By Melanie Hazenberg, Rick Lugtenberg, Jenny Rosenthal, Serena Dania
Take a look a number of different diets that are flooding the Internet, and constantly becoming trends in peoples lives. Here we will take a closer look at the benefits of each diet, and take the best of each diet to create one new lifestyle. That creates a balance between them all.
Vegetarian Diet
The vegetarian diet is a very popular diet that consists of cutting out meat. Often people adopt this diet in order to be it ethical correct and take a stance towards to the abuse of animals, or other personal reasons: not liking different types of meat, allergies, or just they grew up like that. Either way, this diet brings about a number of benefits. Many often underestimate the vegetarian diet, and claim that those who choose to adopt this diet are not getting all the vitamins they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle. In the Table below, the benefits of a vegetarian diet can be seen:
| Hair | It is important to eat supplements with enough protein for hair cell renewal and bodily nourishment. Protein can be obtained from the following food choices: quinoa, lentils, nuts, chickpeas, coconut, peanut butter, and more. |
| Skin | Considering that with this diet you’d consume more fresh fruit and vegetables, will lead to better skin and fewer breakouts. |
| Digestion | With a well-planned vegetarian diet, ones digestion can improve greatly. By eating nutrition filled supplements that are rich in fiber will really help with digestion. This can lead to regular bowel movements and feeling fuller. |
| Weight loss | You can loose weight, through cutting out meat, which can contain high amounts of saturated fat. Through cutting out meat will also improve overall health, and lower blood pressure. |
| Immune system | There is no direct tie between improved immune system and a vegetarian diet. However, one can make better choices of the foods they put in their body. The following have a positive influence on your immune system: sweet potato, coconut oil, nuts, dark chocolate, spinach, broccoli and more. |
Vegan Diet
Veganism is a diet that moves one step further than vegetarianism. Vegans, in addition to being vegetarian, also do not consume nor use any animal products and by-products. This means that products such as dairy, eggs, fur, wool and other cosmetic products etc that are derived from animals are not part of the vegan lifestyle. Not only is this diet good for a person’s health, it is much more environmentally and more importantly, ethically conscious than many other diets.
| Hair | Using products that are not tested on animals is significantly better for the environment.
Protein and iron are essential for healthy hair growth – supplements need to be taken to maintain levels in vegan diet. Weight loss that often comes with switching to veganism can cause hair loss. |
| Skin | Lack of dairy can often cause skin to clear up
More sleep and more energy makes skin tighter and “glowing”
A clean diet means clean skin |
| Digestion | Raw vegetables are often hard to digest and veganism can make the stomach weak
Bodies are not used to being mostly plant based and this can be a hard switch to adapt to
Without proper proteins – HCL is not produced by stomach and the stomach becomes weak to digestion |
| Weight loss | Cutting out processed foods causes weight loss. Dairy and fatty meats are large causes of weight problems |
| Immune system | Focusing on plants and maintaining a balanced, healthy diet should keep a good immune system. However, veganism an often cause vitamin deficiency which makes immune system weaker. For example, vitamin B12 deficiency is a huge problem |
Alkaline Diet
There is evidence that certain foods like, meat, wheat, or refined sugar, can lead your body to produce acid, which can have a negative effect on your body. The alkaline diet is a diet where you eat certain foods that lead your body to produce more alkaline, that can protect against cancer and arthritis. Additionally one will lose weight. With this diet one will cut out meat, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, eggs, and most grains. The benefits of the alkaline diet can be seen below:
| Hair | Your body functions better under a certain pH, around 7.4 pH, which is a neutral pH. Often times one’s body becomes way to acidic, and can lead to hair loss. Reason why the Alkaline diet brings the body closer towards a natural pH, consequently improving hair growth and strength. |
| Skin | Since there are so many dietary restrictions that come with this diet, automatically one’s skin improves. The alkaline diets leads to one eating the right vitamins needed for good skin such as: vitamin C, E, A, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc. |
| Digestion | Having the right diet that is high in fiber, will lead to an improved digestion system. This comes with the alkaline diet as one will be eating lots of fruits and veggies. |
| Weight loss | When on the alkaline diet, one will lose weight. Since the diet asks that one cut meat, whole grains and dairy – this leads to automatic weight loss. |
| Immune system | By eating foods that lead to lower acidic pH level will lead to lower levels of disease and stronger immune system. |
Raw Food
What is it?
A raw food diet, also sometimes called “raw foodism,” is about eating mostly or all unprocessed and uncooked foods so you get all the nutrients without the dangerous additives. Your oven gets a rest on this diet. You’ll mostly be eating raw fruits, vegetables, and grains. A raw food diet is low in calories, high in fibre, and based on primarily healthy whole-plant foods, so eating this way will lead to weight loss.
Pro
The idea is that heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes, which is bad because enzymes boost digestion and fight chronic disease. In short: When you cook it, you kill it.
