Effective Diets for Weight Loss

Effective Diets for Weight Loss
Photo Credit Blue Jean Images/Photodisc/Getty Images

There isn't a shortage of effective diets available. However, a single diet isn't effective for everyone. A successful diet plan will depend on a variety of factors, including your food preferences, personality and budget. Some diets involve purchasing special meals and shakes, while others encourage your to select healthy foods at your local supermarket.

High-Protein and Low-Carbohydrate Diet

This type of diet focuses on controlling insulin levels by limiting consumption of foods high in starch and sugar. Reducing consumption of these foods minimizes insulin spikes, resulting in weight-loss. This diet approach typically requires cutting carbohydrate consumption to 10 percent of regular dietary standards.

Since this diet is high in protein, it's important to select protein sources carefully. Protein sources high in saturated fat increase your risk for health problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lean protein sources include fresh water fish, turkey breast and low-fat dairy.

Low-Fat Diet Plans

Fat contains the most calories per gram, compared to other types of foods. Limiting fat consumption reduces calorie intake, which results in weight-loss. A low-fat diet typically reduces fat intake to 20 percent of total daily calories. For example, if you consume 1,800 calories daily, you need 36 grams of fat daily. This type of diet also focuses on selecting healthy sources of fat, such as monounsaturated fats.

Glycemic Index Diets

This diet plan is similar to a low-carbohydrate diet. However, it uses an index to assign values to each food. The higher the value, the more a food will negatively affect insulin levels. Following this diet focuses in eating foods that are low on the gycemic index. Carbohydrate rich foods are usually the highest on the index chart. Controlling your blood sugar may assist with losing weight.

Meal Replacement Diets

Another option for weight-loss is a meal replacement diet plan. This diet plan focuses on eating two healthy meals daily, 600 to 700 calorie each. A nutritionally balanced shake is used for the final meal. Fat reserves are used when the body consumes fewer calories than needed. This results in weight-loss. These shakes are available at most drugstores or grocery stores. Always talk with your doctor before starting any weight-loss plan.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: May 26, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments