Get-in-shape diets will never lose their charm. There’s always a new one everyone’s raving about. But if any of these diets actually worked, why would we need more? Let’s take a look at some of the top diets that were all the rage in the 1990s, and in fact still have their faithful fan following.
Popular Weight Loss Diets of 1990s
Old as history actually, we can see why this diet continues to thrive. It incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus a splash of olive oil and the odd glass of red wine. The key components of this diet actually characterize the traditional style cooking in Greece, Turkey and other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It includes fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limits unhealthy fats.
Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
Studies show that the diet reduces the risk of heart disease and lowers levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Cheers!
Bacon lovers cheered when Dr. Atkins said fat is our friend. In the ’80s people became aware of red meat’s link with heart disease and thought carbs were the answer to a longer life. The Atkin’s Diet claimed the exact opposite with his 1992 release, Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. Since then it’s been proved that saturated fat is harmless and the diet actually leads to more weight loss than low-fat diets.
Benefits of Dr. Atkins Diet
Blood tests on Atkin’s followers show greater improvements in blood sugar, HDL (good) cholesterol, triglycerides and other health markers. It also curbs appetite; when people reduce their carb intake they actually end up eating fewer calories without having to think about it. Bring on the kebabs!
The Zone Diet brought math into the equation with a 40-30-30 ratio of carbs, fat and protein. Developed by Dr. Barry Sears, the diet advised followers to balance their plates at every meal with one third protein, the size and thickness of your palm, two third colourful veggies and fruit and dash of fat.
Benefits of the Zone Diet
It helps you shed excess pounds, dramatically reducing your risk of chronic disease, and improves mental and physical performance. Actually, it’s not a fad diet but a life-long dietary program based on strong science to reduce diet-induced inflammation. Where’s the calculator?
After decades of binging on colas, candies and chocolates, sugar was declared Public Enemy No. 1. There was no calorie counting involved; this high-fiber diet was made up of fruits, vegetables, proteins and whole grains. You needed to give up on refined sugar and grains and all the foods—biscuits, cakes, potatoes, white rice, breads—that contained them.
Benefits of the Sugar Busters Diet
The plan emphasized foods with a low glycemic index (GI) that kept your blood sugar levels steady. A boon for people with high blood sugar because it also taught you which foods caused blood sugar spikes. So while veggies, fruit, whole grains, low fat dairy and lean meats were allowed, foods containing refined sugar were off the table. A healthy diet by any standards!
The Blood Group Diet goes beyond the thinking that knowing your blood type was important only if you needed a transfusion. Research suggests your blood type is an important tool for understanding how your body reacts to food. Did you know that a single drop of blood contains a biochemical makeup as unique to you as your fingerprint?
Type O: People with type O blood do well on intense physical exercise and animal proteins and less well on dairy products and grains. The leading reason for weight gain among Type O’s is the gluten found in wheat products and, to a lesser extent, lentils, corn, kidney beans, and cabbage.
Type A: Those with blood type A are naturally suited to a vegetarian diet and fresh, pure and organic foods. Since Type A's are predisposed to heart disease, cancer and diabetes, diet modifications and calming exercises like yoga and Tai Chi are hugely beneficial.
Type B: They have a robust immune system and a tolerant digestive system and tend to be immune to many chronic degenerative illnesses. They do well on moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance such as hiking, cycling and swimming.
Type AB: The most recent in terms of evolution, Type AB are biologically complex. For this group, a combination of the exercises and foods for types A and B works best.
Did we miss your favorite diet? Tell us in the comments below.
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