Four popular weight loss programs that you need to know

There are a number of weight loss diets suggested by dieticians. Some of the diets or weight loss programs focus on restricting calories, fats, and carbs while others involve consuming weight loss shakes and pills for faster result. Since most of them claim to be the best diets, it can be a bit overwhelming to realize which one is worth trying.

• The Vegan Diet : The vegan way of life includes a diet that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty for dietary means. Veganism is the strictest form of vegetarianism. Although not initiated with the intention of weight loss, this form of diet excludes consumption of all forms of animal-derived products, which assists in weight loss. Animal products such as gelatin, albumin, honey, whey, and casein among many others are excluded from a vegan diet.

This weight loss program is effective for people who want to lose weight without counting calories. It is a low-fat, high fiber diet that makes people feel full for longer. Since it is a plant-based diet, it has often been linked to reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

• Low carb diets : This type of diet involves limiting carbohydrate intake to 20-150 grams per day. A low carb diet allows a person to eat an unlimited amount of proteins and fat while severely curbing carbohydrates. Since the carbohydrate intake in these diets is very low, the body moves fatty acids into the bloodstream and eventually to the liver. These fatty acids are then turned into ketones which are excreted from the body with the urine.

Low carb diets are also called ketogenic diets and are usually advised to people with a weak liver. They are also a good option to lose belly fat.

• Ultra low-fat diet: Being one of the toughest diets to follow, the ultra low-fat diet restricts fat consumption to under 10% of consumed calories. The diet is mostly plant-based and allows limited or no intake of animal products. Surprisingly, a high-carb low-fat diet can also lead to significant improvement in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it can also slow down the progression of multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease affecting the optic nerves, spinal cord, and brain.
• The HCG diet: An extreme weight loss program, the HCG diet claims to cause fat loss of up to 1-2 lbs per day. This diet modifies HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone secretion in the body. There are three phases of this diet. The first phase is when the person starts consuming HCG supplements. The second phase involves an ultra-low-calorie diet, which allows the person to consume only 500 calories a day along with the supplements. The third phase is when one stops consuming HCG and increases their food intake gradually.

The downside of using this weight loss program is that a person might experience muscle loss, resulting in a reduced ability to burn calories.