Another year gone by and another year of diets searched via Google. Here’s my take on the most commonly searched diets of the year. While most are gimmicks rather than positive lifestyle changes, at least two are worth carrying into 2018:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Diet
The apple cider vinegar diet is not so much a diet as a gimmicky claim that drinking vinegar delivers nothing short of the moon. Supporters of this diet say apple cider vinegar can improve many of your body’s woes, including indigestion, excess weight and diabetes. And while there is limited research that the vinegar may help promote satiety by lowering glucose levels since it seems to block the breakdown of starch, keep in mind this is preliminary research. Plus, there is no conclusive evidence for weight loss, especially if you are drinking the vinegar alongside a bacon cheeseburger. For now, I would simply add vinegar to your salad and focus on getting more servings of veggies into your diet.
2. Plant-Based Diet
Woohoo! Seeing this diet on the list made me smile. A plant-based diet essentially means eating foods derived from plants, including fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. However, following this type of diet doesn’t mean you have to be a complete vegan or vegetarian; it simply suggests that you eat fewer animal products and more plant-based products. There is no doubt that eating more of these types of foods can be beneficial for almost everyone.
[See: 7 Reasons to Choose a Plant-Based Diet.]
3. Tom Brady Diet
I always love when I see an athlete’s diet on this list. It shows me that people are so impressed with his or her athletic ability that they want to emulate the star. However, there is one major problem with this: Admirers are not the athletes themselves. Tom Brady is a 40-year-old quarterback for the New England Patriots who has an intensive workout schedule. Just because he found a diet that works for him doesn’t mean it will work the same for someone who sits on his or her couch and watches Brady play.
4. Boiled Egg Diet
Eggs are one of my favorite foods, and yet this is far from my favorite diet. In fact, it’s totally ridiculous. The plan seems to have many varieties, including one in which you eat only hard-boiled eggs all day and drink water. In another, you get to add in cheese and butter (lucky you) and in yet another, it appears you can add chicken, greens and fruit. In other words, this diet plan is all about restriction. And while I can’t deny you will probably lose weight, you’ll probably lose your mind first.
[See: 8 Food Trends Nutrition Experts Pray Will Never Return.]
5. Emily Ratajkowski Diet
I am not so sure that Emily Ratajkowski’s diet is an actual “diet” plan. But thank God for Instagram because without it, how would we ever know what this beautiful model and actress is eating? She shows pictures of pizza, coconut cake, steak and fries, basically trying to share a message that she doesn’t deprive herself of the foods she loves. I applaud that. She also claims to enjoy pastries for breakfast. However, there must be some really good genes in her family, since I am not convinced that most of us women can eat like she does and still look the way she does. But then again, Instagram doesn’t tell us the whole story.
6. Ketogenic Diet
This diet made last year’s list as well and, if anything, I think it has grown even more in popularity. The diet is very high in fat, supplies adequate protein and is very low in carbohydrates. Many of today’s strong supporters claim it will reprogram your metabolism, lower your body fat and make you feel and perform better. There is a lot of research being conducted on the keto diet, and even though there are success stories being shared in the scientific community, it is still very controversial. A diet very high in saturated fat still remains associated with an increased risk of heart disease. And, putting your body into a ketogenic state, which is caused by cutting way back on carbs, is not something you should take lightly. Side effects such as increased urination, bad breath, fatigue, vomiting and confusion are common. I will wait for the science to be conclusive before endorsing this plan (and will continue enjoying carbs in the meantime!).
7. GOLO Diet
Another repeat on the list from last year is the GOLO Diet, which was created by Dr. Keith Ablow and a team of doctors. It claims to optimize your insulin levels while reducing fat storages in your body. The three-tiered program, which includes a daily supplement called Release, customized meal planning and a guide, costs $39.95 per month. Release supposedly kick starts your metabolism, reduces hunger and cravings, and regulates insulin levels. Sound too good to be true? Well, it probably is. There is absolutely no conclusive scientific evidence to support any of these claims. I am weary of any diet that strictly promotes buying its products in order to be successful — and so should you.
8. The Shepherd’s Diet
I really can’t figure out what this diet is all about. (Maybe that’s why it was Googled so many times?) Anyway, it appears to be based on guidance from the bible on foods you should or shouldn’t eat. It refers to “healing fats” and “holy fats,” supposedly turning your body into a fat-burning machine. The diet can only be purchased online, but hey, the sellers seem to offer a lot of discounts. If I sound skeptical, it’s because I am.
9. Coffee Diet
As with the boiled egg diet, there seems to be more than one variety of the coffee diet. One diet is a three-day plan that consists of a cup of black coffee at each meal with very little food. So yet again, another restrictive diet that teaches you nothing about losing weight for the long haul. The other coffee diet encourages a cup of coffee after each meal, before bathing and exercising, alongside a sensible eating plan. The diets claim that coffee naturally burns fat, suppress one’s appetite and speeds up your metabolism. While there are many studies on the benefits of drinking coffee, more peer-reviewed studies are needed to confirm these particular diet claims. And besides, that much caffeine a day may cause anxiety, sleeplessness and stomach distress for many. No thank you.
10. Mediterranean Diet
And finally, the second on the list to make my heart sing. The Mediterranean Diet has been around forever, inspired by the eating habits of people in Greece, southern Italy and Spain. It encourages consumption of olive oil, legumes, whole grains, fruits, veggies, fish, dairy and wine. There is conclusive scientific evidence that this type of diet lowers the risk for heart disease. Since a diet usually conjures up thoughts of something you eventually go off, this diet really should just be called “healthy eating.”
More from U.S. News
5 Extreme Diets You Shouldn’t Try
The 10 Best Diets for Healthy Eating
The 10 Best Diets for Fast Weight Loss
A Dietitian’s Blunt Take on the 10 Most Googled Diets of 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com
