Barb, I cannot comment on a specific diet, however I can personally attest that cutting sugar, grains and dairy significantly cuts inflammation for me. That said, it's not easy. I am gluten/wheat & yeast free. I cannot stress how much better I feel overall. When I simplify and don't eat corn or any soy, my body doesn't ache and moves easier. I have cut back on many items due to allergy testing and inflammatory issues. Try eliminating one or two of these triggers and you might find yourself a believer.

If you're looking for weight loss, try incorporating more fish and white meat. Non starchy veggies and limited fats. I don't use protein powders although my husband likes pea protein shakes made with hemp milk and some coconut cream. It's pretty low calorie and keeps him satisfied from breakfast until 1-2pm.

I agree. I have no wheat or gluten issues, and actually feel better when I eat good whole grain bread. A lot of these things are specific to the individual. If you have trouble with inflammation, however, sugars and starches can make them worse. So can heavy meats, especially grilled. Some people are sensitive to dairy, some aren't. Some people live by unbelievably huge amounts of fresh turmeric, but in such quantities, it's no long "food" and really about the chemicals that naturally occur in it.

All of these "diets" are about selling diet books and products. The better ones are also for emergency diets for people who are so out of whack that they need a month or two of following something very strict and revolutionary to straighten out. The whole "detox" thing that a lot of diets promote is for people who abuse themselves with alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, candy, junk food, fast food and very little good nutritive whole foods. The "detoxing" pads that they sell to put on your feet have chemicals that turn ugly colors in them that are supposed to show you that they've pulled bad stuff out of your body, but it's a charlatan's trick. People could detox themselves without a special gizmo or diet if they were willing to do it the boring way: Spend a week eating salad (vegetables, seeds and legumes, not meat and cheese and dressing), potatoes/rice/pasta, and small amounts of poached chicken and fish, maybe some plant proteins, and drinking clear water, and you'll clear out your system.

You're on the right track--eat real food and watch portions. Try to track what you eat and self assess before meals and after. Do you feel tired, sluggish, alert, peppy, sniffly, queasy, dizzy, bright, sharp, satisfied, feeling like you need to eat something even though you're not hungry, etc. BTW, for that last one, you're probably looking for some kind of nutrient, or maybe just water. If water doesn't do it, try a multivitamin. For the rest, over time, you'll figure out if there are foods you're eating that aren't really good for you and also the ones that make you feel great.

When you take all the diet recommendations together, there's a similar basic idea that makes sense: Eat simply. Eat a variety of all kinds of vegetables and fruits, the more color the better, the more skins the better, the least amount of cooking the better. Lots of fiber is good for everybody who doesn't have a digestive issue, and good for most of those too. Eat small quantities of animal proteins (which are actually good for you and require refined supplements if you go without them) in small quantities, prepared simply, best in a moist environment, and not seared (if you're doing anti-inflammatory). If you're sensitive to dairy, limit it. If not, go for fermented forms, such as yoghurt for most of it. (If you're doing anti-inflammatory) limit hard cheeses. Use lots of herbs and spices both for flavor and variety, and also because they can be beneficial. Be very careful with alcohol: While the anti-oxidants in grapes/grape juice/red wine are good, the sugar content may be worse than skipping them. Alcohol itself metabolizes as sugar. It also redistributes the water in your body.

The Zone Diet has been around for quite some time (1999), and as with nearly any "diet" published out there, you'll find people who have been successful following it. Mainly because people are finally following something besides the old "Seefood Diet" (see food and eat it). There is portion control and emphasis on eating real food - and avoiding "junk" food.

Most of these diets have many things in common that are all "good" things. They cut down on, or eliminate, processed foods, and control fat, sodium and sugar intake. They generally encourage use of whole foods, such as wholegrains, fruits and vegetables. The portions are never HUGE. You recognize food as something you could actually grow or make yourself - so we rarely see Twinkies and other highly-processed foods on a "diet" plan. There is a variety of foods from all the food groups included in most diets. Do we see a trend?

