About 44% of all people in North America say that they’re trying to lose weight. When asked “why?” the number one response is to improve their health and wellbeing.

It’s a worthwhile endeavor if you can find the right diet to help you meet your fitness goals. If you pick one that’s too difficult for you to maintain, you won’t stick with it.

There are many types of weight loss programs out there, and not all of them are right for everyone. The fact that the paleo diet cuts out whole grains might be a hard pass for you. The vegan diet removes all animal products from the equation.

These are only a few diets that you’ll spot when you’re doing your research on the best weight loss programs. Check out this guide to learn more.

Paleo Diet

The paleo diet will take you back to your roots. You’ll eat the same way your ancestors did. It cuts out grains, processed foods, sugar, and dairy in favor of lean protein, nuts, fruit, and seeds.

If that seems a bit too strict for you, there are versions of the diet that will allow for some dairy. Either way, you’ll be taking in way fewer carbs than normal.

Not only will you lose weight, but the paleo diet will keep you in optimal health. It will reduce your chance of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. It will also keep your blood sugar under control and reduce cholesterol.

The downside is that the Paleo diet eliminates many foods that some would deem healthy, such as legumes.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is called this because it leans heavily on what people from Italy and Greece consume on a normal basis. Your meals will mostly contain veggies, fish, nuts, lentils, olive oil, and whole grains.

The Mediterranean diet eliminates processed foods, trans-fats, processed meats, and refined grains.

This diet is thought to increase a person’s life expectancy as well as help them lose weight. It can also reduce stress and symptoms of depression.

Keep in mind that the Mediterranean diet doesn’t have a large emphasis on dairy products. You’ll have to make sure you’re getting your calcium and vitamin D from other sources.

Vegan Diet

The vegan diet cuts out all animal products. You can’t have meat, dairy, whey, honey, or gelatin. There are many deer antler velvet benefits that you won’t get to take advantage of if you’re on this diet.

On the plus side, it is pretty effective at helping people lose weight. While some diets require you to count calories, vegans don’t have to be as strict about it.

Plant-based diets such as this one are great for fighting heart disease. It can also reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Sticking to a vegan diet will make it harder for you to get many nutrients that your body needs to function like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and calcium. It’s not recommended to start this diet without talking to an experienced nutritionist first.

DASH Diet

The main purpose of the DASH diet is to keep high blood pressure away. Even though it’s not necessarily designed to help you lose weight, it will help you shed a few pounds.

On this diet, you’ll need to get in 5 servings of veggies, 5 servings of fruit, two servings of low-fat dairy, two servings of lean meats, and seven servings of healthy carbs.

On top of helping you lose weight and reducing your chance of developing heart disease, this diet can also prevent certain cancers and ease depression symptoms.

On the downside, being on a low-sodium diet isn’t right for everyone. By eating too little salt, you increase your chance of developing insulin resistance.

It’s better for individuals who want to keep hypertension at bay while losing a bit of weight along the way.

Low-Carb Diet

Low-carb diets are a bit self-explanatory. You’ll reduce your intake of carbohydrates to force your body to burn fat for energy instead of carbs.

You’ll eat large amounts of protein and fat. You’ll stay fuller longer, which means you’ll eat less.

Some people feel amazing once they switch to a low-carb diet and it makes others feel sick. It can also cause an uptick in bad cholesterol throughout your body.

Some people develop a condition known as nondiabetic ketoacidosis. It’s rare, but it can be fatal.

MIND Diet

If you’re looking for a diet that’s not as strict as the ones mentioned so far, the MIND diet is for you. Instead of having a specific meal plan that you have to follow, it focuses on eating 10 types of food that are good for your mental and physical health.

During the week, you’ll need to get in ten servings of leafy veggies, 5 servings of nuts, and one serving of a non-starchy vegetable. You can eat fish, poultry, olive oil, beans, fish, and berries throughout your week as well.

The MIND diet can stop you from developing Alzheimer’s. You’ll lose weight because you’re not eating any sweets, red meats, fried food, cheese, or butter.

Understanding the Different Types of Weight Loss Programs

As you can see, there are many different types of weight loss programs that you can choose from. One of the struggles of losing weight is choosing one that you can see yourself sticking to.

If you pick a program that’s too strict for you, you’ll end up giving up on your fitness journey before you even begin.

For more tips that will help you reach your weight loss goals, visit the Health and Fitness section of our blog.