Diet fads are not a new concept, but they certainly are popping up more frequently aren't they? Since the '80s, there have been thousands of diets and systems marketed to help you loose weight. They all worked for someone, which is why they became popular. Here's the lowdown on what all these buzz words mean and how to figure out what's best for your body.

Keto, Macro, Low Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Low Fat, Clean Eating.....those are just a few of the current fads. 

What they have in common: you're required to eliminate one or more food groups, track intake, controversy. 

How they differ: which foods you avoid, to what degree, they don't all work for everyone.

Let's attack the first 2, the current trendiest ways to loose weight, Keto and Macros. First off, understand they are essentially the same thing. Macros, short for Macro Nutrients, is the process of tracking your intake of the 3 macro nutrients in our diet, Fat, Carbohydrates, and Protein. Everything you eat falls into one of these 3 categories. In the "Macro" system, you track your intake and try to keep it within set boundaries dictated by either percentage of total calories or actual grams. Keto is exactly this, also. Depending on which philosophy you follow, you are keeping your carb intake below a specified amount while increasing your fat and protein intake. You're still tracking the macros. 

Vegan and Vegetarian are more well known but can encompass a huge variety of boundaries. Refraining from meat or all animal products together can help you to be healthier, but if you're not careful, it can also leave you overweight and malnourished. Potato chips may be vegan, but they have lots of empty calories and few nutrients. Whole food, plant based diets are much safer and healthier. It's much easier to be healthy and loose weight eating whole foods and avoiding anything bagged, boxed or canned.

Clean Eating, what exactly is this one? Depends on who you ask. Some may define clean as nothing processed. Some may define it as grain-free. Be cautious of this one, as with the vegan option above, foods that will not benefit you may sneak through the "clean" filter.

So how do you decide what to do? Here are my suggestions, remember one of the things that all of these had in common, controversy. You can find a study, a book and likely an "expert" to refute anything you choose. See my blog about opinions. Take a look at what your activity level, lifestyle, body type and health history are. These are all major factors in deciding which way to eat. 

- If you are relatively sedentary, overweight by more than 50 lbs, pre-diabetic or prone to blood sugar issues, you may very much benefit from Keto or a very low carb diet. 

- If you are active, have or desire to have, good muscle tone, are healthy and have less than 50 lbs to loose, you need carbs. You need them to maintain muscle while you're training. You don't need them every meal and you probably eat 3-5 times the amount you should. You would probably benefit from a Macro plan focused on high protein and less carbs. 

- If you rarely cook your own meals, eat fast food multiple times per week, are overweight, inactive or slightly active, have high cholesterol or other health issues related to heart, liver, kidney function, you would benefit from eating a more "clean" diet and possibly looking at a whole food, plant-based diet.

These are just suggestions of directions to begin to look and of course, always talk to your doctor prior to making any major changes to your eating. I recommend finding a doctor who practices functional medicine, as they are less prone to writing you a prescription and more likely to help you find a lifestyle that will benefit you long term. I am passionate about you finding a lifestyle that you can, and want to, maintain forever. My nutrition coaching options are as varied as the people who use them. I'd love to help you figure out what works best for you. Whatever you choose, be educated about it, listen to your body and be consistent. Change will come!