There has been enough science to prove people will lose weight, if weight loss is their goal, if they simply follow what a serving size is - without having to eliminate certain foods - and know how many servings they need from each food group each day. We've followed the old Basic-4 Eating Plan since the 1970's. When I switched to the Food Pyramid, we gained weight due to too many carbohydrates. That must have been when Con-Agra paid the government to hype breads and cereal grains in the diet. So we went back to the old Basic-4. I was certified to teach a diet designed by author Lucy Beale, and one of the first things we taught was to slow down how fast you ate. This was also a key in several other "diet" books. Just switch to using small plates for meals, and most people will end up eating less if they also stop taking seconds......

Most diets have some science behind them, but not all of the science meets every person's needs due to the many outstanding health conditions each person has. Until I read "Wheat Belly" by William Davis, MD did I ever realize how many of my ailments were due to consuming wheat. I'm glad he published his books because they made a huge difference in my wellbeing.

I read an article yesterday that interviewed Michael Pollan that puts "diet" into perspective. "Michael Pollan on How America got so screwed up about food"

http://www.vox.com/2015/12/16/10227456/michael-pollan-interview

He's the common sense guy who said:

"Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much." How simple is that?

"Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself."

"Only in America do the truly poor eat meat twice a day."

"Eat food cooked by humans."

And he points out "Real food tends to be on the perimeters of the supermarket."

If you're dieting to lose weight, it's simple. Eat fewer calories. It doesn't actually matter where the calories come from. Count your calories. Many of these diets work for weight loss because they significantly reduce calorie intake (even though they don't necessarily come right out and say that's what they're doing). Now, if you want to lose weight and KEEP IT OFF, you have to change your life style -- eat less (all things in moderation) and exercise more. Annie's advice is spot on as for how to manage that diet. Oh, and I lost over 100 pounds and have kept it off for more than 3 years by eating less and exercising more.

Please take this in the spirit intended...

Dieting, food choices, and weight gain are not just about food. The real problems are multifaceted, but hinge on thing like... mental issues (such as stress, body image, emotional health and stability, relationship pressures etc...), knowledge about nutrition and your individual needs and sensitivities, self-control, and rearing.

Leading the pack are the mental issues we all face. Food, because of it's powerful sensory link to the brain, especially when combined with external stimuli (think both Pavlov's dogs, and how you felt when your Mom made that Kraft Macaroni and Cheese you loved, or how we were rewarded with sweets and treats and the adrenaline and serotonin flush we relished), form connections in our brain that are tough to change. The first step... know that these connections exist and that (sometimes with help and a good support system,) while it may not be easy, you can form new habits and train yourself to be rewarded by making good choices!

I agree with a lot of what's been said already. So glad that grainlady included pollan's simple advice...eat real food, mostly plants, not too much. There are some other basics that have been stated already and are pretty much common across most sound diets...less salt, refined carbs, bad (saturated and trans) fats. More vegetables, especially greens. Also, drink lots of water. Don't use artificial sweeteners, except stevia if you have to.

I also agree that it is an individual thing. My GF is prediabetic and has to avoid carbs...my DH has low kidney function and has to minimize protein....I just had my gallbladder out and have to minimize fats.

rgreen is right too about why we eat what we eat, even when we know better. Brian Wansink has done some interesting work on mindless eating that includes things like the size of the portion in front of us, how that portion is labeled (if it's called small, med or large), the size and shape of the container, the proximity of the food, how much food is in a package, etc. Food mnfctrs know all this better than we do and purposely manipulate these psychological cues to get us to buy/eat more or their product.

I've been taking a mindfulness based eating course and have found it very useful...focusing on our bodies and our awareness of the present moment and our internal cues about whether we are hungry or satisfied, leaving food on the plate purposely, eating in a mindful way, aware of what we are eating, eating without distractions, actually smelling and tasting the food and feeling the texture in your mouth, etc. Also empowering us to stop the habitual eating and take control of what we are eating based on our body's needs. The beauty of this is it works with whatever your individual dietary needs might be or whatever diet you may be following, regardless of how the food is packaged or sold.

Begging to differ w/ marymd7, but the type of calories can indeed make a difference. 200 calories of candy or donuts is vastly different than 200 calories of lean protein or vegetables. I understand that high carb foods trigger production of ghrelin - the "hunger" hormone....

