The good, the bad and everything else you want to know about 6 popular diets

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When we say the word “diet” what exactly do we mean?  Most of us associate the word with “trying to lose weight.”  But the actual definition of the word diet means “the food and beverages a person usually eats and drinks.”  So if we all agree that we eat and drink something every day, then aren’t we all on a “diet?” My point is that all of us are on a diet or a way of eating and it’s best to strive to make your diet meet your own individual nutrient needs keeping you as healthy as possible.

Let’s evaluate a few of the more well-known or popular diets many people have either tried or are currently following either for weight loss or striving to improve their health.  Keep in mind there is no perfect diet.  They all have their pros and cons and what is right for one person may not be right for another.  The diets listed below are not ranked in any particular order but at the end, as a registered dietitian, I will give my opinion on which one would be suitable for most people to follow. 

Which diet is suitable for most people?   It’s a tie – either the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet.  They’re both:

*Easy to follow

*Can be used as a lifelong diet plan

*All food groups are allowed

*They could result in weight loss

*Helpful in improving cardiovascular health

How you eat, your diet, can have a huge impact on your overall health.  Make your way of eating have a positive impact on your way of life.  

ABOUT CHERYL MUSSATTO, 

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Cheryl Mussatto has over 30 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian and has worked in a variety of settings that cover a wide span of nutrition experience.  Currently she works as an adjunct professor for two community colleges, Allen Community College in Burlingame and Butler Community College in Council Grove, Kansas teaching two courses, Basic Nutrition and Therapeutic Nutrition. Cheryl also is a contributing author for osagecountyonline.com, an online newspaper and Edietitians, a global free nutritional and health magazine. Her articles for both publications pertain to nutrition topics that cover a diversity of health and nutrition interests for the general public.  She is also certified as a health and wellness coach.