June – Choosing a Diet
Changing our diet, can change how we feel…for the better. But what diet is best. You hear the trends…paleo, vegan, ketogenic, vegetarian. How do you know what is best for you?
No single diet is “best” for everyone; for long‑term health and adherence, most evidence favors well‑planned plant‑forward eating (vegetarian or near‑vegetarian), while strict paleo and ketogenic patterns tend to be more limited, harder to maintain, and sometimes riskier if poorly designed.
Across large comparative studies, diets higher in minimally processed plant foods and lower in red/processed meat and refined carbs consistently show better cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes.
Plant‑based patterns (vegan and vegetarian) are associated with lower risks of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers when well planned and not overly processed.
Ketogenic diets can improve weight, triglycerides, and glycemic control in the short term, but may increase LDL cholesterol and are not well studied for decades‑long use in the general population.
Paleo diets can lead to weight loss and better glycemic control but often raise saturated fat intake and exclude legumes and whole grains that are strongly linked to reduced chronic disease risk.
To feel your best, and be in your best health, talk with your physician. Keep notes of how you feel when you change your diet, as well as how your lab tests change with dietary changes. Overtime, you can determine what diet is best for you.