THE MOST POPULAR DIET TRENDS FOR 2019
“To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.”
According to “U.S. News and World Report,” the most popular diet trends for the year 2019 in the USA are listed below. In this article, I shall edit and analyze them, as I see it.
(1) KETOGENIC DIET: This is the most popular “weight loss” diet popularized by TV personalities and some diet book writers and commercial diet companies. The essence of this diet, just like Atkin’s diet, is to eliminate carbs, sugar, whole wheat bread and pasta, which are ready to and burn for energy. The amount of carbs have to be reduced as much as possible, to only 50 gm a day, to force the body to use and metabolize fat and protein as a source of energy. It takes about 3 to 4 days for the body, to use all depo sugars in the body. Then body switches its energy metabolism to burning fat and proteins for energy. Consequently two important metabolic events occur. The first one is the blood sugar level and pancreatic insulin secretion drop to a minimum level. The second metabolic even is that burning fat and proteins cause “keton bodies,” a formation and mild acidosis, as seen in extreme forms in diabetic coma. Ketons are organic compounds which can be utilized as fuel source. Therefore our body can tolerate mild keton formation and slightly lower acidic pH. Ketogenic diet is effective reducing belly fat. However long term safety of the ketogenic diet is not certain. The Ketogenic diet could cause severe constipation, leg cramps, dehydration, change the composition of good bacterial population in the gut (dysbiosis) and mental confusion. Long term use of ketogenic diet is not recommended, without being under doctor care and closely monitored.
(2) PALEO DIET: This is my favorite diet. It is the diet of our ancient, Paleolithic Hunter Gatherer ancestors. Our DNA and genetic make-up evolved with this diet. The essence of this diet is to consume only natural, organic and fresh plant food, berries, roots, tubers, fresh and lean red meat, fish, poultry and organic honey. Because of modern farming methods, using fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, GMO food production, animal husbandry and a fast-food culture, the Paleo diet is very expensive and very difficult to follow.
(3) ALKALINE DIET: The idea behind this diet is to eliminate foods that produce alkaline byproducts during their metabolism such as meat, processed and packaged foods, canned foods, refined simple sugars, white bread, alcohol. Most vegetables, fruits, soybeans, legumes and tofu are allowed but there is no evidence that alkaline end products will change body’s acid base balance and make us lose weight. To me this is just another fad diet.
(4) WHOLE 30 DIET : It’s website claims that just avoiding alcohol and any food or drink with added extra sugars, legumes or dairy products for 30 days will make you lose weight. I believe this is another fad and commercial diet.
(5) MEDITARRANIEN DIET: This is a well-studied wholesome diet. Long term use of this diet has shown that it reduces the risk of heart diseases, arteriosclerosis, strokes and senility. This diet guides people to eat plenty of seafood, fish, plant foods, olive oil, tomato, whole wheat pasta, poultry, legumes and a glass or two red wine. No red meat and processed food of any kind are allowed.
(6) FLEXITARIAN DIET:This basically is a vegetarian diet with couple of cheat days to eat whatever you want.
(7) LECTIN FREE DIET: Lectin is a plant protein, just like gluten in wheat. It is claimed that lectin causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore plants rich of lectin such as whole grains, legumes and beans should be avoided. Again there is no scientific evidence that lectin causes inflammation. This is nothing more than just another commercial gimmick.
