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These diets were designed to prevent chronic and degenerative diseases. They all claim to lead you to a healthier life rather than promising weight loss. When we stacked them up side by side, we found that they mostly say the same thing: Cut out processed foods, industrial chemicals, and added sugar. Load up on fresh, organic vegetables and fruit.<\/p>\n
Every one of these diets specifically calls for dark, leafy greens like kale. Their differences mostly center on ideal percentages of lean meats and whole-grain carbs.<\/p>\n
1. Vegan<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea<\/em>: Concern for animals and environment as well as physical health.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Eat plant-based foods that do not involve animals.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Beans, tofu, peanuts, quinoa, kale.<\/p>\n 2. Traditional Asian<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Studies show that Asians live longer with less degenerative disease.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Meats in moderation, no dairy.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Oily fish, miso, fresh and fermented vegetables, seaweed.<\/p>\n 3. National Institutes of Health (TLC) Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Cut high cholesterol for a healthy heart.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Very low saturated fat and high soluble fiber.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Skinless poultry, low-fat dairy, kale, apples, oats.<\/p>\n 4. Raw<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Preserves vitamins and immune-boosting enzymes.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Eat 80 percent organic plants never heated above 115 degrees.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Apples, beets, kale, almonds, raw-milk cheeses.<\/p>\n 5. Mediterranean Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Decrease the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Limit meat, added sugar, and saturated fats. Get 50 percent of calories from carbs.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Fish, whole grain bread, kale, tomatoes, olive oil.<\/p>\n 6. Ancestral Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Switch from carb burning to fat burning.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> Choose nutrient-dense calories: no grains, no added sugars, and no processed foods.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Grass-fed meat, kale, fermented foods, avocados, coconut oil.<\/p>\n 7. Glycemic Index Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Control blood sugar to cut risk of diabetes.<\/p>\n How to do it:<\/em> No added sugar. Swap good carbs for bad carbs.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Lean meat, whole-grain bread, kale, carrots, cabbage.<\/p>\n 8. Anti-inflammatory<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea:<\/em> Chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer are linked to inflammation.<\/p>\n How to do it: <\/em>Limit processed foods and aim for 30 percent fats heavy in Omega 3s.<\/p>\n What to eat:<\/em> Wild salmon, kale, olive oil, yogurt, avocados.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article was written for <\/span>How To Eat Like Our Lives Depend On It<\/b><\/a>, the Winter 2014 issue of YES! Magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRelated Stories<\/h3>\n