USA Diet Plans

Top 10 Diet Traits By John Erickson
<< Back

The commercial diet industry is not a safe haven for someone who is simply trying to lose weight and become healthy. Why is there so much contradicting information out there? A conflict of interest (proper nutrition vs. money) can prevent the latest advances in the nutrition field from reaching the general public.

Many of the large companies that make up the diet industry are still basing their nutritional theory on outdated concepts that were developed many years ago when people knew much less about nutrition than we know today.
1. The carbohydrate level of the diet should be high enough to support brain and central nervous system function. No less than 70-100 grams per day.	X
2. Daily caloric intake should be no fewer than 1,100 calories for women and 1,500 calories per men.
3. Besides the initial water loss the first week, the desired weight loss should be no more than 1-1.5 lbs per week thereafter.	X
4. The diet should consist of everyday foods.
5. The diet should strongly encourage you to take a daily omega-3 fish oil supplement.		X	X
6. The level of fat should be about 30%. Most of the major health organizations agree 30% of your daily calories should come from fat.	X
7. The diet should provide adequate amounts of protein- not too much, not too little and preferably consumed somewhat evenly throughout the day.	X	X	X
8. The diet plan should never require you to purchase the company’s own line of food products to remain active on their diet plan.		X
9. The diet must include an assortment of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to obtain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.	X
10. The diet must not restrict any of the three macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate or fat).	X	X	X