When making a lifestyle change, there are so many diets and food plans to understand and decide upon.
Many diets proclaim to have health benefits, from HCG and Paleo to Low-Carb and Atkins diets. But one of the highest-ranking diets that stand out amongst the rest is the Mediterranean diet.
For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. News and World Report has named the Mediterranean diet the best overall diet for 2021. In contrast, the report ranked the growingly popular Keto diet as one of the worst diets for 2021.
How are these diets different, and why are they ranked in opposition? Here are 5 reasons why the Mediterranean diet is the best, and 5 reasons why Keto is the worst.
1. It is easy to follow
The Mediterranean diet is a lot easier to follow than other diets because it is more of a guideline than a strict plan. It allows participants a lot of freedom in making eating choices. It’s flexible, which makes it even easier to stick to.
2. It’s great for diabetes
There are plenty of Mediterranean foods included in the diet that are great for managing blood sugar levels, like high fiber foods such as whole grains and legumes. It also helps by limiting foods that raise blood sugars quickly.
3. It emphasized eating patterns
This diet is helpful for many people because it places importance not only on what we eat, but how we eat as well. The Mediterranean diet encourages slowing down, eating together with family and friends and actually enjoying your meal. This helps reduce the fast paced-rush of eating on the go or in front of the television.
4. It cuts down on red meats
The Mediterranean diet encourages more fish and less red meats. A fish-friendly diet is great for various reasons, like reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes to name a few. Fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and B12.
5. It can help you lose weight
With all the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, you are bound to shed a few pounds in the process. The diet has definite weight-loss potential with its limitation of processed foods and sugar. The Mediterranean diet encourages replacing dangerous foods like these with nutrient-dense veggies and snacks.
Here are 5 reasons why keto is the worst diet:
1. It’s very restrictive
Many people find Keto hard to follow because it is chocked full of strict rules and limitations. Experts say that a diet like this is hard to maintain in the long run.
2. It isn’t sustainable
One of the reasons Keto scored so low on the U.S. News and World Report is because it is not sustainable. Experts say that after losing weight so fast with a diet like Keto, you’re bound to gain it back, and possibly more than before.
3. It isn’t heart-healthy
Focusing heavily on a high-fat mantra, the Keto diet is actually not that safe for you. With an emphasis on foods like red meat and butter, these saturated fats in the Keto diet can increase the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease.
4. It’s nutritionally unbalanced
The Keto diet may help you lose weight, but so many experts tout that it is bad for you from an actual nutritional perspective. It is very limiting in what participants can consume, as it even rules out some healthy options like fruits and whole grains.
5. It can possibly cause other more serious conditions
Some sources say that the Keto diet can even cause kidney stones and constipation. It can cause issues with the liver, thyroid, gallbladder, and pancreas for those with preexisting conditions.
