Top Five Diets Explained

There are many diet plans proposed and/or promoted by different people. There is the 5-Factor Diet, South Beach Diet, Bob Greene's Best Life Diet, Atkins Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Detox Diet, Anne Collin’s diet, Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, and now you have Size Zero Diet, DASH diet and Fat Smash Diet and …. it goes on! We shall try to explain the top five diets that are very much in news.
Cabbage soup diet

This diet caught the fancy of many when it was proposed due to its utter simplicity. Proponents of Cabbage soup diet claim that by consuming low-calorie cabbage soup for a period of seven days you can lose 10 lbs of weight. It is only a short term program for weight loss.

In the opinion of nutritional experts it is not possible for body to lose 10 lbs of fat in a week; what you will lose by following this plan is body water, and it will be highly detrimental to health. This diet is considered a fad diet. However, there are many who believe in it and there are many variants of this plan still in circulation.

Fat Smash Diet

The Fat Smash Diet of Dr. Smith is an approach to weight loss not as a quick fix solution but as a lifestyle approach. It gained prominence because of the Celebrity Fit Club TV program on which people could see it being put in practice. It focuses on healthful diet, filling foods, and lot of exercise as a necessary accompaniment. This plan focuses on low calorie content of the diet which is easy to follow. This plan does not make tempting claims of fast weight loss; it can be followed whether you are looking for a small or a heavy weight loss.

This is a 4 phase plan; first three phases extending to about 8 weeks and the fourth phase being a lifetime phase. This plan lays as much stress on regular exercises as on proper diet control.

Atkins Diet

Dr. Atkins diet is based on the premise that the main cause of obesity is eating refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar, flour, and high-fructose corn syrups; and secondly, that the fats from hydrogenated oils and not the saturated fats are a problem. Atkins diet plans were based on very low carbohydrates.

Medical opinion however has been vehemently critical of this approach condemning it as “the most dangerous to the public if followed for any length of time." Atkins diet now is looked at more as a fad diet.

South Beach Diet

South Beach diet plan was initially evolved by Dr. Agatston for his heart patients and its launch for weight loss was only as a spin-off. This plan emphasizes the consumption of "good carbohydrates" and "good fats". "Good carbohydrates" are high in fiber and they are digested and absorbed slowly. "Good fats" are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids. Saturated and trans fats are bad fats.

This diet has generally been perceived as a successful weight loss diet.

DASH Diet

This diet is primarily proposed for patients suffering from high blood pressure. It consists in following a diet which is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol, and is rich in low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables. The plan is rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium, as well as protein and fiber. Since it uses the same concepts in choice of diet as are used in case of weight loss diets, it is successful for weight loss also. This diet is supported by many health organisations such as NHLBI, etc.

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