Thinking of getting on the health wagon? Before you do, check out the diets that made headlines this past year. Then pick the one that fits in with your lifestyle best.
Clean Eating: My body is a temple
Jessica Alba
This one has gone around the globe and then some. It’s all about, well you guessed it, eating clean. It encourages you to eat food in its most natural form and avoid processed or refined foods of any kind. Picking organic produce and including healthy fats are all part of this diet. The diet is not just limited to eating clean for yourself but also the environment, so choosing seasonal and local produce that reduce your carbon footprint gets a pat on the back too. Simple and easy! Jessica Alba is a staunch believer. She's also been known to tweet healthy musings, like this gem: “Made my carrot+avocado+tomato w lemon&oliveoil dressing salad…inspired by my new #citrusjuicer.”
Atkins Diet: For that celebrity body!
Kim Kardashian
Better known as the Kim K diet since it whipped her back in shape after her second baby! Fairly restrictive, it requires you to load up on proteins and healthy fats, and follow it up with daily intense workouts. The only downside: you really need to watch your carb intake. Perfect for carnivores though!
Go Vegan!
Jennifer Lopez
No, this isn’t the same as being a vegetarian and yes, a lot of celebrities have been turning vegan. Going vegan is all about having your fill of veggies, fruits, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. But it also means eliminating dairy and animal produce from your diet, so no milk, butter, cheese and so on. Some go so far as to saying no to leather, silk or products that have been tested on animals. If you’re vegetarian and an animal lover this will work well for you! As Lopez says, going vegan has given her loads of energy. “Everything is plant-based and just from the ground. I love that I'm eating more greens. It makes you feel so much better.”
Paleo Diet: Eat like a caveman
Megan Fox
This one’s inspired by what our ancestors ate back in the day. So, what can’t you eat? Dairy, grains, processed food, sugars, legumes, starches and alcohol. You can however, eat your fill of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts, seeds and healthy fats! Phew! Yes, this is more restrictive than other diets but it has its devotees like Megan Fox who made headlines when she dropped 23 pounds of baby weight by following the Paleo diet.
Mediterranean Diet: Make merry and stay healthy
Penelope Cruz
Asked how she reached her target weight just four months after the birth of her son Leo in 2011, Spanish actress Penélope Cruz credited the Mediterranean Diet for it. “It’s the diet I grew up with; good, healthy Spanish food.” Load up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts! Go slow on red meat but you can have poultry and fish twice a week. Replacing butter with healthier fats like canola and olive oil are key! And the best part is that you get to include an occasional glass of red wine! So, if you’re a carb and wine lover this one’s for you.
