Which Diets are Trending in 2018?

13th January 2018

In 2015, the rate of obesity in the UK was worrying – it was reported that 58% of women and 68% of men living in the UK were obese or overweight. However, other figures also revealed that two thirds of the British public admit that they are on a diet all or ‘most of the time’, and 48% of them have lost weight in the same year. As January approaches, weight loss and healthy eating are very common new year’s resolutions across the UK. According to The Telegraph, 33% of resolution makers want to lose weight, and 32% want to eat more healthily. With this in mind, MaxiMuscle investigate what the biggest diet trends could be in 2018.

Veganism

2018 looks set to be another year of veganism. In 2016, the number of vegans living in the UK increased by 360% when compared to the previous ten years, and figures from 2017’s Veganuary campaign suggest that the increase is likely to have continued in 2017, and will continue into 2018. In January 2017, over 60,000 people officially signed up to take part in Veganuary which showed a progressive 260% growth on figures from 2016 – and figures from 2018 reveal that the campaign has exceeded 150,000 participants. Whilst the campaign only lasts for the month of January each year, it aims to encourage people to alter their diets as a long-term lifestyle change and live by a predominantly plant-based diet.

Those who live by a vegan diet generally consume more fibre and vitamin C, and less saturated fat than a diet that contains meat. The health benefits are big motivators for those who want to adopt, or trial, a vegan diet during January. In 2017, of the official participants that signed up for Veganuary, 19,206 of them said they signed up for health reasons.

The Paleo Diet

Some people know the Paleo Diet as the caveman diet as it predominantly consists of foods that can be hunted such as meat and seafood, and foods that can be gathered such as plant-based foods. Cereal grains and processed foods are strictly off the menu. The Paleo diet claims it is a lifestyle that consists of a small portion of meat, with lots of vegetables, fruits and some nuts. This diet is more of a long-term eating plan that helps to lose weight and can reduce the risk of diabetes.

On the bulk

Bulking is a nutritional process carried out by fitness enthusiasts when they want to add on muscle and significant size. Terms such as cutting season, off season and bulking were recognised throughout the fitness industry. Bulking in particular is a diet that requires an intake of excess calories to provide your body with additional energy and protein to build muscle. When in bulk season, someone is purposely providing their body with a calorie surplus.

As with most nutritional diets, and similarly to a cutting diet, a bulking diet will still consist of the three main macronutrients of carbohydrates, lean protein and essential fats, but the quantity is likely to be higher to ensure they consume enough calories. Protein powder is often consumed before and/or after workouts too, sometimes in the form of a protein shake for additional calorie intake and a protein boost. They can also be taken as a snack or meal replacement in some cases.

Counting your calories is key! The key to bulking is keeping count of your calorie intake. However, in an article by the Huffington Post, it was revealed that 33% of women don’t know how many calories they consume on a daily basis, whilst 42% of men said the same. Bulking requires commitment and careful calorie counting, alongside a strict workout routine.

Free-from Diets: allergies

Some free-from diets are followed not by choice – allergies mean that many individuals have to follow a particular diet to remain healthy. However, these diets have also become popular amongst people who don’t suffer from the allergies – gluten-free diets and dairy-free diets, are becoming incredibly popular across the UK and on a global scale. Many people live by a gluten-free diet for health reasons, because they suffer from Coeliac disease. The disease affects 1 in 100 people in the UK and Europe but it is suggested that only 24% of people with the condition have been clinically diagnosed. There is also 65% of the UK public who have a reduced ability to digest lactose. But it is not just sufferers who live a free-from diet. In the first month of 2017 alone, 54% of households also bought ‘free-from’ products, too.

Other benefits of a gluten-free diet include benefits for sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as well as Coeliac sufferers — and a dairy-free diet can prevent bloating, lead to clearer skin, improve digestion, and prevent oxidative stress, to name just a few benefits. Weight loss is also a possibility with a transition towards a dairy-free diet.

5:2 Diet

When following the 5:2 diet, you are committing to intermittent fasting – this means you split your diet between eating at certain times and then fasting during other times. The 5:2 refers to five days of eating and two days of fasting. The NHS reports that some followers of the diet claim it can improve lifespan and brain function whilst protecting against particular health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, scientific evidence about the effectiveness of the diet is limited — but the NHS reports that there is some evidence to suggest the diet may lower the risk of certain obesity-related cancers, such as breast cancer.

People consider the 5:2 diet to be achievable and realistic – fasting for just two days, rather than seven days a week, is achievable. This way you could help reduce body fat and insulin resistance. However, be aware that fasting too much and skipping meals can cause dizziness and headaches.

Should a diet be a temporary fix?

Unfortunately, when people want to lose weight, they extreme diet as a temporary fix to see quick results, and then fall back into old habits after seeing the results. Many people switch between different and new diet trends, revert back to old habits or simply give up. However, the most effective and safest way to diet is to change your lifestyle for the better instead of yo-yo dieting. Find something that works, that you enjoy and stick with it to ensure you maintain a healthy balance.

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/common-new-years-resolutions-stick/
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/03/10/majority-brits-are-on-a-diet-most-of-the-time_n_9426086.html
https://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB23742
http://www.therivergroup.co.uk/what-we-think/food-and-drink-trends-2017-2018-analysis-and-predictions-so-far/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/number-of-vegans-in-britain-rises-by-360-in-10-years/
http://polytunnelvegan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/veganuary-statistics.html
https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/top-10-most-popular-diets-review.aspx#52
https://thepaleodiet.com/debunking-the-biggest-myths-about-the-paleo-diet/
https://www.godairyfree.org/news/dairy-free-benefits
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance#
http://www.veganfoodandliving.com/veganuary-2018-record-breaking-year-over-150000-people-taking-part/

This is a collaborative post.

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