What’s the Best Diet?
Authored by Kyle Golden (August 29, 2022)
In 1863 William Banting invented the first “modern” diet recommended for weight loss. He introduced the diet in a booklet called Letter on Corpulence where he described a shift in his own diet that excluded sugars, starches, beer, milk, and butter that resulted in his personal weight loss. At that time people started to call what we now consider dieting “Banting.”
Since Banting’s published booklet, for more than a century modern science has been trying to answer the question “what is the best diet?”. There has never been a definitive answer and every few years a “revolutionary” diet theory hits the nutrition market. Suddenly the media hails the diet as the answer to everyone’s dieting search. The problem is, many of these are fad diets that are not well researched, most lack long-term scientific study, and are not meant to be a permanent lifestyle recommendation. Once a particular diet’s program has ended the dieter is left to return to their old eating routine, usually undoing the results the diet initially promised if results were even seen.
Over the past decade ample research and long-term studies indicate that a diet consisting mostly, and possibly entirely, of whole plant-based foods is the best for many reasons including weight management, cardio-vascular health, and ability to maintain the diet for an extended period of time, if not for life. Plant-based diets - especially those focused on whole foods - are typically high in fiber, low in saturated fat, rich in vitamins and minerals, and have plenty of protein for most people. And while eating out can be tricky, eating a balanced, plant-based diet at home is super easy and even fun if you like to cook. There are so many vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds you can learn to cook with!
Here are a few supporting article links to review:
Harvard School of Public Health (link), The Journal of the American Heart Association (link), MD Anderson Cancer Center (link)
(Consider this article as general information on health, fitness, and lifestyle. Always consult your physician or health care provider before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.)
Hi, I’m Kyle Golden,
Founder and Coach at Vireo Fitness. For over 16 years I have helped hundreds of clients just like you find their path to better health. Get in touch today and find out how I can help you embrace a better lifestyle and realize your full potential!