One of the hallmarks of every New Year is making resolutions. Some of the goals people set include paying off debts, purchasing a home, starting a business, losing weight, etc. The problem, however, is that only a few individuals see out these objectives. The majority tend to abandon their resolutions when they experience the first setback. 

Many people struggle to lose weight because of unrealistic expectations. You might think that you can attain a lean body shape within a few months, but this is almost impossible. Overhauling your entire diet can seem to be the go-to solution if you want to shed extra body fat, but it doesn’t often work. 

That said, you shouldn’t lose hope if your resolution is losing weight. With the right approach, determination, and resilience, you can achieve your fitness goals. 

However, before we get to the best diets of the year, let us first look at why maintaining a healthy diet is so important. 

The Importance of a Healthy Diet according to Nutrition Experts 

  • The Impact on Body Weight- 

Let me begin by telling you all about a small scientific fact that I am sure most of you are unaware of. According to scientists, what you eat has an 80% impact on your weight. In other words, no matter how much you exercise and workout, if you are looking to lose weight, you would need to change and alter your diet accordingly. 

  • Influences Work Productivity- 

Nutrition experts suggest that having a healthy diet plays a significant role in your work productivity as well. If you are someone who works long hours, either in front of a computer or in the physical world, you will need a diet to support the same. 

  • Prevents Illnesses and Diseases- 

A healthy, balanced and well-maintained diet also plays a critical role in ensuring that your internal organs are working properly. If your diet intake includes lots of vitamins, healthy minerals and proteins, you stand lesser risk of being affected by illnesses and diseases 

  • Helps in Boosting Sleep- 

If you are not getting consistent sleep or are suffering from insomnia, maybe your diet is to be blamed. Healthy diets, which are low on sugar content, allow for better sleep according to experts. Eating a good two hours before you finally hit the bed allows all the food to be digested well in advance. 

Here are some of the best diets to start your year.

The WebMD Weight Loss Clinic Plan

The best way to lose weight is by eating healthy, non-processed foods like fruits, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, seafood, low-fat dairy, and lean meats. Besides having a low caloric content, these foods keep you satiated for extended periods, ensuring you don’t overindulge. 

It is advisable to wean yourself off slowly from your favourite processed and junk foods before adopting this diet plan. As mentioned earlier, an instant change can hurt your physical well-being. 

If you are a vegan, have allergies or intolerances, you can customise the plan to suit your needs. Suppose you don’t find alternatives, you can take multivitamin and mineral supplements to fill nutritional gaps.

The Mediterranean Diet

People who live in the Mediterranean have a high life expectancy and are less susceptible to cancers and heart complications, mostly because of what they eat. Their diet mainly consists of fresh herbs and spices, fruits, legumes, nuts, olive oil, vegetables, whole grains, and an occasional seafood touch. 

Notably, the Mediterranean diet excludes red meats and foods that are sugary or have saturated fats. By adopting a Mediterranean diet plan, you can check on your weight while reducing the risk of contracting lifestyle diseases. 

This diet tales help from the best of what nature has to offer. Whether it be the natural grains, or the fruits and vegetables, a Mediterranean diet is also influenced by their natural climatic conditions and the closeness of the sea. 

The DASH Diet

DASH stands for a dietary approach to stop hypertension. Although its developers created it to combat high blood pressure, this diet plan has proven useful to individuals who want to lose weight. It also improves overall well-being and lowers the risk of contracting chronic health conditions. 

Additionally, the diet plan is all-encompassing and easy to follow. It focuses on fruits, lean meats, low-fat dairy, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods have high levels of vitamins and minerals. More importantly, they are not sugary and lack saturated fats.

By looking at the list of food items, you will realize that carbs are pretty restricted in the DASH Diet. It ensures that proteins are more, along with a heavy dose of vitamins and minerals. 

The MIND Diet

The MIND Diet is a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. Though its primary objective was lowering the risk of mental disorders, it is useful in controlling weight. This plan encourages people to consume leafy greens, berries, and nuts. If you overindulged in the festive season, this low-carb plan is your best bet for losing the extra weight gained. 

The MIND Diet is a lot more forgiving than the DASH Diet or the Mediterranean Diet plans. As it ends up combining the two you have more food on options. If you do not line something in particular, you can simply replace it with something that you like. 

Many leading celebrities and professional sportsmen follow the MIND Diet on an everyday basis. Eating healthy and fresh is the cornerstone of this diet plan. 

Conclusion

Most people decide to change their lifestyle at the beginning of a new year. However, these resolutions are quickly forgotten because they are overly ambitious and unrealistic. If you’re looking to lose weight this year, consider adopting the diet plans listed in this article. Also, ensure that you set some time for exercising.

Food is one of the most important aspects of our existence. Its role in how we live, work, play and lead out lives is underrated. A diet plan has far-reaching repercussions on different aspects of your life. If you wish to know more about the various diet plans, drop your questions in the comments section below. 

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