What To Look For When Choosing the Proper Diet Over a Fad Diet by Gary Machado

In the search for choosing the proper diet, keep in mind that the 'one' correct diet for everyone doesn't exist. Yet there is enough similarities among people that there are broad enough areas where a diet can be used by almost anyone.

Despite all the fad diets of the past 30 years, it has been shown that the old standby 'balanced' diet still is the best diet.

The current fad diets may emphasize protein over carbohydrates, or fruits one day with meat the next or eating vegetarian exclusively. There is a piece of truth in each of the claims, but they typically over-emphasize in one direction. A person interested in optimizing health and choosing the proper diet should eat daily meals consisting of fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy and a protein source. There will be exceptions for those people who have special dietary needs, such as for people who can't process dairy products, or who may be sensitive to peanuts or other allergic foods. But these food groups are critical to one's health.

Every reputable nutrition scientist still recommends the four traditional food groups when choosing the proper diet. They all agree that these food groups supply the ingredients needed by the body for muscle maintenance, cell repair and other essential activities as well as the needed energy to carry out all of them.

In this case, Nature precedes marketing.

For example, the fiber that we get from eating fruits and vegetables aids in the cleaning of the digestive system.

Certain vitamins and minerals are important in carrying out the many biochemical reactions that are essential to proper health and keep the heart muscle's ability to keep pumping blood.

Proteins are used by the body to build muscle and other critical components.

Carbohydrates are needed to supply the starting point of the cycle that generates energy to fuel all the other processes. This is a fundamental process that converts sugar into energy.

Fad diets can supply many of these essentials, but typically do so in the wrong proportion or with too much at one time, not enough at another. They also frequently contain additional components such as excessive fats or complex sugars that are not helpful, and - in excess - may be harmful.

That is why in choosing the proper diet, moderation and regularity may not sound glamorous, but it's the key to good health.

About the Author

Did you find these tips on dieting success useful? For more information, visit Successful Dieting.com. Enjoy!