Diets for a Healthy You

There isn't just one healthy diet for everyone to follow. People have different tastes, enjoying a wide variety of different foods. A healthy diet will only improve your well-being if you follow it. It is essential that you pick a diet you will enjoy. That way you can stay with it and reap the benefits.

Mediterranean Diet

The cornerstones of the Mediterranean Diet include a high consumption of virgin olive oil and eating fish three or four times a week. The diet involves a high intake of vegetables, fruits and legumes. Small amounts of red wine are generally consumed with meals; between lunch and dinner, fruits and nuts are often snacked on.

Paleolithic Diet

The Paleolithic Diet is based on the ancestral hunter-gatherer diet. According to Dr. Loren Cordain, author of "The Paleo Diet," your human ancestors were healthier than you are today. They lacked many of the diseases of modern societies, such as heart disease, acne and strokes. The Paleo Diet consists of lean meats, vegetables, fruits and nuts. It is noted for the lack of consumption of grains. Breads are a "recent" invention of agriculture, not available to the caveman nor a part of this diet.

Primal Diet

The Primal Diet is based on the Paleo Diet, with a few changes. Mark Sisson, author of the "The Primal Blueprint," recommends a diet higher in fat than Cordain's Paleo Diet. He recommends using copious amounts of butter and olive oil in the cooking of foods. He allows the eating of fermented milk, such as yogurts and cheese, while the Paleo Diet is anti-dairy. He also says that it is OK for athletes to supplement with protein shakes and vitamins.

Okinawa Diet

The people of Okinawa, Japan, are the longest-lived people on the planet, with a high number people living to be more than 100 years old and an average life expectancy of 82. The diet consists of a large amount of vegetables, especially sweet potatoes. It is low in calories and low in sugar while being high in nutrients. Fish should be eaten three to four times a week.