Those that are health conscious are probably acutely aware of all the dietary advice and trends flooding the internet. The problem is (beyond information overload) that none of these fads account for individual bodies, lifestyles, age, gender or physiology … and the bottom line is what works for one person might not work for another.

Drawing the Line on Diet Extremes

First, let’s delineate the difference between diet and “dieting”. Dieting is temporary, often to achieve a specific result, like fat loss, weight loss, etc. Diet simply refers to a way of eating.

Ideally, our diet should be nourishing, sustainable and not harmful.

Food is good medicine. By choosing mindfully, we’ll feel energized and optimized, and may even be able to heal or avoid certain chronic conditions.

While there are undoubtedly positive aspects about such diets as paleo, vegan and raw food, we need to consider the bad before we commit.

Here’s some food for thought on diet trends.

Keto Diet

Pros:

• Fast weight loss
• Satiating

Cons:

• Unhealthy amounts of saturated fat
• Challenging to follow for those that are vegetarian
• Stop keto, and we’ll gain the weight back fast

High-Protein/Low-Carb Diet

Pros:

• Lose weight and burn fat
• It’s good for building muscle, but need to stay active
  for it to work

Cons:

• Eating a lot of animal products which isn’t good for
  the planet
• Those not working out may gain weight
• Too much protein causes constipation
• Low-quality protein causes gas

Vegan Diet

Pros: 

• As long as we are eating whole foods, our digestion will
  be better for it

Cons:

• Unless we are committed to food prep, we will consume
  a lot of processed foods
  Vegan diets can be soy-heavy, which isn’t suitable for
  all people
  Balanced nutrition is challenging and requires
  supplementation
• Vegan diets are not recommended for children

Raw Food Diet

Pros:

• Can naturally resolve many health issues
• Minimizes added sugar
  High in fiber
• Low in sodium

Cons:

• Need to shop almost daily to ensure food freshness
• If food isn’t fresh and organic, we’re defeating the
  purpose
• More expensive as we need to buy organic for best results
• Nutritionally incomplete
• Eliminates many foods we might enjoy
• Associated with low-mineral and -vitamin levels
• Increased risk of foodborne illness

The Bottom Line

What all these diet trends have in common is that they all necessitate a lot of work. Focusing too much on “sticking to” a diet creates an unhealthy relationship with food that can border on obsession—which is the opposite of self-love.

The ultimate self-love, at least where food is concerned, is finding balance. Nourish the body with foods that empower and make us feel healthy, strong and energized in the moment. Above all, listen to our bodies and give it what it needs. Don’t allow the newest diet craze to dictate what we may think is best.

Abbe Lang is a Certified Professional Life Coach and CEO of Motivation Point Coaching. For more information or to make an appointment, call 856-452-3434 or visit www.AbbeLang.com.