The year was all about eating healthy and working on one’s fitness. Dr Praveen Jha lists the trends in diet that were on people’s to-do list

The year 2020 changed several aspects of our life as the COVID-19 virus unleashed its wrath all over the world. One of the biggest considerations was what we eat, as the pandemic helped to re-focus our attention on the health risks associated with a poor, unhealthy diet. With people spending more time indoors, it was inevitable to cut down on bad eating habits and focus on a healthy diet to achieve optimal fitness. So, here we take a look at the diet trends that took the front seat in 2020.

The Ketogenic Diet

The keto diet emphasises proteins and fats and limits the intake of carbohydrates so that the body burns fats rather than carbohydrates. Similar to other low-carb diet trends like the Atkins diet, the keto diet necessitates maintaining a ratio of 4:1 by weight of fat to combined protein and carbohydrates. This type of diet excludes high-carb foods like sugars, grain, pasta and bread along with starchy vegetables and fruits. Instead, it focuses on increasing consumption of dairy and nuts which are healthy fats.

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting can be considered as a nutritional regime rather than a conventional diet system. However, it is presently the most popular fitness and health trend in the world. People around the globe are accepting it as a part of their lifestyle to improve their health and lose weight. It is basically a fasting pattern that observes certain periods of eating and fasting. The most widely adopted is the 16:8 method where a person can eat for 8 hours and the remaining 16 hours is the fasting period. Such a nutritional regime can help reduce inflammation, body weight and also reduces cholesterol levels.

The Paleo Diet

Paleo diet is also known by the name ‘Caveman Diet’ focuses on consuming foods similar to a manner consumed by primitive people in the Paleolithic era. In practise, a paleo diet refrains from processed foods that can cause serious health issues like diabetes, heart problems and obesity. The diet advises people to stick to locally sourced products like fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds that result in a diet with high fibre and protein. The diet also recommends to stay away from wheat products, dairy, legumes, potatoes along with salt and sugar.

Vegan Diet

Veganism is a way of living that aims to exclude every form of animal cruelty and exploitation, be it for food or any other purpose. As a result, people adhering to a vegan diet avoid all types of products that are derived from animals like eggs, dairy products and meat, but consume all types of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes and grains. People who stick to a vegan diet tend to be thinner with lower Body Mass Index. Several studies have shown that vegans benefit from a lower risk of Diabetes.

When it comes to diet, it is important to understand that no “one cap suits all”. Every individual has different dietary requirements, which is why it is always a good idea to make an educated decision by researching, learning about the different diet types and taking the help of a professional if required.

The writer is DM Gastroenterology, Regency Superspeciality Hospital