I lost 40 pounds and kept it off for the past 3 or 4 years (a little fluctuation but never gaining much back) by NOT making myself go hungry, and by switching almost entirely to food I make myself. (Yes, occasionally we may go out to eat... sensibly...) I cut out potato chips, decreased the cheese, and bring my own food to work at least 95% of the time -- even the "healthy choices" at work have more starch and more added sugars than I'd ever consider cooking with. Weight went down nicely!

My food plan does owe something to Paleo, but I still eat beans (very light on the soy however), and I eat rice and quinoa. The thing is I do follow Michael Pollan's dictum that goes something like, "don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't have recognized as food" -- although I have modified this to "don't eat anything someone's great grandmother wouldn't have recognized as food" -- so I can explore cultural foods from around the world!

artemis, my Grandmother used to tell me that "if it wasn't a food 100 years ago, it's not a food today". Of course, that was a couple of decades ago.....

And that's part of the reason I'm on a cooking forum, because I cook. I like to cook and I like to eat, too much usually. I'm pleading guilty to way too much Christmas fudge, even if I made it myself!

Some food issues do have mental or psychological roots, we like to eat what we are used to, i.e. those Thanksgiving favorites that cannot be changed for fear of family rebellion, or "comfort foods" that remind us of good memories, etc.. But some, well, it's like that fudge. It just tastes good, and I like it. It has nothing to do with my past, or family traditions or even habit (as I don't usually keep it around). I just like it and when it's there, I'm going to eat it. So I make it only at Christmas, out of sight, out of mind! If I made fudge year round, I'd weigh a LOT more. When it's not there I don't think about it or crave it, but if it's there, am I going to eat it? Yup, I am.

Annie

Hi Annie -- I'm all in favor of those Thanksgiving specials -- they come once a year, after all... I have however over time entrained myself to like less and less sugar -- and last year I ditched the milk in my coffee! (Okay, if it's really Baaaaddd coffee, I reach for the milk...)

I'm trying to figure out how to re-make some of the "comfort foods" of my childhood in more healthy formats. These things do take a lot more work by and large (and I am not subbing in fake sugars -- to be honest, because they all have nasty aftertastes to my palate...) I also have to admit some of my family "comfort foods" were very healthy things -- seafood was a comfort food that we had on Fridays during Lent -- which since it was so enjoyable kinda defeated the purpose of Lent, but there you have it...

Even while growing up, my parents moved their "fried" chicken to baked -- now, I am experimenting around to find a better (for me) substitute for bread crumbs. (Chickpea flour appears to work well, so far. Tonight I experiment with seasoning up some potato starch. A lot of people do almond flour, but I can't eat tree nuts.)

Barb: I didn't get around to finishing my previous post when someone showed up, so I hit the submit button early. I've steered clear of protein powders entirely -- I've never eaten the overpriced stuff in my life. I think just focusing on eating healthy foods and cooking for yourself early and often is going to be your best choice - don't say NEVER to any real food item (unless you are allergic or have a sensitivity - and find things you like along with lots of non-starchy veggies. The base of my food pyramid is vegetables. For me, I know potato chips are something I can't stop eating... I refuse now to buy them, but I'll go ahead and indulge when I'm at a party. Hopefully the fact that others are around will serve as a break -- usually this does, and usually they run out of them, anyway.

I think some people gravitate more to high (healthy) carb plans, and others gravitate more to high (healthy) fat plans. Mine has been to the latter. Both ways do work if you pay attention to the *healthy* component. I will say my lower carb, higher (healthy) fat plan has resulted in a marked decline in triglycerides, a higher concentration of HDL to LDL, while maintaining the same overall cholesterol level. My blood pressure hasn't varied in ages -- I'm 62 years old.

