Nutritionists at the Department of Agriculture--makers of the mypyramid nutrition tool--suggest getting roughly 55 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fats and 15 percent from protein. An article in "Circulation" magazine reports that any diet suggesting more than 20 percent of caloric intake from protein sources is considered high protein; a diet suggesting more than 30 percent is considered very high protein.
Atkins Diet
Since 1972, the Atkins Nutritional Approach has offered dieters a way to lose weight while eating butter-dipped lobster, salad with bleu cheese dressing and steak. The eating plan has several stages, but dieters and encouraged to eat only 20 grams of carbohydrates--roughly 80 calories, the equivalent of one piece of fruit--per day for the first two weeks, then gradually increase the amount. The diet encourages dieters to eat as much protein as they need to feel satisfied.
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet, created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston, eliminate simple carbohydrates, such as pasta and sugary snacks, in phases, while allowing dieters to fill up on lean proteins. Phase two of the diet adds some complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread, but simple carbs are always discouraged. During the first stage of the plan, dieters eat fewer than 10 percent of their daily calories in carbohydrates, according to MayoClinic.com. An typical South Beach meal is made up of grilled salmon and a salad of mixed greens with tomatoes, sprinkled with fresh Parmesan cheese and some olive oil and vinegar. The diet does not measure protein, but recommends eating lean sources of protein rather than carbohydrates.
The Zone Diet
The Zone diet, devised by biochemist Dr. Barry Sears, changes the ratio of foods eaten to 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat, all of which must be consumed simultaneously. This, Sears says, puts the body in hormonal balance, giving it the chance to optimally metabolize food. A typical Zone meal would be a three-ounce turkey burger with two cups of fresh spinach drizzled with one tablespoon of olive oil, and half an apple for dessert. This type of meal would be eaten five or six times per day.
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