7 Weight-Loss Healthy Diets

Keto or paleo? Vegan or mediterranean? And what about fasting? Here’s a look at some of today’s trendiest eating plans to help you pick the one that’s best for you.

- VERA TWEED

Weight loss continues to be the top reason for changing diets, but gone are the days when getting skinny was the overriding goal. Losing weight in a healthy, sustainable way is today’s holy grail.

Successful diets favor or restrict different types of foods, but they have some common threads. Processed food is out. Fresh food is in. Carbs need some control. And wholesome, high-quality fuel is essential.

Counting calories and measuring portions aren’t top concerns these days. Most modern eating plans focus on choosing foods that are nutritious and satiating and that enhance metabolic health, which helps control appetite and reduce cravings. Here’s a look at some of the best:

Low-Carb Diets

An analysis of American diets over an 18-year period by Harvard and Tufts universities in Boston found that an average of 42 percent of our calories come from low-quality carbs: refined grains, starchy vegetables (think fries), and foods and drinks with added sugars. Low in nutrients but high in calories, these foods contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, as well as weight gain.

So instead of limiting calories by cutting back on fats, reducing carbs can produce weight loss that’s more realistic to maintain. When people lose weight on low-fat, high-carb eating plans, they usually experience a significant drop in metabolic rate—often referred to as a “slowed metabolism.” As they shed more pounds, their bodies burn fewer calories until it becomes unrealistic to keep calories low enough to prevent weight regain.