There are a lot of diets to choose from. You probably see several just looking at the magazines when you stand in line at the grocery store. Many offer weight-loss promises, but are they healthy for you and can you follow them for life? The best diet for you is one that you can follow for the rest of your life, eating the foods that are the healthiest for your mind and body.
Dr. Sears' L.E.A.N. Program
Dr. William Sears has created a program that he adopted personally after he underwent surgery for colon cancer. On AskDrSears.com, you can find a breakdown and explanation of the diet's structure, as well as research and tips for success. The L.E.A.N. anagram stands for lifestyle, exercise, attitude and nutrition. The healthy lifestyle aspect recommends no smoking, excessive alcohol or other unhealthy substances. Exercise is defined as physical activity and muscle-building exercises, which will help you burn fat. The attitude in the L.E.A.N. program explains how stress keeps you fat and how a positive, productive thoughts can help you maintain health. In the nutrition part of the program, AskDrSears.com stresses a low-fat diet, high fiber and lots of nutrient-dense foods like cantaloupe, tuna, brown rice and vegetables.
The CDC's Lifestyle, Not Diet, for Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advocate for a healthy lifestyle as well as a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are at the forefront of the CDC's recommendations, followed by milk products that are low in fat or fat-free. Proteins such as fish, eggs, legumes, lean meat, poultry and nuts are also recommended. The CDC also recommends keeping your saturated fats and trans fats, cholesterol, salt and sugar intakes low. The CDC's "Healthy Weight" page offers many tools to encourage a healthy lifestyle and diet, including tips for making your unhealthy comfort foods healthier, meal-planning tools and recipes.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is considered a heart-healthy diet, according to MayoClinic.com because it reduces not only your risk for heart disease but also cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The Mediterranean diet places emphasis on vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, olive oil, herbs and spices. Meat and sweets are to be consumed minimally. Fish and other seafood are considered healthier foods to consume than meat, poultry and eggs. Other important factors in the Mediterranean diet are exercise, enjoying meals with family and friends and optionally consuming red wine in moderation.
Healthy Foods
Following diets can be overwhelming and rigid, but knowing which foods are healthy can help you make choices. AskDrSears.com lists 12 of the top healthy foods for families to consume. Among these foods are avocados, tomatoes, salmon, eggs, spinach and yogurt. Other foods are chickpeas and lentils, flaxseeds and oil, blueberries, tofu and whole grains. MayoClinic.com also gives a top 10 list of great health foods of which almonds, apples, blueberries, broccoli and red beans make up the top five. Other foods are salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes, vegetable juice and wheat germ. Making these expert-recommended foods a part of your daily diet will ensure that you are taking steps toward a healthier diet. This approach, combined with exercise and enjoyable family meals, will create a healthy diet you can follow for life.
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