List of Diets
Well-known nutritional diets:
Rastafarian diet
I-tal or ital means Vital. Mostly used in reference
to food. ital food is food which is approved of in the Rastafari
movement.
There are different interpretations of what foods it allows.
The general principle behind it is that food should be natural.
Rastafarians therefore avoid food with artificial additives
(e.g. colourings, flavourings, and preservatives - even salt),
or which is chemically modified.
In common with other religions which use Old Testament teachings
as a basis for their beliefs, such as Judaism and Islam, Rastafarianism
prohibits the eating of pork. Most Rastafarians take this
further, and consider the I-tal diet to forbid the consumption
of all red meat (i.e. the flesh of mammals), although fish
is sometimes allowed. Some Rastafarians go even further than
that, and become strict vegetarians. At the other extreme,
some Rastafarians do not adhere strictly to the I-tal diet
at all.
The word I-tal derives from the English word vital, with
the initial syllable replaced by the word I. This is done
to many words in the Rastafarian vocabulary, to signify the
unity of the speaker with all of nature.
Raw foods diet
A raw food diet (or living foods diet) consists of
uncooked and unprocessed, mainly vegan, organic foods.
Most foods in the raw food diet are simple in preparation,
and can be eaten immediately. Other foods can require considerable
advanced planning to prepare for eating. Rice and some other
grains, for example, require sprouting or overnight soaking
to become edible. Depending on the recipe, some food (such
as cakes) may need to be dehydrated. These processes, which
emulate cooked food, are lengthy: some adherents of the diet
consequently dispense with these foods, feeling that this
way of eating does not need to emulate others.
Preparation of raw food recipes usually call for a blender,
food processor, juicer, and dehydrator.
Care and medical consultation is required in planning a raw
foods diet, especially for children. There have been some
recent cases in the United States of children on inadequate
raw foods diets developing serious health problems and even
dying of malnutrition. There is little research on how to
plan a nutritionally adequate raw foods diet, especially for
children: however, dietitians are usually willing to provide
professional advice.
The Tree of Life Foundation in Arizona, which advocates a
vegan raw food diet, is currently conducting a survey of babies
and children on a diet of 75% raw foods or more. Raw foodists
claim that with sufficient calories, essential fatty acids,
variety and density, people of all ages can be successful
at eating raw foods.
Rice Diet
The Rice Diet is a low fat, low salt diet, which despite its
name is not centered on rice. It was developed in the 1930s
at Duke University, and is sometimes known as the Duke University
Rice Diet. The major components of the diet healthy eating
(fruits, grains, beans, vegetables, olive oil, non fat dairy
and lean meat) is walking, and taking time for yourself.
Sex Diet
A Sex Diet is a lifestyle which maximizes the health benefits
of regular sex. Properly performed, sexual activity can cause
weight loss, promote cardiac health, decrease depression,
fight sexual dysfunction, boost immunity, and release endorphins.
Many scientific studies show that intimacy is a factor in
determining lifespan, and some informal studies have shown
that frequent sex can improve intimate relationships.
There is controversy about the necessity of monogamy in attaining
the health benefits of sex and/or intimacy.
Some sex-diets involve a routine of partner-supported exercises
designed to tone muscles and improve flexibility. One such
program, documented by Kerry McCloskey in her book, The Ultimate
Sex Diet, includes a sensual eating program that focuses on
food as an aphrodisiac.
Other sex-diets focus on improving emotional intimacy. One
such sex-diet is the one documented by Laura Corn in her book,
The Great American Sex Diet, which recommends having sex four
times a week for twenty-eight days.
Another type of sex-diet focuses simply on improving the
experience of sexuality by extending and amplifying the orgasmic
response. For example, Donna J Brauer and Alan Brauer, in
their book, ESO: How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other
Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm, suggest setting aside two
half-hour sessions and one hour-and-a-half session per week
to practice giving and receiving sexual pleasure for extended
periods of time.
The benefits of a sex-diet have been proclaimed by actress
Angelina Jolie in the London Daily Mirror (2003) and model
Lisa Snowden (2001) for an interview on Salon.com.
However the actual weight lost in this diet is highly debatable
since the use of sex alone as exercise does not expend as
many calories (though significantly higher than any normal
activity). Moreover the "diet" aspect is highly
suspect and the only reason for its existence seems to be
the "feel good factor" this diet advocates.
Slimming World: The diet of the British company.
Slimming World is a British company which runs over
5000 weight loss classes a week across the UK. It was founded
in 1969 by Margaret Miles-Bramwell who is still the company
director as of 2004.
Adults wishing to lose weight (provided that they have at
least 7 pounds to lose without going below a healthy weight)
may join a local Slimming World class and pay a weekly amount
to attend classes. In 2004 the cost on joining was £10
and the weekly charge £3.95, which increased to £4.25
in 2005. In return they are given the information they need
to follow Slimming World's diet plan, called Food Optimising,
and the support of their consultant and the other class members.
Each class involves being weighed, sharing that loss or gain
with the group (but at no time is a slimmer's actual weight
mentioned) and a time to share tips, experiences and ask for
advice.
South Beach diet
The South Beach diet was developed by a cardiologist,
Arthur Agatston, practicing in the Miami, Florida area. The
diet first appeared in a book of the same name, published
by Rodale Press.
The South Beach diet is frequently confusingly compared to
the Atkins diet, which is a low-carbohydrate diet. The South
Beach Diet emphasizes the consumption of so-called "good
carbohydrates", mainly ones that are high in fiber or
nutrition, and typically low in glycemic index. The South
Beach diet was developed for cardiac patients to lose weight
without risking ketosis. (There are studies of the effects
of extended Ketosis on the average body, but they are at this
time inconclusive.) Weight loss turned out to be a beneficial
side effect; Dr. Agatson believes this is a positive thing,
as it encourages many people to move to a heart-healthier
diet than may otherwise make this choice.
In the initial phase, lasting two weeks, dieters attempt
to eliminate cravings for "bad carbohydrates" by
eating no grains or fruits. After this phase, grain-based
foods and fruits are gradually returned to the diet, although
in smaller amounts than were likely eaten before beginning
the diet, and with a concentration on foods with a low glycemic
index, such as whole grains instead of refined flour. By the
time the dieter has lost the desired weight, they should be
having three servings of whole grains and three servings of
fruit a day. The more strict Phase 1 may be reinstituted if
the person feels they have developed cravings for foods they
shouldn't have.
The diet also emphasizes the difference between good and
bad carbohydrates, combinations of foods, and good and bad
fats. Good carbohydrates have a low glycemic index, that is,
they are digested and absorbed slowly. Other preferred carbohydrates
are ones that have more nutritional value than the alternatives
(ie, brown rice is allowed in moderation, but white rice is
discouraged). Eating fiber or fat with carbohydrates will
slow their digestion. Good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated
fats. Saturated and trans fats are bad.
This diet emphasizes making a permanent change in one's way
of eating. It suggests whole grains and large amounts of vegetables,
along with adequate amounts of mono- and polyunsaturated fats,
including Omega-3 oils. It discourages the eating of overly
refined foods, particularly refined flours and sugars.
In 2004, a deal was made between Kraft Foods and Dr. Agatson
wherein Kraft will begin producing a variety of foods that
meet the requirements of the South Beach Diet. There is some
concern that this will lead to the same kind of situation
as products approved by the corporation associated with the
Atkins diet—that some products will most certainly fall
outside the scope of the diet.
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