2017 Diets and Weight Loss
It’s time for your quarterly check-in on your New Year’s Resolutions – how has 2017 been treating you so far? Diet and exercise goals make up nearly half of Americans’ resolutions because the New Year is the perfect time to hit the reset button.
Diets change each year depending on trends, nutritional research and preference. In 2017, it’s been a year of clean eating with Americans conscientious as ever about artificial food dyes and preservatives. Increasingly more of us are opting for natural, organic, and whole food diets, whereas fast, ‘convenience’ foods are starting to seem dated and undesirable.
However, people can’t survive on fruits and vegetables forever. Dieting takes balance, and diets have to be practical for your daily life. While some diets instruct you to cut out or restrict items, some may be too restrictive for socializing or your cultural traditions. While other diets are amazingly healthy and locally-sourced, they may be too pricey or time-consuming.
When aiming to lose weight, it always takes time, patience, and effort. But ultimately, like with anything else, it is worth it because it’s difficult. Hitting your weight-loss goals is so rewarding. Here, we’ll talk about some of the top trending diets of 2017, and which may be best for meeting (or continuing to meet) your 2017 weight goals.
Diets with Low to No Sugar
Ah, sugar. It can be so good, but at the same time, it is so bad for your waistline. Cutting out sugar – especially in juices, which are very high in sugar – can be a quick fix for your dieting. It may seem like there’s no way sugar could be that bad for you. It’s in just about everything, right? It can’t be that bad, right? Wrong.
The sweetness in sugary foods could be taking a toll on your health and longevity. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease have all been linked to consuming too much sugar.
Eating diets high in sugar can even affect your heart. The American Heart Association advises that women should consume no more than six teaspoons (24 grams) of added sugar each day. That’s a little more than 7 ounces of Coca Cola. Did you know the average American consumes nearly five times that?
Take pasta, for example. Pasta is a popular staple in many households. However, it is a simple carb that is broken down easily and “quickly utilized for energy by the body because of their simple chemical structure, often leading to a faster rise in blood sugar and insulin secretion from the pancreas – which can have negative health effects.”
However, a diet trend in 2017 that you can’t pass up is alternative pastas made from vegetables or whole grains. Even opting to use quinoa as your “pasta” base is a smart choice that will give you a satisfying meal that won’t harm your waistline.
If you have a sweet tooth, you may find it extremely hard to cut out sugar completely from your diet. But if you have the will to challenge yourself even more than you already do, there’s a way to survive without these simple carbohydrates that call your name. When you cut sodas and sweets and pastas from your diet, you can take control of your future health.
Diets with Salt-Free Spices
Everyone needs some salt to function – it’s simply a fact of life. However, most Americans consume too much salt. The FDA took a stand in 2016 to require a reduction of sodium in processed-foods, which is where most Americans get their salt. On average, Americans consume 3,400 mg of sodium per day, whereas, federal guidelines recommend 2,300 mg.
Scientific evidence shows that “higher sodium intake is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and that a lower sodium intake is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease.”
A 2017 diet trend to avoid the overconsumption of salt is to opt for salt-free spices in your meals. Other spices and herbs, such as, oregano, clove, ginger, cumin and paprika, can be used in place of salt and can taste just as good or better in your cooking.
Mediterranean diets are also popular in 2017 because they are shown to promote weight loss. These diets stress “fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices, fish and seafood at least a couple of times a week,” according to US News.
Another rule of thumb to avoid salt in your diet and help slim down your waistline is to eliminate fried foods. These foods are packed with sodium and even though they taste delicious, if you can find the will to cut them out for good, you will have an easier time sticking to the FDA’s recommended guideline for salt consumption.
Fermented Foods
A healthy gut equals a healthy waistline, and to maintain a healthy gut, you need to make sure you’re eating probiotics. Fermented foods have amazing health benefits. Plus, they are very trendy in 2017, which means you don’t have to search multiple grocery stores and waste time finding the right fermented foods. Kimchi, sauerkraut, beets, kombuchas and cured Greek olives are solid options that are full of probiotics. With flavors that satisfy your savory yearnings, these items can be added to your diet and help you lose weight.
The most popular gut-friendly food, which is also always readily available, is yogurt. Plain yogurt is nutritious, packed with protein, B vitamins and minerals. It’s the superfood that’s been shown to promote weight loss and keep your gut happy and healthy.
Sometimes adding unfamiliar foods – likes these fermented examples – can be overwhelming. A diet is only as good as you feel about it. Remember to emphasize the foods you’ve always been told to eat in every diet like your fruits and veggies, whole grains, low-fat dairy and eliminate the foods you know you shouldn’t eat like high-calorie and fatty foods. Every now and then, try a new diet, like these 2017 ideas.
It’s always important to see your doctor and do your research before adding or subtracting items to your diet. Think of your family history and how certain foods make you feel and learn from that. Make 2017 your best year yet – because before you know it, 2018 will come and go with its own diet trends to master. Take control of your eating habits and make the change that will make you happy.