I also agree with a lot of what was said. I also don't think that it is about "dieting" per se, but rather it is about a change in lifestyle. It has to be sustainable to work. My trainer likes to advise his clients to eat more. More vegetables, more fruit, more lean proteins and healthy fats. By eating more "real food" your body won't want as much of the other. And while losing weight is about calories in vs calories out, you can have a really great omelet with a slice of toast for about the same number of calories as the Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino. And the omelet is going to take you a lot farther. And I know that you asked about diet, but the other component of losing weight is exercise. I think the biggest bang for the buck is weight training. Build some muscle and you'll burn more calories, even when you aren't moving.

Easier said than done.

I have to say though that, with my recent gall bladder issue, I had to go no fat diet for a couple of weeks, and I lost weight like crazy. Now my struggle is to add some fat back to the diet as you need fat, but to not overdo. I don't want to put back what I lost.

I agree with most of what has been said here. One thing I'm not sure people have brought up is how one's body's needs change with age. I ate a lot of protein as a child and teenager (not sure if it was necessary: that was the food culture of the times), was crazy for carbohydrates when I was in my twenties and thirties, then my body started to get fussier about foot as I approached middle age. Now I eat carbohydrates in moderation, have a possible on again, off again sensitivity to wheat, am less tolerant of dairy than I used to be, and have very little taste for sweets. The one food group I can eat all I want of is vegetables and legumes, and my body loves them. I also have a lavish hand with the olive oil. I've been thin and reasonably healthy and active all my life. I find if I listen to my body, it generally tells me what it needs.

Something to note about Annie D's "lost weight like crazy" is that the first short time on any restricted diet will do that. That's why fad diets get so much buzz. If you eliminate a whole category that your body is used to, or load up on a single kind of food, and cut idle calories at the same time, you'll lose a bunch of weight fast. In Annie D's case, the underlying health issue is keeping her very careful about things. For most people, just a little "normal" after a rapid loss, will put it right back on. That's why there's so much stress here on sustainable diets that are based on eating well and accustoming the body to prefer good for you foods, rather than restrictions. The celebrities promoting the diets du jour (no wheat, no dairy, no meat, etc.) may have a sensitivity to what's being eliminated that makes it a good idea for them, but also likely find a restrictive diet psychologically comforting as something that they can control in their lives. It's sort of the less unhealthy version of what people with eating disorders do.

Something I learned is that as we age, we should eat more protein to compensate for age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia)

Seems to be always someone at work on any or many of the new diets....we have a snack area always and it is huge. Every type of snack and changes throughout the day. It is 'coffee talk'. The one area where food is discussed.

Ages range from children, very young interns, then production assistants, up to the mid 70's and sometimes much older. So the personalities are vast and the needs often vastly different. Many dietary needs. Allergies, illiminators, some real, some imagined, some un-discovered, mostly sensitivities to a specific. (even just last night a call was made to a bakery to find out if dairy was used in a cookie, eye roll).

That person was important enough so the call was made.

All the 'diets' involve some sort of purchase. A book, a pill, a joining fee, etc.

As mentioned above, many on the food consumption arena are well educated and speak informed. Educators we need to listen to. I tend to follow the same...eat less, move more. And eat carefully. Whole foods and make it yourself. Many preach the same, even those that are 'selling'.

All the 'cleansing' diets are similar. They make one in need of a change to sit back and think about what you are eating.

I personally, during the work week, like to think of food as fuel. The 'fuel for living'. What i think i need for the day and make choices and keep a loose memory track of what i have had. I'm a taster tester. If i see a new packaged 'heath bar' on the snack table i open it and cut it into teaspoon slivers just to try it. (with a clean knife and everyone knows it was me so they test as well with the remainder slices) Hundreds of them out now and being in NYC the variety is insane. We must have a rotation of two dozen nut butters any given day. A dozen honeys, a dozen jams. A dozen breads. Crackers. a few dozen chip choices, gluten free this and that. Pringles, pop tarts. lol. They try to please everyone and gets a bit insane.

Every day in the back of my mind is, "Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much."

Working all over NYC and different locations every day i walk my lunch breaks and just look, in and out of famous bakeries, rarely purchase. Unless i can take it home and freeze for a treat later. But so rare. I prefer to spend that lunch money on a non food item from a restaurant supply shop or a new pair of shoes...

