Diet - what is it? Therapeutic diets, weight loss diets

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In the modern world, the concept of “diet” is not regularly encountered except by babies. This term is most often identified with weight loss. But has it always been like this?

History of diets

Generally speaking, a diet is a set of certain nutritional rules that regulates the amount, chemical composition and physical properties of the foods used, as well as the frequency of their use. Translated from the Greek "diet" - nothing more than a "way of life". It turns out that initially this concept had no connection with weight loss.

Humanity has long paid great attention to the issue of nutrition. Hippocrates as early as the 5th century BC argued that well-chosen food can be a medicine, promoted a similar idea and Avicenna. The issue of weight loss at that time was not. This direction emerged much later.

The first popular book on weight loss was published in the 19th century. In this edition, a businessman from England, William Banting, shared the story of his path to harmony. He managed to get rid of a couple of tens of kilograms thanks to the restriction in the diet of carbohydrates.

20th century markedthe origin of many popular trends today. At the beginning of the century, the concept of counting calories for weight control was outlined, and in the 30s the principles of separate nutrition were already put forward.

In the modern world, there is a cult of a slender toned body, which is why diets are so in demand, their number is grandiose and constantly updated with new options. To make it easier to navigate in all this diversity and understand which diet is suitable in each case, for a start it is worth considering their general classification: diets can be divided into therapeutic, he alth and weight loss.

Therapeutic diets

The purpose of therapeutic diets is to influence the course of the disease by changing the diet and thereby affecting the metabolism in the human body. The essence of such systems is to make certain changes in the diet, according to problems with one or more organs. The basis of therapeutic dietary nutrition is the principle of sparing: mechanical (food is crushed or mashed), chemical (certain nutrients are excluded), thermal (too hot and very cold food is avoided).

In our country, a numbered system of therapeutic diets has been adopted. For example, diets No. 1 and No. 2 are prescribed for inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines, No. 7 for kidney diseases, No. 8 for obesity, No. 10 for problems with the heart and blood vessels. Diet No. 15 is used in medical and sanatorium institutions for diseases that do not require any special nutrition, as well as during the recovery period.

In a therapeutic dietnutrition is very important mode. The multiplicity of food intake is increased up to 5-6 times a day, avoiding long breaks.

He alth diets

These diets are not as strict as medical diets. Their main task is to restore strength after stress or heavy physical exertion, increase tone, cleanse the body. As a rule, wellness nutrition is used in combination with other strengthening and cleansing procedures. A he althy diet is the use of natural products, the exclusion of food additives, canned food, fast food.

Diets for weight loss

It is these food systems that are currently associated with the concept of "diet". Their main task is to help reduce body weight and give the body a harmonious shape. This area offers the largest number of diets and diets. Indeed, this is a very fertile area for experiments.

Diet is always a restriction: either some foods or calorie intake. In principle, the only condition for reducing body weight is the following rule: the body must expend more calories than it receives from food. Only with a calorie deficit will the body begin to use its own reserves, and for this you need to either spend more of them or consume less. Sport is a topic for a separate conversation, but what kind of diet will allow you not to experience physical and mental (which is important) discomfort is a complex and individual question. But there are plenty to choose from.

Low calorie diets

HowAs the name implies, such diets involve limiting the daily calorie content of the diet. Products may be used in different ways. Low-calorie diets can work effectively, but when you return to a normal diet, the weight returns, often with the bonus of a couple of extra pounds. This is because the body perceives a sharp decrease in nutritional value as a “martial law”, and tries, in case the situation repeats, to stock up for future use. In addition, after a fairly fast start, further weight loss may slow down, as the body goes into saving mode and slows down the metabolism. There is also a possibility that he will begin to spend not body fat, but muscle mass.

Mono-diets

A diet in which one food is consumed: kefir, apples, buckwheat, cottage cheese, cucumbers is a rather tough and not balanced option, so you can’t stick to it for a long time. Such a diet of 2 kg per week will help to lose, but most likely these kilograms will quickly return if you do not continue to strictly control yourself in the future.

Restrictive diets

In a diet built on the basis of such diets, there is a bias in favor of any organic substances. Examples of such diets are now very common protein, or low-carbohydrate, low-fat, and even fat. Perhaps the he althiest of these are low-fat diets. Indeed, fat calories are the easiest to turn into excess weight thanreceived from other sources. When building such a diet, it must be remembered that the deficit, first of all, should be extended to fats, and only then to carbohydrates. A homemade diet may well be based on this principle, as it is inexpensive and easy.

Most popular diets

Among the currently popular protein diets, one can mention the nutrition system of Pierre Dukan. The same principle - reduced carbohydrate intake - underlies the diet of Dr. Robert Atkins. The Kremlin diet is also low-carbohydrate. This rule of preferential protein intake gives quick results, but there is evidence that long-term adherence to it may cause kidney problems.

The so-called zonal diet is known: the menu for every day implies a certain balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The principle of counting calories is very common: those who have tried it claim that you can quickly learn to do without a calculator and determine the calorie content of dishes literally by eye.

Interesting diet "6 petals", which implies the alternation of fish, vegetable, chicken, cereal, cottage cheese and fruit days. Her followers are advised to hang a paper chamomile with labeled petals on the refrigerator so that the target is in front of their eyes.

Diets that are more of a long-term food system attract attention. For example, the Minus 60 system is built on the principles of a he althy diet: do not skip breakfast, eat the most high-calorie foodsbefore noon, give up milk chocolate and sweets in favor of bitter, do not combine potatoes with meat, and do not eat after six.

There is a sense in the postulates of separate nutrition. In any case, they certainly can not harm. The Mediterranean diet is recognized as one of the he althiest. Its principles allow you to eat vegetables, seafood and fatty fish, fruits and herbs, olive oil, poultry, nuts, yogurt and soft cheeses. Pasta and a small amount of red wine are allowed. Why not a great diet for every day?

Conclusions

There is no perfect diet for everyone. But first of all, it should be safe for he alth and take into account the individual characteristics of a person: even where he comes from. The food that the Asian is used to is absolutely not suitable for the natives of the south, and vice versa. For some categories of people, dieting is generally contraindicated. This applies to children and adolescents, pregnant and lactating women.