7.The Zone
This diet, created by Barry Sears, PhD, relies on some pretty serious math: Every meal must be comprised of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs. Whittingham says the balance of nutrients and focus on lean proteins and monounsaturated fats is a good idea, but the diet’s claims that it will burn fat by lowering inflammation are not backed by research. Plus, all that measuring and calculating can put you in the annoyed zone.
8.Paleo Diet
This diet includes only foods our ancestors could have hunted or gathered during the paleolithic era (i.e., before Starbucks). This means meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and seeds, but no dairy, grains, or legumes. “There are some good things about this diet – it restricts processed food, soft drinks, trans fats, and artificial sweeteners,” Whittingham says. “But by eliminating certain foods, it can put you at risk for calcium and vitamin D deficiencies.” Considering the lifespan of a paleo man was just 35 years, we’ll pass.
