Mediterranean Diet Is Considered to Be Eminently Sensible

According to food researchers, the traditional Chinese diet evolved as low glycemic-load menus based on the ancient Asians belief in avoiding nutrient-free alternatives. In fact, the Chinese do not have a word for calories and view food as a nourishment for a maintaining good health and not a factor for potential weight gain. Greek physician Hippocrates was one of the first scholars to observe the relationships between excessive eating and a lack of exercise to poor health outcomes. "Let food be thy medicine" was the dietary recommendation in 400 B.C. Greece.

Once people had a relatively easy access to food, they discovered an immediate need to understand how food impacted their health and body shape. Several generations of popular fad diets are listed below:

• ROLLO DIABETIC DIET - In 1797, Notes of a Diabetic Case was written and published by a Scottish military surgeon named John Rollo. The study contained a heavy meat diet recommended for diabetic patients as a life-extending dietary management plan.
• BANTING LOW-CARB DIET - The English pamphlet that outlined the low-carb, low-calorie Banting diet became the first popular menu plan, and is used as a model for modern diets. Banting's booklet has transcended many generations and remains in print today.
• PETERS LOW-CALORIE DIET - The first weight loss book to become a best seller in the United States was written by physician Lulu Hunt Peters in 1918 and titled Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories.
• MACROBIOTIC DIET - The macrobiotic diet is associated with Zen Buddhism and based on the idea of balancing yin and yang. The 1930s diet emphasizes locally grown whole grains, legumes, vegetables, seaweed, fermented soy and fruits with natural seasonings and a non-stimulating drink.
• ATKINS DIET - American diet guru, Dr. Robert Atkins, is well known for his high fat, low-carb menu plan, which he and his staff followed to drop a credible amount of weight. Over time, good carbohydrates are slowly re-introduced into the diet plan.
• ORNISH DIET - To follow the Ornish Diet, people ate all the beans, legumes, fruits, grains and vegetables thay needed to feel full. Dr. Dean Ornish recommended low or no-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese or yogurt, but dieters could only consume 10% of total calories from fats.
• HALLELUJAH DIET - Created by North Carolina reverend George Malkmus, the Hallelujah Diet is based on the story of Adam and Eve. Malkmus recommends followers consume fruit, vegetables and whole grains consisting of 85% raw and 15% cooked plant-based foods.
• MEDITERRANEAN DIET - With emphasis on consuming fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and other healthy fare, the Mediterranean Diet is considered by food experts to be eminently sensible. Although it is rooted in ancient times, it is one of the most popular diet plans with today's dieters.

The diet industry has been growing for the last 200 years, constantly becoming more diverse because of our evolutionary response to eating new foods. While dieters continue to search for a quick fix, both the science and business of losing weight will continue to deliver scientifically based new ideas to fulfill the dieter's desire. For the last dietary information, schedule a free consultation with Metabolic Research Center and discover what will work best for you.