Thanks to Google, at the end of every year, we can find out what diets people searched for the most. Unfortunately, it’s not a pretty picture this year — at least the way I see it. Of course, just because these diets were popular in Google’s search engine doesn’t mean all the searchers actually tried them. Phew! But, it does seem that the public’s fixation on quick and easy weight loss isn’t going away anytime soon.
Here’s my take on the 10 most Googled diets in 2015:
1. 20/20 Diet
Thanks to Dr. Phil, we have another diet plan created by a celebrity with no nutrition education. The focus is on a list of 20 foods purported to have special qualities, such as “time release” and “thermogenic properties.” OK, really? There are four phases to the plan plus “sensible splurges,” which are allowed once or twice a week. The first two phases are five days, the third phase is 20 days and the final phase is “maintenance,” which you begin when you have met your goal weight. Each phase includes a list of allowable foods. I felt like I needed a one-week course to even understand how to follow all of this. Honestly Dr. Phil, does healthy eating have to be so difficult?
2. Carb Cycle Diet
Carbohydrate cycling has been popular in the bodybuilding world for years, with the belief that it helps the body store less fat. However, the science to substantiate this claim is limited. On this program, there are three types of days: no carb, low carb and high carb. It appears that the no-carb and low-carb days are also low in calories, which may be the main reason for any weight loss. I don’t know about you, but the word “cycle” in any diet drives me crazy since it seems controlling and not realistic over the long term. Furthermore, a diet program that suggests I shouldn’t eat oatmeal or beans on certain days of the week? Unfathomable.
3. Paleo Diet
I know I say this every year, but I really wish this diet would just go away. Granted, the diet does have some good traits: It encourages lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, fish and healthy fats. However, it also advocates for eliminating dairy, whole grains, beans and legumes on the premise that cavemen were not farmers, but hunters and gatherers. Eliminating these very healthy foods from our diets is where I cannot agree with the paleo approach. Research supports numerous benefits to a diet rich in whole grains, beans and legumes, especially to help prevent heart disease. Truth is, if we really wanted to follow a pure paleo diet, we should all live in the wilderness. Somehow, I don’t see that happening. How on earth would we get Starbucks?
4. GM Diet Plan
I truly applaud General Motors for caring enough about their employees’ health to develop a weight-loss plan. But that is as far as the compliments go. It is basically a one-week starvation diet. When reading about this diet plan, it appears there are a whole bunch of side effects — or, as GM calls it, “obstacles” to overcome — including muscle weakness, thirst, dehydration, excess sweating, headaches and malaise. Sound like fun? I think not. GM should stick with being automobile manufacturers and leave nutrition to those who actually know what they are doing.
5. Military Diet Plan
The gist of this diet is three days on and four days off. During the “on” days, you consume less than 1,000 calories, and during the “off” days, you can take in around 1,500. In other words, on the “on” days you starve yourself and on the “off” days you diet. Anyone will lose weight with this plan. But what made me laugh is what I read on the diet’s website: “The diet was designed by top secret nutritionists at the U.S. military to get soldiers into tip-top shape.” Top secret? Give me a break — I don’t know of one nutritionist who would want to be kept a secret if his or her diet was so successful. And getting soldiers into “tiptop shape” on less than 1,000 calories per day? They wouldn’t be able to get out their bunks.
6. Atkins Induction Diet
I am not sure when the induction phase of the Atkins diet became a diet onto itself or if Atkins himself ever meant it to be. Originally, it was the first of four phases, with this phase being the strictest of them all by limiting total net carbs (or total carbs minus fiber) to 20 grams. In other words, if you have one medium baked sweet potato, you can’t have any more carbs all day. Ouch! And, as with any very low-carb diet, your body runs the risk of going into ketosis, a condition with side effects that may include nausea, headache, mental and physical fatigue and bad breath. If you are committed to doing Atkins, please keep this phase to two weeks as in the original diet. Or better yet, skip the diet all together and simply learn how to eat carbs in a healthier way.
7. 7 Day Soup Diet
I was surprised to find this one on the list. It seems that the Cabbage Soup Diet is back in vogue. Who knew? I thought that went out of style long before we even had flip phones. I don’t have much to say about this diet, except that you will lose weight by simply consuming very few calories. Oh, but on days five and six you can eat chicken or beef — lucky you.
8. 500 Calorie Diet
Ok, enough with the obsession over calories. Yes, we all can lose weight if we restrict calories to a ridiculously low amount — but at what cost to our health or sanity? It’s hard enough for the average person to even meet his or her nutritional needs at 1200 calories per day, let alone 500 calories. Crazy.
9. Zero Carb Diet
Carbohydrates, which break down into glucose, are the body’s main fuel source. Our brain and our muscles cannot function optimally without glucose. So, I still find it hard to believe that people think a diet without carbs is a good idea. Did they not get the memo? As with the Atkins induction diet, a person will most likely experience ketosis on this plan. And let’s be honest: A diet without any carbs is like a day without sunshine: dreary.
10. Yes You Can Diet Plan
The title “Yes You Can” sounds so promising. Alejandro Chaban, an actor, motivator and author, who suffered from morbid obesity and lost 150 pounds, created the diet. As much as I admire Chaban for his personal success and wanting to help others, I cannot get on board with his diet tactics. Why? Mostly because it appears his plan is all about selling products that include fat burner pills, appetite suppressant pills, colon cleanser pills and collagen pills. Oh yes, and some meal replacements. I have an idea: Why don’t we change the name of the plan to “No You Shouldn’t?”
More from U.S. News
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A Dietitian’s Take on 2015’s Most Googled Diets originally appeared on usnews.com