Some fans of raw food diets believe cooking makes food toxic. They claim that a raw food diet can clear up headaches and allergies, boost immunity and memory, and improve arthritis and diabetes.
Con
Many vegetables contain goitrogens. This can harm your thyroid. Goitrogens are naturally occurring compounds. For those people whose thyroid already function bad, a raw food diet can be devastating.
Beside, a raw food diet is hard for your digestion. This diet contains a lot of eating raw vegetables. Vegetables and plant have cellulose and others fibres structures. Our stomach are not like other vegetarian stomach who are made to digest this types of food.
And if we are not able to digest our food we won’t get the nutritions and vitamins that in it. They stored in there tough fibres. When we can break that down we won’t process them.
High Protein Diet
Pro
There is no arguing with the fact that a high-protein diet provides quick initial weight loss. Some of this weight is water and will quickly return once the dieter begins eating more carbohydrates. For many people, this quick loss is extremely motivating and strengthens their willpower, making the diet easier to stick with. Many people that begin a high-protein diet will initial experience a drop in their cholesterol levels as well. Since high cholesterol is often a side effect of obesity, lowering this number is a health benefit. Finally, a high-protein diet typically leaves the dieter feeling satisfied. Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates and fats, so it remains in the stomach longer.
Con
Following a high protein diet is not harmful, especially when you follow it for a short-term. However, being on a long-term diet there are some serious health risks.
Some high-protein diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that they can result in nutritional deficiencies or insufficient fibre, which can cause problems such as bad breath, headache and constipation.
Some high-protein diets include foods such as red meat and full-fat dairy products, which may increase your risk of heart disease.
A high-protein diet may worsen kidney function in people with kidney disease because your body may have trouble eliminating all the waste products of protein metabolism.
Low Carb Diet
A low carb diet means you eat fewer carbohydrates and a higher proportion of fat. You can eat whatever you want, but less. The most important thing is that you minimize your intake of sugar. This diet makes it easier to lose weight because you just eat until you’re satisfied.
Pro
The Low Carb Diet is good for your immune system. Low Carb lowers your risk of heart diseases, stroke and diabetes. But you do not only live a healthier life, it is also good for your body. A great benefit is of course insulin management. Insulin is stimulated by carbs Following the Low Carb diet can also cause immense skin changes. With this diet you have a greater protein take so more muscle and less fat.
Con
Following a Low Carb Diet can cause hair loss. But be aware that this is temporary. If you start in a new diet it can cause hair loss. According to Health media Low- carb diets make you feel sad and stressed. Carbs boost mood-regulation and stress-reducing chemicals in brain. This research of Health Media also says Low Carb Diets make you feel fatter, not thinner. This is because you feel stressed and stress produces high levels of hormones.
Low Glycemic Diet
A Low Glycemic diet helps regulate insulin and blood glucose levels that become unstable. Anytime you eat food with carbohydrates your body breaks these carbs down into blood sugar. All you need to know is where different carbs fall on the 0-100 GI index. You fill up on low carbs and eat smaller amounts of medium carbs.
Pro
The good thing is that this diet prevent conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Having a good sugar regulation will give you a healthier life. Low Glycemic diets clear the skin. Eating less sugar can have positive effects on your skin. For Instance, Acne will decrease.
Con
It is not proved that this diet can help lose weight any better or faster than a low- fat, healthier diet. This diet can also be confusing. Because just because food is low on the index doesn’t mean it’s healthy. It’s up to you to figure out how many calories and fat you’re getting each day. On the other hand Sugar regulation can have negative effects on your hair. It can cause hair loss, only when you follow a specific power diet it will not have negative effects on your hair.
Paleo Diet
The paleo diet focuses on a diet that is considered to be used by caveman and avoid foods that are part of the modern age. This means that foods that are refined and processed are eliminated from the diet. Foods that can be “found” or “hunted” such as are included: meats, fish nuts, greens and fruits are part of the diet while pasta, candies, or cereals are not.
| Hair | High protein diet means healthy hair and less hair loss. Although, a low carb diet can often cause hair loss- proteins and iron generally lead to good hair growth. |
| Skin | Dairy is often the cause of bad skin and therefore a paleo diet is good for skin. Although, not receiving enough nutrients can cause breakouts and dry skin- paleo diet seems to lead to healthy skin. |
| Digestion | Reducing processed foods causes less stress on the stomach and help the digestion tract
“Leaky gut syndrome” is entirely eliminated on this diet .
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| Weight loss | Aids in weight loss but not considered a weight loss diet
Less processed foods leafs to weight loss in the long run
Sustainable weight loss |
| Immune system | Less refined food eliminates diseases that are caused by bad diets such as diabetes. Theoretically based on the diet that humans have survived on for majority of their lifetime. On the paleo diet, gluten intolerance is eliminated. |