These ‘trendy’ different diets types may sound familiar when you scroll through social media or read the news: vegan, keto, paleo. You might know that these are certain types of diets, but do you know what are their pros and cons? What sort of beliefs or effects do these diets have, and most importantly, should you consider them? In this article, I’ll be giving a breakdown of these different types of diets to help you evaluate which diet, if any, is suitable for you.

But first, let’s establish the most obvious question.

What is a diet?

If you have read my blog philosophy or my post about my perception of a healthy lifestyle, you would know that I am against diets because they are unsustainable. However, remember, a diet has two definitions.

1. Your ‘diet’ could refer to your entire food intake or consumption. For instance, you could say that a meat lovers diet mainly consists of steak, sausages and chicken.
2. However, if you say “I’m on a diet”, then you are referring to a specific plan in which you restrict yourself from certain foods. This kind of diet is mostly used to lose weight.

Let’s ignore the first definition for now, since these different types of diets all belong to the second definition. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of diets.

The Pros and Cons

Ketogenic or ‘Keto’ Diet

A keto diet is basically a low carbohydrate diet. If you’re wondering what ‘low carb’ means, you might want to visit this article here. A typical ketogenic diet mostly consists of foods high in protein and natural fat such as meat, seafood and eggs, as well as dairy products. Of course, vegetables are part of this diet too. For more information, visit this website.

Pros: Since your diet is high in protein and fat, some benefits include getting hungry less easily and having better focus. This is great for people with diabetes, people who are trying to lose weight or people, control their appetite, or people who want to increase their mental performance.

Cons: You may be surprised how many foods are not part of a low carb diet. For one, you’d have to give up beer, any sugary foods like cake, bread, pasta and rice, and even bananas and apples! These particular foods may be hard to give up, and it may be impractical or expensive to maintain since meat and seafood is more expensive than rice or bread. If you want more information on the pros and cons of keto diets, click here.

Paleo Diet

Paleo diets basically take you back to the pre-modern era. The diet consists mainly of lean meats, fruits, nuts and seeds and vegetables – basically, anything that is not processed or is considered ‘modern’. Examples of what not to eat is foods with refined sugar, dairy, beans and grains like wheat and barley. Obviously, canned or packaged foods are completely out of the window.

Pros: Modern foods are often processed and full of chemicals and preservatives which are harmful to our body. A paleo diet is a great because it cleanses your body of these harmful chemicals. It has been proven to contribute to weight loss, better blood pressure control and appetite management among other benefits.

Cons: Paleo diets completely ban grains, you may be missing out important nutrients and fibre. Also, considering how many foods contain dairy, processed sugar and wheat, it may be expensive or impractical to maintain a Paleo diet. Further, you really will have to track and understand the sources of all of your food to ensure that it isn’t processed or contains any preservatives (this even includes, for instance, what ingredients was used to marinate the meat).

Vegan Diet

A vegan diet is not just a diet – it is a lifestyle which is actively against the commodity of animals. This means you refrain from buying or eating any products which support the exploitation and cruelty of animals, including bags made from animal skins, healthcare products developed through animal testing, and eating meat, eggs or dairy products produced by animals. Therefore, a vegan diet mainly comprises of nuts, fruit, seeds, vegetables and whole foods. There are also many different types of vegan diets which you can read about here.

Pros: A vegan diet is great for keeping your sugar levels and cholesterol levels low. It may also help you lose weight. Since you’re also only eating whole foods, keep harmful chemicals and preservatives out of your body. Further, it is against animal cruelty and exploitation.

Cons: Like all other diets, a vegan diet may be hard to maintain, particularly since most of the foods are expensive to purchase in most countries. Further, since it excludes whole food groups, you may be lacking in essential nutrition and vitamins, particularly those found in eggs and meat. If you don’t know what foods to eat, you could also lack in protein.

So what next?

Now that you understand these different kinds of diets and their pros and cons, maybe you have identified a diet that you think you can follow. If so, that’s great! However, before you try changing your diet, perhaps you might first like to check with your doctor, particularly if you have any medical issues.

If you find none of these diets suit you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Perhaps you’re hesitant to follow these diets because it means giving up one of your favourite foods or drinks. Well, healthy eating doesn’t have to be about dieting. Instead, perhaps try developing these easy, practical healthy eating habits, which doesn’t require you to give up anything. Regardless of your choice, remember the best way to live a healthy lifestyle is to ensure your mind and body is healthy. This means you shouldn’t feel miserable trying to pursue a certain lifestyle, and it should be sustainable enough that you are comfortable in following it for a long time.

Featured Image by RitaE on Pixabay