Your diet is made up of what you eat. There are many different types of diets. A healthy diet
- Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
- May include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
- Is low in saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
There are many different types of diets. Some, like a vegetarian diet, don't include meats. Others, like the Mediterranean diet, describe a pattern of eating with an emphasis on less saturated fat than most Americans eat.
Many people follow specific diets to lose weight. Some of these diets are fad or crash diets that severely restrict calories or the types of food you are allowed to eat. These diets rarely lead to permanent weight loss and often don't provide all of the nutrients your body needs. To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. Portion control is the key. When trying to lose weight, you can still eat your favorite foods -- as long as you pay attention to the total number of calories that you eat.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- 5 Ways to Spot a Fad Diet(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/fad_diet_tips.html
- Diets(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec12/ch152/ch152h.html
- Quick-Weight-Loss or Fad Diets(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4584
- More Educated Choose Healthier Foods, But Pay More(05/01/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83693.html
- Healthy Items on Menu Make Unhealthy Picks Easier(04/30/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83661.html
- After Weight Loss, Lower-Fat Diets May Be Best(04/23/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83321.html
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Heart-Healthy, Reduced-Calorie Diets Promote Long-Term Weight Loss
(02/25/2009, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2009/nhlbi-25.htm
- More News on Diets http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_d.html#diets
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Weight-Loss and Nutrition Myths: How Much Do You Really Know?
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/myths.htm
- Calorie Restriction: Is This Anti-Aging Diet Worth a Try?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/anti-aging/HQ00233/METHOD=print
- High-Protein Diets(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11234
- Low-Carb Diets(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/low-carb-diet/NU00279/METHOD=print
- Mediterranean Diet(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4644
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Nutrition for Weight Loss: Is a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Right for Me?(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/improve/893.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/893.printerview.html
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Nutrition for Weight Loss: What You Need to Know about Fad Diets(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/improve/784.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/784.printerview.html
- Popular Diets Reviewed 2007(American Dietetic Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Popular_Diets_Reviewed_2007.pdf
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Very Low-Calorie Diets
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/low_calorie.htm
- Weight-Loss Options: 6 Common Diet Plans(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/weight-loss/NU00616/METHOD=print
- Alternatives to Fad Diets(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=510
- High-Protein Diets: Are They Safe?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/high-protein-diets/AN00847/METHOD=print
- Low Carb Diets and Your Lab Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/news/diet040328.html
- Weighing the Evidence in Diet Ads(Federal Trade Commission) - Links to PDF - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea03.pdf
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diet
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Diet%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Diet Therapy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Diet+Therapy%22
- AHA Comments on Weight Loss Study Comparing Low Carbohydrate/High Protein, Mediterranean Style and Low Fat Diets(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=473
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Study Compares Year-Long Effectiveness of Four Weight-Loss Plans
(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/030607.htm
- Women on Mediterranean-Type Diets May Lower Heart, Stroke Risk(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=671
- Article: Impact of change in sweetened caloric beverage consumption on energy... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19349562&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Comparative effects of three popular diets on lipids, endothelial function,... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19328268&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Implementing a low-fat eating plan in the Women's Intervention Nutrition... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19328264&tool=MedlinePlus
- Diets -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(energy+intake[majr]+OR+diet,+reducing[majr]+OR+diet+fads[majr]+OR+diet,carbohydrate-restricted[majr]+OR+diet,mediterranean[majr]+OR+diet,fat-restricted[majr]+OR+diet,protein-restricted[majr]+OR+ketogenic+diet[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Obesity, Physical Activity, and Weight-Control Glossary
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/glossary.htm
- Find a Nutrition Professional(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_4874_ENU_HTML.htm
- American Dietetic Association - http://www.eatright.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
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Weight-Control Information Network
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/
- Is Dieting OK for Kids?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/diet.html
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Are Detox Diets Safe?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/detox_diets.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/nutricion/detox_diets_esp.html
- Deal with Diets(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/dieting.html
- Fad Diets vs. Healthy Weight Management: A Guide for Teens(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/fad_diets.html
- Child Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childnutrition.html
- Diabetic Diet - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabeticdiet.html
- Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nutrition.html
- Nutrition for Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nutritionforseniors.html
- Vegetarian Diet - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vegetariandiet.html
- Weight Control - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightcontrol.html
- Food and Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodandnutrition.html
- Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html