With beach season on the horizon, you may be seeking new ways to slim down quickly. And the hype surrounding paleo, keto and other trendy diets may tempt you to give them a try. But think twice before jumping into a fad diet.

“Any diet that involves eating large quantities of certain foods, drastically cutting calories or eliminating entire food groups can cause nutritional difficulties, and diets surrounding these are typically not sustainable for a lifetime,” said Jenna Davison, registered dietitian with Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, in a recent appearance on the Medicine Center Pharmacy Health Matters program.

In fact, research shows that some current diet trends may increase your risk for heart problems like cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently ranked 10 popular diets for heart-healthy elements. Two were identified as the least heart healthy: paleo and very low carbohydrate/ketogenic.

Paleo

Short for Paleolithic, the paleo diet encourages loading up on produce, nuts and lean meats while staying away from grains, legumes, certain oils and dairy.

The AHA says the paleo diet is “of strong concern” around heart health, partially because of the diet’s reliance on meats high in saturated fats. Too much saturated fat can cause cholesterol to build up in your blood vessels.

Keto

Very low-carbohydrate and ketogenic (keto) diets emphasize meats, eggs and full-fat dairy while severely limiting carbohydrates like grains, legumes and most fruits.

The keto diet can be heavy on unhealthy, fatty, processed and salty foods. And with its limits on grains, legumes and fruits, keto could result in reduced fiber intake. Consuming low levels of fiber is linked to the development of cardiovascular disease.

“While you may see results in the short term, keto is not a diet I would recommend due to its restrictive guidelines,” Davison said. “When we restrict a major food group from our diet, we are also missing out on the important nutrients that these foods have to offer.”

The Best Diet

So what diet should you follow?

“The best diet is the one that works best for you while also meeting your nutritional needs,” Davison said. “It’s important to follow a diet that can be maintained in the long term rather than just a short period of time.”

Proceed with caution if you want to try a new diet. A healthy diet emphasizes nutrient-rich whole foods from all food groups, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins such as lean meats, poultry, legumes and nuts.

The best path toward weight loss is different for everyone. Meet with a professional dietitian or talk with your healthcare provider about what’s right for you.

To learn more about following a healthy diet, listen to the Health Matters program featuring Jenna Davison.

Sources:
American Heart Association
Aultman Health System
The StayWell Company, LLC