Diets through the decades
Monday, October 1st, 2007
Only one thing's for certain, if it's going to have a shelf life that exceeds a carton of soy milk then it needs to be based on sound nutritional principles. We take a look back at the diets of the last 3 decades and see which have and will stand the test of time.
1980s
The F-Plan
The dieting industry really took off in the 1980's and in 1982 Audrey Eyton's world famous book, The F-Plan diet, went on sale. The F-Plan promoted a high-fibre, low-fat, calorie controlled eating plan. To follow the diet you have to restrict your calorie intake to between 850-1500 calories per day. Since fibre doesn't contain any calories, the idea is to stock up on fibre rich foods that not only help you to feel fuller for longer but also improve your digestion too. Fibre stays in the stomach for longer than other foods as it's harder to digest meaning you're fuller for longer and less likely to snack between meals!
Would it work today?
Fibre has many health benefits and a diet high in fibre will help keep your digestive system healthy, reducing the risk of bowel problems such as constipation, diverticular disease and haemorrhoids (piles), and bowel cancer. Furthermore, most fibrerich foods are also low in fat and packed with vitamins and minerals so introducing them into your diet is a good idea, although calorie restriction may not be necessary or recommended.
The Grapefruit Diet
If you wanted guaranteed weight loss in the 80's the grapefruit diet was the plan to follow. The diet claimed that Grapefruit had ‘fat-burning' properties and so the dieter could each as much as they liked, accompanied by boiled eggs on dry toast and black coffee. Whilst this might not seem too bad at breakfast time, imagine having to eat it at every meal for a week! Whilst there's no denying that weight loss occurred on this diet, it was largely due to a massive restriction in calories rather that the amazing ability of grapefruit to burn fat!
Would it work today?
New research has shown that adding grapefruit and grapefruit juice to your diet, really can aid weight loss. The researchers believe grapefruit contains unique plant compounds that reduce insulin levels, which in turn promotes weight loss. The best news of all is that grapefruit will have this effect without cutting other foods out of your diet. By all means add it to your daily meal plan but aim to have a balanced
diet overall.
The Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet has to be one of the most extreme diets of the last 30 years. The
rules of the diet permit you to ‘fill up' on cabbage soup as well as eating other restricted foods throughout the week. Daily calorie intake is cut to a minimum and although weight is lost, it is more likely to be from water and muscle that fat reserves. This diet can actually hinder real weight loss but putting the body into a state of starvation causing it to hang onto its fat reserves at all costs!
Would it work today?
Whilst cabbage soup is relatively healthy, starving the body is not. Even advocates of this diet do not recommend that you follow it for more than a week. It might seem like an attractive option, offering rapid weight loss in a short space of time but as soon as you resume a normal diet the pounds will probably just pile back on!
1990s
South Beach
This diet came with huge hype from the states, promising weight loss of up to 13lb in just two weeks. It also claims that most of the weight you lose will be from around your stomach which adds to its popularity! You don't have to cut out any food groups, just simply choose the ‘right' carbs and fats. It's split into 3 phases, where several foods are restricted in phase 1 and gradually re-introduced throughout phases 2 and 3.
Would it work today?
The South Beach Diet was actually re-launched this year which is a testament to its staying power. Its recommendations to swap saturated fats for healthier unsaturated ones and sugary carbs for wholegrains are very sensible. Phase one of the diet however is highly restrictive and lacks certain nutrients. Whilst phase two is much healthier, such an extreme, rapid weight loss is unlikely to be sustainable.
Slim Fast
On the Slim.Fast plan you replace breakfast and lunch with a Slim Fast meal replacement drink and prepare a healthy 600-calorie meal in the evening. You can also have three 100 calorie snacks throughout the day. Weight loss occurs because of a dramatic calorie reduction if your diet. If you're used to eating a substantial amount of food you are likely to feel pretty hungry for the first few days! The shakes are fortified with vitamins and minerals in place of what you would be getting from your diet.
Would it work today?
The fact that Slim Fast is still as popular as ever goes to show that this diet has stood the test of time. Whilst the shakes are no substitute for a proper balanced diet, they offer a simple, easy way to kick start weight loss, the key to success is whether or not you can manage on so few calories and resist the temptation to snack!
2000s
CSIRO
CSIRO is a high protein/moderate carbohydrate/low fat eating plan designed by nutritionists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia. The diet advocates high protein foods because they are nutrient dense, keep you fuller for longer and help to control blood fats such as triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Weight loss occurs because portion size and calorie intake are carefully controlled.
Will it still be popular in 2010?
The diet advocates a large amount of red meat, but most nutritionists recommend we eat this no more than twice a week. It may prove to be bad for heart health and it certainly isn't easy for vegetarians to follow! Essentially it's a diet that controls calories and in that respect it could continue to be successful for years to come!
GI
The GI diet ranks foods from 0 to 100 based on the effect that they have on our blood sugar levels. Foods with a high GI - 70 or above, cause a massive rise in blood sugar which is followed by an energy slump, prompting us to reach for something else to eat. Foods with a low GI - 55 or below, release sugar into the bloodstream slowly, giving us a steady supply of energy, meaning we're less likely to snack and gain weight.
Will it still be popular in 2010?
The GI diet is based on good scientific principles which can lead to sustainable weight loss. It can also help us to reduce our risk of developing type II diabetes. When followed religiously however it can be hard work and it's more or less impossible to
determine the GI of an entire meal! It can put you off eating many healthy foods as they are ranked as high GI and some low GI foods are really high in salt. Sensible dieters will take the principles of this diet to develop a balanced eating plan.
Atkins Diet
On the Atkins diet you can eat whatever you like, in any quantity - as long as it's made up of protein and fat. This includes steaks, burgers, eggs, cheese, pork and chicken. Carbohydrates - bread, pasta and potatoes - must be avoided at all costs. The idea behind this diet is that your body will burn fat for energy rather than carbohydrate. In reality it leads to a build up of ketones in the body and leaves you with a deficiency in essential vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Will it still be popular in 2010?
Atkins was one of the biggest diets of the decade but it couldn't withstand the barrage of claims that it was detrimental to our health. There's no denying that weight loss occurred on this diet but often it was at the expense of good health, causing Kidney stones, high cholesterol and even heart problems. The fact that Atkins himself had a heart condition and was overweight when he died should be enough to put anyone off!
