Ensuring good nutrition is the most important thing we do to nurture and maintain our physical existence. Our grandmothers were on to something when they told us “you are what you eat.” Even the father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, understood the great power of nutrition when he counseled, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.”

Let’s assume you are aware of the health-promoting, disease-preventing qualities of food. The next challenge comes in knowing what the best diet is. Considering all the many diets out there, choosing one might seem like an impossible task. The answer, surprisingly, is not so complicated. Here at Nutriex we would like to let you in on a little secret. Here goes… All healthy diets are basically the same! Look at the list of popular diets and see for yourself.

Healthy Diets

South Beach Diet

Replaces “bad carbs” and “bad fats” with “good carbs” and “good fats.” Recommends diets full of vegetables, beans, whole grains, lean meats, nuts and oily fish.

DASH II diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

This National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommended diet is rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, fiber, lean protein (poultry, fish and nuts). The DASH II is low in fat, red meat content, sweets, and sugar-containing beverages.

ADA diet (American Diabetes Association diet)

A diet high in dietary fiber, low in saturated fat and high glycemic carbohydrates.

Omni-Heart Diet

Proven to dramatically decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Recommends 11 vegetable and fruit servings per day and even vegetables for a “main course”. Skim dairy, lean poultry, fish, and whole grains are emphasized.

Anti-Inflammatory Zone Diet

Centers on a “40:30:30” ratio of calories obtained daily from good carbs, proteins and fats respectively. In lay terms, “eat as much protein as the palm of your hand, as much non-starchy raw vegetables as you can for the vitamins, enough carbs to maintain mental clarity, and enough monounsaturated oils to keep feelings of hunger away.”

Paleolithic diet (a.k.a. caveman diet, stone age diet, hunter-gatherer diet)

Centers around game meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, roots, and nuts; and excludes cultivated grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, processed oils, etc. (which were not available to cavemen/women).

Mediterranean Diet

Emphasizes abundant plant-derived foods (fresh fruit as the typical daily dessert), olive oil as the principal source of fat, dairy products (principally cheese and yogurt), and fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts. Zero to four eggs are consumed weekly. Red meat consumed in low amounts and wine consumed in low to moderate amounts.

Ornish Diet

Advocated to reverse heart disease, emphasizes extremely low fat, minimal to no animal-based foods: no dairy unless non-fat variety. Unlimited fruits, veggies, beans, peas, lentils, whole grains. Egg whites are OK. Red meats, poultry and fish are not recommended. Basically a low-fat lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.