What is a diet: types of diet

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Food is one of the pillars of our health. Through food we get the energy and nutrients we need, so it is vital that we make our diet a priority. Unfortunately, nowadays, we forget its importance due to the little time we have, misinformation and the influence of social changes, among other factors.

Any diet aims to maintain or improve our health. For example, through the prevention of chronic diseases or to improve our sports performance. Whether to improve our body composition, control the symptoms of some intolerances or supply vitamin deficiencies, diets should always seek to improve our health and, in addition, the enjoyment of food. The most advisable thing is to receive the advice of a professional dietitian-nutritionist who develops dietary guidelines appropriate to our specific characteristics.

What exactly is a diet? What types of diets are there? Which one is right for you? In Diario Femenino we answer all these questions.

Definition of diet: what exactly is a diet?

A diet is the amount of food that a living being provides to its organism. The diet, therefore, defines our nutritional behavior, that is, it is a set of nutrients that the body absorbs after the usual consumption of food.

Diet is a habit and a way of life. It is true that, most of the time, this term is used to refer to special diets to lose weight or to combat certain diseases, although the reality is that these cases represent modifications in the diet and not a diet in itself.

On the other hand, it is considered that a diet beneficial to the health of the human being, that is, a balanced and balanced diet, must contain the sufficient amount of calories and essential nutrients for the correct growth and development of the organism in each of the stages of life. A healthy diet should therefore provide carbohydrates, proteins and fats (as well as vitamins and minerals) in the right proportions to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

When it comes to feeding, we must take into account a series of criteria such as those shown below:

+Choose a varied diet that includes foods from all groups (as long as your religion, your culture and your values allow it): fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, fish, eggs …

+Maintain an adequate balance in food consumption, that is, excessive intake of a certain food must be avoided to displace the consumption of another equally necessary.

+Eat in moderation. This allows us to stay at the right weight and avoid the appearance of diseases.

+Eat to enjoy. Currently, the human being does not eat only to survive, but also enjoys doing so. Therefore, our diet, always incorporating foods that are healthy and nutritious, must be configured so that we want to eat it. A diet that we do not like can end up becoming a real martyrdom.

The types of diet we can follow to improve health

When choosing or developing a diet, the first step we must take is to ask ourselves its objective, since according to it we can differentiate different types of diets:

+Hypocaloric diets

The most popular and common are hypocaloric diets, those that aim to lose weight through a diet with few calories. It is about giving the body a smaller amount of energy (calories) than it consumes throughout the day. In this way, a caloric restriction is created and the body has no choice but to resort to accumulated fat to sustain itself. This type of diet does not exclude any food, although it does limit and reduce its consumption.

In addition, it expands the intake of vegetables and fruits. We must take into account not only the energy intake but the nutritional quality of the foods that are part of it. For example, a diet in which you only eat one hamburger with potatoes per day would be hypocaloric, but isn’t it the same as making 3 meals based on vegetables, fruits and legumes?

+Hypercaloric diets

Women who want to gain weight are less common, but it can also be a goal to achieve through a healthy diet but with an energy contribution greater than the necessary requirements of the person. It is important that this type of diet is under the supervision of a nutrition professional, so that the person consumes the right foods and does not think that he can eat any type of food in order to gain weight (with this the only thing that is achieved is to considerably worsen the state of health).

The hypercaloric diet should be rich in nutrients and contain high levels of calories such as those present in olive oilnuts and certain meats and fish. In addition, contrary to what is usually thought, this diet should be combined with physical activity. Preferably you should opt for bodybuilding exercises and combine them with aerobic exercises

+Basal or balanced diet

They are those that do not aim to modify our weight, but to keep it healthy and balanced. To this diet belongs, for example, the popular Mediterranean diet. It is known as the Mediterranean diet because it has its origin in the nutritional habits of southern Europe which include countries such as Greece, Spain or Italy. It is a diet that promotes the varied consumption of foods, giving priority to fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, oily fish and lean meats. One of its fundamental elements is olive oil, a great source of unsaturated fats. This diet suggests grilling, boiling or consuming raw and fresh products.

+Protein diets

Either to reduce the level of proteins (hypoproteinic), indicated in case of kidney disease or to increase it (hyperproteinic), which is used in case of problems such as anorexia, malnutrition, etc.

+Ketogenic diets

There are several modalities of this diet, which consists of a high consumption of fats, a moderate intake of proteins and a minimum of carbohydrates. They are usually used in case of diseases such as epilepsy or obesity. One of the best known is the Atkins diet.

+Gluten-free diet

Celiacs are people who suffer from intolerance to gluten, one of the components present in many cereals; This diet replaces these foods with other alternatives. Similar techniques are used in case of other food allergies.

+FODMAP Diet

It aims to alleviate the digestive symptoms of some diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. It is a diet low in fermentable carbohydrates that is carried out for a certain time and always under the supervision of a nutritionist to avoid possible deficiencies.

+Vegetarian diet

Vegetarian diets are those in which fish and meat are eliminated. This diet, therefore, is based mainly on legumes, fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains and soybeans. There are several types of vegetarian diets, depending on whether it includes dairy, eggs, or both.

+Vegan diet

The vegan diet is similar to the vegetarian one, with the difference that it is stricter and more restrictive. It not only eliminates foods of animal origin, but also those derived from them. That is, vegans do not consume meat, but neither dairy, eggs or honey, for example. Most of the time, this type of diet is not put into practice for food or health reasons, but many people do it for ethical or environmental reasons.

Other types of diets you should know

Anti-acne diet: what to eat to avoid pimples and pimples. Acne is one of the most feared skin problems by women. Its causes are multiple and among them food stands out. In Diario Femenino we propose the best anti-acne diet. Find out what you should eat and what you should avoid so you don’t have pimples and pimples. Notes!

Post-Christmas diet to lose weight and detoxify after excesses. Christmas is over and it’s time to start with a detoxifying diet that helps us start the year on the right foot. Post-Christmas diet to purify the body of excesses and re-establish a routine. Do you aim to achieve a healthy diet?

Healthy bodybuilding diet for women athletes. Not only do men want muscles, women also want a defined and toned body. To achieve this you can follow the guidelines of this female bodybuilding diet.

The best diet for women suffering from hyperthyroidism. The malfunction of the thyroid causes weight gain or decrease, so it is advisable to take care of your diet. In this article we tell you what is the best diet for women suffering from hyperthyroidism. Discover the foods you can eat and those you should avoid. Take care of your health!

Diets to lose weight: lose weight in a healthy way. Losing a few kilos is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either. It just takes a little willpower and determination. In Diario Femenino we have made a compilation of the best and worst diets to lose weight. Take note and lose weight in a healthy way. You can get it!

And you? What kind of diet do you follow in your day to day? Let us know in the comments.

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