There are 2 types of people in the world: those who are crazy in love with dieting and those who cringe at the mention of it. Whichever group you are in, let’s face it: Dieting is an endless trend in today’s beauty obsessed society. Just try Googling the word ‘diet’ and you’ll get literally millions of hits.
We’ve all heard about the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet and the absurd Cabbage Soup Diet. But have you heard of the Rainbow Diet, the Blood Type Diet or the Yin Yang Diet? No? We thought so. Forget those boring and common diets. In this article, you will be introduced to intriguing food diets that you can try the next time you need to fit into those skinny jeans.
Colour Me Healthy
Let’s start off with a diet that makes us feel cheery— The Rainbow Diet. Even though it can sound a bit suspicious to see ‘happy’ and ‘diet’ in the same sentence, the name sure does make dieting sound a lot better. Heck, we’ll take anything that makes the process less agonizing than it already is!
The great thing about this diet is that there’s no need to count calories or grams. Dr. Braverman, author of ‘The Amazing Way to Reverse Heart Disease’, states that the diet is based on incorporating the 7 rainbow colours into the foods you eat. Simply eat as many colourful fruits and vegetables as you want! Luckily, here in Asia, our culture has a tradition of eating a diet of wholegrains, fruits and vegetables and healthy fats and oils. This is why, as compared to Americans, we have lower rates of hypertension, heart disease and enjoy longer and healthier lives.
Just like the rainbow, ‘white’ is not seen in the diet! Avoid ‘white’ foods such as sugar, salt and butter. We took a look at the Rainbow Diet Wellness Center website and compiled a brief example of what the regime consists of.
- Blues/Purple/Reds— Foods such as blueberries, beets and grapes prevent tissue degeneration which reduces risk of cancer.
- Yellows/Oranges— Carrots, pumpkins and tangerines are full of anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties. These foods also promote healthy skin and boosts the immune system.
- Greens— Chlorophyll in leafy vegetables has detoxifying properties. Spices such as basil and and dill is a traditional remedy for cancer, estrogen deficiency and intestinal gas.
Only 4 You
Don’t you find it infuriating when your friend loses weight unlike you, even though both ofyou are on the SAME diet? Dr. Peter D’Adamo, writer of ‘Eat Right 4 Your Type’, claims that this happens because both of you have different blood types. Backed up by D’Adamo’s research of genetics and medical history, the Blood Type Diet will provide you with a food regime that can specifically react well with your blood type.
On the official Blood Type Diet website, D’Adamo affirms that followers of this diet not only lose weight, but are also less prone to diseases such as arthritis, asthma and heart disease.
Check out what types of food you should be eating for your blood type!
- Type A— A vegetarian diet including foods that are fresh, organic and pure. Type As are prone to diseases related to the heart, cancer and diabetes.
- Type B— With a stronger immune system than the other blood types, Type Bs should eat a balanced omnivore diet. Replace chicken with foods such as goat, lamb and mutton.
- Type AB— Those with this rare blood type should focus on tofu, seafood and green vegetables for weight loss. They should also avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Type O— Recommended for a high protein diet based on the belief that this blood type was the first blood type ever. Reduce intake of beans, legumes and grains.
The Balance of Life
It’s hard to find a balance in our daily lives especially in today’s fast paced environment. Why not try to balance at least your nutrition regime with the Yin Yang Diet?
Yin Yang is based on the Chinese philosophy which presents two opposing forces that are interdependent on each other. This is the basic foundation of the macrobiotics system which focuses on low calories and saturated fats, and high in fibre.
Kimiko Morioka mentions in her book, ’55 Macrobiotic Principles for Any Diet’, about the differences between Yin and Yang. Yin is considered passive, silent and cold and means expansion. The foods are generally larger, cool and have lesser potassium and salt content. Most of the foods also grow above soil. Some examples of Yin food:
- Crab, mushrooms, soya beans
- Grapes, bananas, cucumber
- Peppermint tea, bean curd, water
Yang, on the other hand, refers to contraction and is characterized with warm features, smaller, and has higher sodium content. The foods usually grow on soil. These foods are categorized under Yang:
- Beef, chicken liver and fat, smoked fish
- Cheese, chocolate, roasted peanuts
- Whiskey, coffee, wine
Unlike many diets, the Yin Yang diet has no fixed daily plan. You as a unique individual, in your respective environment, should have the instinct and judgement to balance your food diet according to yin and yang. That’s the secret right there. And with that, you are guaranteed to live longer with a healthier lifestyle.
Give It A Try!
Whichever type of person you are when it comes to dieting, you have to admit that these are 3 pretty interesting diets. I don’t know about you, but I sure am going to give one of these diets a shot. A dieter’s gotta do what a dieter’s gotta do to fit into those darn skinny jeans, am I right?
Don’t forget! To ensure the success of any diet, you should complement it with some physical workouts. Try to make time for a 30 minute exercise session 4 times a week. It’s also important that before you decide to carry out a diet, check with your family doctor to see if the diet is compatible with your body and lifestyle.