, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and herbs; otherwise known as the Mediterranean diet. Consequently, this diet excludes, or at least limit, red meat, refined grains and oils, trans fat, and processed food.
According to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Sticking to this diet reduces the incidence of Type 2 diabetes as well, thereby making it one of the healthiest diets you should try.
Candida Diet
This might be something new for you, but this diet has been around for quite sometime already and it is one of the healthiest diets worth trying.
What exactly is this diet? The main purpose is to minimize the risk of developing Candida, a condition that disrupts the balance of microorganisms in the gut. This affects your digestive health and immune system as well. While there are various factors on why one develops Candida, poor diet will always play a big factor.
Candida diet includes foods like:
- Low sugar fruits like lemon and avocado
- Non-starchy veggies such as artichoke, asparagus, zucchini, and spinach
- Grains like quinoa and oat bran
- Healthy proteins such as salmon, turkey, herring, and chicken
- Yogurt
- Herbs and spices
- Healthy fats and oils like sesame oil, olive oil, and virgin coconut oil
- Herbal teas
- Fermented food such as kefir and sauerkraut
Sticking to this diet will not reduce the risk of Candida but also keep you healthy.
Nordic Diet
Move over, Mediterranean Diet. It looks like the new Nordic Diet is slowly making raves because of its health benefits.
The Nordic Diet is patterned after Mediterranean diet, but there is an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, seafood, and oil. Olive oil is eliminated from the diet plan and is replaced with rapeseed oil, which is native to Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland.
Foods included in this diet are:
- Whole grain cereals
- Low-fat dairy
- Cruciferous and root vegetables like broccoli, beets, parsnip, and turnip
- Vegetable-oil-based margarine
- Herbs such as chives, parsley, mustard, and dill
Nordic diet helps to lose weight and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Paleo Diet
This diet patterned after hunter-gatherer ancestors, who were genetically same as modern humans.
There are several ways on how to go about Paleo Diet since ancestors relied on what was available during that time. Nonetheless, below are the foods that must be included in the list:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meat, preferably grass-fed, pasture-raised, or organic
- Eggs
- Fish and seafood
- Herbs and spices
- Nuts and seeds
- Red wine
- Dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa content
- Green tea
- Black coffee
- Healthy fats and oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil, and extra virgin olive oil
As much as possible, avoid processed food. Ancestors never ate one.
Traditional Okinawa Diet
Do you know where centenarians, or people who are 100 years old and above, live? In Japan, particularly Okinawa – and their diet plays a major role on why people in that area age slowly and live longer.
What do they eat? Sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, soybean-based foods, green and yellow veggies, and soy sauce are included in their diet. Okinawa residents also ate a moderate amount of lean meat, seafood, tea, and fruits.
Still, the food list is not just the main reason why people in this area live longer. Eating until you feel 80 percent full is one of the secrets that result to calorie-restriction, which leads to longevity.
Vegan Diet
From the name itself, you can easily tell what this type of diet is all about. Vegan diet excludes all animal products like eggs, meat, poultry, and dairy products. Animal-based ingredients and bee products must also be avoided.
Nonetheless, the Vegan diet has several variants. There is Whole Foods, which is based on a variety of whole plant foods, Raw Food, and The Starch Solution, which focused on cooked starches among others.
Gluten-Free Diet
This type of diet may be recommended for those with Celiac disease, but many people are adopting this diet as well because of its health benefits.
What should you eat? Anything that is gluten-free such as:
- Meats and fish that are not coated or battered
- Plain, unflavored dairy products
- Eggs
- Nuts and seeds
- Grains
- Herbs and spices
Consequently, you must avoid:
- Wheat-based bread and pasta
- Baked goods
- Beer and other alcoholic beverages
- Sauces
- Snack foods
Given these diet plans, which among them would you like to try?
