There are a lot of conflicting diet meal plans out there that can leave you confused about what’s best for you. If you go to a dietician who recommends you certain foods, you’re likely to find another consultant who tells you something else.
If you’re confused about what meal plan you should follow, don’t worry. We’ve listed out five diet meal plans that are healthy in their own way. You can choose a diet plan from the following based on what suits your body best.
Paleo Diet
You’d have heard about the benefits of a Paleo diet. The Paleo diet is a nutritional approach to your genetics. The diet meal plan helps you stay healthy, energetic, and fit.
Refined and packed foods have large amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, and refined sugar. Eating them can cause a lot of diseases like cancer, diabetes, depression, obesity, and infertility. A Paleo diet involves eating healthier food like lean meats, nuts, and healthy oils.
Here are the primary dos and don’ts of the Paleo Diet
Eat:
Lean Meat
Fish and other seafood
Eggs
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Healthy oils like olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil
Avoid:
Legumes, including peanuts
Cereal grains
Dairy and dairy-related products
Potatoes
Processed food
Refined sugar
Salt
Refined Oils
GM Diet
General Motors introduced this diet in 1985. It was developed jointly by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for GM employees. It was initially designed to keep workers healthy. The results the diet showed on people were impressive.
People have lost anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds in just seven days. After that, it became popular, and millions of people started to follow the diet. This diet doesn’t have any complicated ingredients and doesn’t make significant changes to a person’s daily routine. There are just a simple set of dos and don’ts that you need follow.
Dos:
Drink lots of water
If you want to use oil, use extra virgin olive oil
Include a lot of herbs, vinegar, and lemon as flavoring
Don’ts:
Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited
Don’t use any dressings for salads
Use a maximum of one teaspoon of oil for a meal
Never cheat the diet ever. Not even for a meal
Gluten-Free Diet
Many people have a false notion that eating a gluten-free diet is a shortcut to losing weight. That’s not true. A gluten-free diet is for people with Celiac disease. It’s a disease that creates an immune reaction when you eat gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. There is no cure for this condition, but it can be treated by following a strict gluten-free diet.
Eat:
All forms of corn, like corn flour and cornmeal
Rice, including brown, white, and basmati
Gluten-free flours, such as coconut, nuts, and beans
Soy, quinoa, and tapioca
Milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt
Avoid:
All forms of wheat, like regular bread, cakes, cookies, and crackers
Any food with wheat as an ingredient
Malt and barley
Seafood, as they have sauces in them which are not gluten-free
Low-Carb Diet
As stated in the name, a low-carb diet is low in carbohydrates. You’re avoiding foods that are high in carbs, such as pasta, sugary foods, and bread. Eat wholesome foods like natural fats, protein, and green vegetables.
There are a lot of studies that show low-carb diets being successful and improving overall health. Low-carb diets are a big no for people who have diabetes, high blood pressure and are currently breastfeeding. Here are the dos and don’ts of a low-carb diet.
Do’s
Eat steaks and other meats if you like them
Take enough protein, so you don’t end up hungry
Eat low-carb and starchy vegetables
Dont’s
Don’t eat foods that are heavy in carbs, at all costs
Vegan Diet
Vegan diets contain only plants like nuts, fruits, grains, and vegetables. Foods that come from animals like milk, meat, and eggs are strictly off limits.
This diet has been proven to be healthy and beneficial. Toxicity levels in the body were found to be very low for people who followed a vegan diet. Here are the dos and don’ts if you’re planning to follow it.
Do’s
Eat five portions of large varieties of fruit and vegetables
Eat meals that have rice, bread, and pasta
Eat beans and pulses and other plant-based proteins
Don’ts
Don’t eat saturated fat and trans fat
Don’t drink milk from animals. You can go for soy milk or almond milk
Avoid meat and eggs
Your body is unique. Its metabolism, digestive process, and tolerance are entirely different from everyone else. Your body will work perfectly and remain healthy if you follow a specific diet.
Try samples from the above-listed diet meal plans and decide which program is right for you. Follow that meal plan and stick to it. That’s the key to a healthy lifestyle.