If i have already had a healthy breakfast, then a few raw nuts, some berries for a snack, a bit of nut butter on a spoon...no bread or wheat...just a little, a slice of cantaloupe, a cube or two of cheese. Once a week a quarter bagel. (when the smoked salmon comes out) Some bacon on friday. Raw veggies are out all day. Food is fuel. And a bit of chocolate. Lots of room for treats, holiday treats, a cookie, another cookie. All in moderation.

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. I really think its different for different groups. For example I lose weight and can maintain pretty well on a low carb plan. The one I follow is unlimited portions of certain foods,just keep carbs under 50 a day. I feel better and am not hungry. If I follow a diet focused more on calories,I have a harder time. I am hungry all the time and dont really feel too good at all. No energy. Two of my brothers are the same. My other brother and 2 sister's however are the opposite. They feel better and have better success by counting calories and including carbs in the plan. Funny.

As far as diet plans that are for sale, I don't really care if a doctor comes up with it or not. Doctors are people too, and many of them will use their MD status to make an extra buck (or lots of them) by selling dreams. The cleanses are what get me the most.Most people don't need to "cleanse" their bodies. Most healthy people's bodies cleanse themselves. If the body is inflamed because of sensitivity to certain foods or chemicals, cutting out exposure to the offending substance will help,but that's still not a cleanse. Good grief I remember a few years ago all my female coworkers and friends were rushing to the spa to have their colons cleansed in order to lose weight. Ummmm...I'm pretty sure your colon doesn't need a trip to the car wash to be clean,it cleans itself. But that was the hype then. And they all bought it. And they were all dissapointed that they went through that whole ordeal and didnt lose 20 pounds of colon debris, just 5 poinds of water weigjt or so tjat came right back.will admit to trying green coffee bean extract, brewing and drinking unholy amounts of green tea and wearing a waist trainer for 12 hours a day before finally wising up. If it were as easy as all these diet plans say it is Americans would not be so overweight,myself included. All the diet plans I bought and tried when I was younger and more foolish, their wallets got fatter and so did i. Yeesh.

Well, I'm going to add something here, that may be a little TMI, but I think that one way to feel better using diet, is to eat more fiber. There's a lot of talk about cleansing this and detoxifying that, but basically fiber keeps things moving along in your gut, which is very good for overall health issues of many types. The modern diet is really low in fiber, even if you try to eat "healthy" stuff. Meat has no fiber. Too much roughage can upset a touchy tummy. But some "sticky fiber" is quite good for you. Sticky fiber is in stuff like oatmeal and squash and applesauce. I do think eating an apple a day is a very good idea, unless you are allergic to apples, which a few people are. Some kind of whole fruit, pears could do I think. Beans are great, in moderation, well cooked and not with a rich meal, and early in the day. Whole grain cereal in the morning is very good. Fermented foods if you can stand them, or at the very lest an acidophilous tablet, the refrigerated kind with the most amount of live bacteria. I think it is something like 30 billion that is recommended. Bread, which I love, is a refined food. Better to eat whole grains, and in moderation. Salads and cooked veggies mixed in with things. Yogurt or keifer or something cultured. It's rather rare to find real cultured foods in the grocery store though, most of the cultured stuff has either died or just had flavorings added to it to make it taste like real cultured foods.

You won't regret it if you incorporate some of these kinds of fiber rich foods into your diet. And really, really try to cut down on the refined sugar! Best to stick to doing a few things that will make the most difference. If you can get a handle on the refined foods and add the right kinds of fiber, I think you will go far in feeling better. This is the best strategy in the long run, develop healthy habits, like eating something whole grain in the AM, snacking on an apple, having a big salad with lunch or dinner, eating some kind of vegetable based dish or soup for lunch or dinner, adding whole grains to your meal either as a pilaf, or part of a salad or as cereal in the AM. Snack on veggies. Try to drink mostly water when thirsty. All of these habits will serve you much better than some fad that you can't keep up. The only "diet" that works long term for weight loss is one you can stick to. If you try something and it makes you feel better, there's a lot of incentive there to keep it up. And last but not least, people who keep weight off rarely manage that feat without a substantial investment in exercise too.