In the current day and age when the tongues crave for fast food items, it becomes necessary to slow down a little on its intake. Bread, cheese, greasy sauces, deep fried meat patties, mayo, etc. are the main ingredients of fast food items. They add heavily to your calories. Your stomach and the whole digestive system need a break from all the junk you dump in.
The saying, ‘anything in access is bad’, fits perfectly in the case of excess consumption of fast and processed food. Having a healthy diet and good eating habits is all it takes to lead a healthy life. With a variety of diets, salads and smoothies being introduced, people have innumerable options to choose from. In this article we are going to have a look at some of the most opted for diets, salads and smoothies to help you decide which one you can go for.
Here are the most common forms of diet you can follow:
Low Carb Diet
This type of diet involves consuming low carbohydrates. Foods like pasta, bread, milk, ice creams, potatoes, rice, sugary sweets, etc. are rich in carbohydrates. Low Carb Diet forbids people from eating these food items and encourages the intake of fat.
Advantages:
- Weight l
oss - Increase in Levels of ‘Good’ HDL Cholesterol
Reduction is insulin and blood sugar levels- Treats Metabolic Syndrome (a condition that increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke)
What to eat:
- Fish, meat and eggs
- Leafy green vegetables, vegetables that grow above the ground
- Fruits such as apples, blueberries, and strawberries
Ketogenic Diet
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Advantages:
- Energizes the body
- Reduces inflammation
- Strengthens the brains
- Maintains blood sugar levels
- rotects the heart
What to eat:
- Cheese
- Seafood
- Avocado
- Meat and poultry products
- Plain Yoghurt, butter, cream (full-fat dairy products)
- Non-starchy vegetables like tomato, broccoli, mushrooms, etc.
Gluten Free Diet
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Advantages:
- Helps treat celiac disease
- Helps treat irritable bowel syndrome
What to eat:
- Meats and Fish
- Fruits and vegetables
- Food containing starch like rice, potatoes, corn, corn flour, etc.
- Herbs and spices
Vegan Diet
This type of diet completely excludes meat and eggs. It purely sticks to the consumption of plants, cereals, nuts and fruits. While most worry about the lack of nutrients supplied to the body in this form of diet, a proper balanced and planned diet chart can supply the right amount of nutrients to the body.
Advantages:
- Keeps cholesterol under proper check
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Weight loss
- Rejuvenates and makes the skin healthy
- Longer life
Intermittent Fasting
While diets continue to remain the ‘in’ thing for many, ‘Intermittent Fasting’ has also entered the lives of many. In this, an individual is required to eat within a specific time limit and then fast for the rest of the time. Intermittent fasting is basically a type of eating pattern that one is required to follow in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy eating habit. Following this pattern helps one to lower cholesterol, prevent cancer to some extent, improve memory, release depression and increase the lifespan.
Salads
Salads since forever have been the healthiest of all. Digestive in nature, they are the ones that detoxify and purify the body leaving a person healthy inside out. Salads are not just healthy but are also easy to make, good in taste, beautifully colorful and crunchy. With so many veggies available in the market, everyone can make a salad of their own choice, adding only those ingredients they like. Some of the most common health benefits of salads are:
- Healthy weight maintenance
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Strengthens the heart
- Improves the skin tone
- Provides rich nutrients
Smoothies
Other than salads, smoothies are the new interest for all the health freaks. It is a drink whose main ingredients are fruits and milk, yoghurt, or ice cream. However, a smoothie is not just restricted to fruits but also involves greens like lettuce, kale, spinach, etc. Smoothies are filled with rich nutrients that are as healthy as salads and also satiates the tongue with great taste and flavor. So, if a salad bores you, you can always turn to smoothies. Smoothies benefit health in the following way:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Regularizes Bowel Movement
- Hydrates the body
- Balances hormones
- Improves Digestion
With all said, pick up any one of your above mentioned favorites and take a step forward towards a healthy life.