As the world has grown to become more and more health conscious, different types of diets have continued to grow in popularity. Nowadays, we can walk into a grocery store and see food being promoted as part of the Vegan diet, the Atkins diet, and the Paleo diet. What exactly do all these diets mean? Is a diet worth the sacrifice?
Know all the facts before starting a new diet- for your health and for best results!
Image Source: Moment/Sam Barnes
Going Vegan
In addition to following the vegetarian standards, vegans do not eat animal byproducts such as eggs. Research studies and observations show that vegans have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. However, vegans may have a higher risk of iron deficiency due to the lack of meat and shellfish in their diet. Additionally, vegans need to find substitutes for a lack of calcium through dark leafy greens or soy products to maintain the necessary 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day.
Losing the Carbs
The Atkin’s Diet changes our body’s way of getting energy. Instead of carbs, the Atkins diet promotes eating protein-rich meat and low-starch vegetables. This is done by minimizing the amount of carbohydrates or carbs a person intakes. You go through four phases, and each phase continuously decreases the amount of carbs you can have. Because your body is carb-starved, the body uses the stored fat rather than the glucose from your food to create energy. However, there are many risks to maintaining this diet. Risks include high cholesterol (due to high-fat foods), kidney problems (due to excess protein), and ketosis (due to eating less than 100 grams of carbs a day).
Living the Caveman Life
If the Vegan or Atkins diets don’t seem suitable for your lifestyle, you may want to try the Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet. With this diet, you avoid whole grains, legumes, and sugars. Instead, you eat berries, grass-fed meats, pastured poultry, and non-starch vegetables. The Paleo diet is a very “clean” diet, a diet without additives, preservatives or chemicals. According to substantial research, however, eating whole grains improves our cardiovascular health. Additionally, with a lack of calcium, there is an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and calcium-deficiency disease. Thus, make sure that you’re getting your calcium and whole grains to reduce the risks of a Paleo diet.
Should I Do It? – Diet Decision
As always, speak to a doctor before making any drastic dietary decisions. For every change of habit, the hardest part of the entire process is the conscious choice to start. To start off smart, try tasty Vegan, Atkins, or Paleo snacks before deciding whether or not you want to go the whole way and cut lots of everyday foods out of your diet. Blindly following any of these diets could increase risks of high cholesterol, calcium-deficiency and osteoporosis. Consequently, these diets can benefit your health as long as you make up for the lost calcium and carbs with the right veggies and fruits. Make a smart decision that is right for you!
