Dieting – what’s the latest thinking and what diets should we watch out for in 2020?

A nutritious diet is an integral part of achieving any happy and healthy lifestyle, and with new innovative ideas being thought of regularly, it’s not always an easy decision to determine which one is best for you.

Here are some of the most popular going into the new year. A diet which will already be familiar to many, veganism continues to be one of the hottest trends and is showing no signs of slowing. Making the switch to a vegan low-fat diet could be the best option out there if you can perfect it, as it is linked to protecting us against certain cancers. A plant-based regime which avoids any source of food made from or produced by animals, it consists of eating vegetables, grains, nuts, fruits and cereals just to name a few items, and is recognised as being one of the best diets for helping to reduce body fat and promoting weight loss without restricting your calories.

Research also suggests that it relates to being able to change the body’s microbiome, with increasing healthy bacteria in the digestive system, and can benefit those with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. Vegan diets are rich in fibre, vitamin C and folate, and with good planning and understanding of how to balance out your food and drink schedule, you can consume all the nutrients that your body needs to live a beneficial lifestyle. Another which is building up quite the impression is a ketogenic diet.

It’s a low-carb process which involves consuming more calories from protein and fat, and less from carbohydrates. You don’t have to worry about missing out on some of your favourite foods, as you can still enjoy much beloved cuisines such as cheese, avocados, vegetables, coconut oil, eggs, meat and plain Greek yogurt. Although it pays more of a key focus on weight loss rather than the health benefits that comes with it, it does help to control certain medical conditions such as epilepsy, heart disease and even acne.

Endurance athletes who take part in long distance exercises such as running or cycling, are normally individuals who make the most of this regime as it can enhance training levels by raising the amount of oxygen that your body can use when being put through cardiovascular exercises. Perhaps one to consider for cleaning up your eating habits is the Mediterranean approach. It won’t even feel like you’re going on a diet as such, as it’s a heart-healthy style that doesn’t limit the amount of different foods that you can indulge yourself in with such a wide variation on the menu.

A traditional intake of Mediterranean foods would normally consist of large quantities of fresh fruits, nuts, fish and vegetables, and is even associated with being able to reduce the risk of serious mental and physical health problems with the latest thinking being that it can improve blood sugar levels, cholesterol and prevent the risk of muscle weakness. With its exotic ingredients, the cuisine is freshly prepared, easy to make and rich in flavour.

Although it might be a short-term solution, the whole30 diet is becoming vastly popular. As it is a clean-eating plan, the thought and process behind it is that it will force you to cut out certain bad habits. Lasting for 30 days (hence the name), it’s a simple adjustment that involves eating and drinking delicacies that contain everything you need such as meat, vegetables and water, and giving up unhealthy luxuries like alcohol, sugar or artificial sweeteners, dairy and processed foods. It’s a strict regime and can test your willpower greatly, but the results that come with it speak for themselves. Not like your usual diet as you’re not tracking calorie intake or prepping certain foods, however, it does lead to your skin and sleep improving, weight loss and being able to boost your energy levels.

One of the most fascinating diets to try out is the paleo diet. This dietary plan looks at foods that might have been eaten during the stone age, and limits foods that became common when farming emerged around 10,000 years ago. The aim of it is to return to a way of eating that’s more like what early humans ate. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, and meat are the most common foods consumed, with it excluding modern luxuries such as sugar, grains, dairy products, salt, alcohol and coffee.

To create that lifelong habit of good quality health, those who follow this routine will find improvements in their mood and attitude, energy levels, sleep and mental clarity. With the importance of maintaining a balanced and nutritional diet in 2020 being greater than ever before, pursuing one of these options will go a long way in fulfilling that objective.