Fruit & Vegetable Diets For Weight

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is an ideal way to lose weight. The rate of obesity for people on a fruit and vegetable diet is zero to 6 percent, according to Susan E. Berkow, Ph.D., and Neal D. Barnard, M.D., of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Scientists at Tufts University found that only 25 to 29 percent of vegetarians were overweight or obese, while 40 percent of meat-eaters were.

Vegetarian Diet

A pure vegetarian diet is based primarily on fruits and vegetables, but also includes grains, nuts and seeds. No meat, poultry fish or shellfish are eaten on this diet. Many other plant-based diets for weight loss are considered a variation of vegetarianism.

Vegan Diet

Vegan diets go a step further than vegetarian diets. They are based on plants only. All animal products must be avoided, including milk, cheese and eggs. This diet promotes weight loss, unless you eat too many starches. According to Vegan Weight Loss, bread and pasta are allowed, but may significantly slow your metabolism and impair your ability to lose weight.

Pesco-Vegetarian Diet

Pesco-vegetarian diets offer a compromise for those who find it hard to go on a pure vegetarian or vegan diet. On a pesco-vegetarian diet you still eat foods that are low-carbohydrate and plant-based, but you can also include eggs, dairy and even seafood, such as fish and shellfish.

Nutritarian Diet

On the nutritarian diet popularized by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, you will eat a pound of raw vegetables and a pound of cooked vegetables every day, along with three to four fruit servings. While other foods can be added, the goal is to get high levels of micronutrition, such as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. According to Dr. Fuhrman, higher levels nutrition will automatically improve your health and your weight.

Raw Food Diets

Raw food diets are based on uncooked foods, since cooking has been shown to diminish the nutrients in some foods. Purists go so far as to eat raw eggs and cheese made from raw milk, although that is not advisable under most conditions. Green smoothies and salads are staples of this diet. Proponents of the raw food diet recommend that you start by eating 50 percent raw, organic food to lose weight, then gradually increase to 100 percent over a few years.