The year 2018 saw a sudden rise in people who researched and followed a host of diets suited to their body goals. Although most of the diets have been around for a while, this year saw the most number of people conforming to it with gusto and sticking to their guts.

Here, we present you with a peek at all the diets that made 2018, the year of the diet tsunami:

Keto or Ketogenic

The keto diet is very low in carbohydrates (under 50 grams per day — the equivalent of 2 slices of bread and a banana) and very high in fat. Eating this way aims to send the body into a state of ketosis, which means your body is using fat and its by-products (ketones) as its primary source of fuel.

Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet is based on the largely peasant-style diet eaten in traditional areas of Italy, Greece, Spain and Morocco. It includes eating more fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts, using olive oil for cooking and dressing foods, eating fermented dairy like yoghurt, lowering the amount of meat you eat and upping your fish intake. This makes it one of the healthiest diets to follow. It is said to help one live longer, and ward off many lifestyle diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Paleolithic or Paleo

The Paleo diet claims to be based on eating principles from the Palaeolithic period (approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago), where primary food sources were vegetables, fruit, nuts and meat. It is high protein, high fat and low in carbohydrates, recommending an increase in meat consumption and removal of dairy foods, legumes and whole grains. Doesn’t really sound ideal, right?

Vegetarian/vegan

Once a fringe diet, being vegetarian is now mainstream and hugely popular, especially because of its benefits to the environment and your body. Following a vegetarian diet has been linked to  including more energy, a better complexion, a healthier weight and a reduced risk of chronic disease like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer.

Also on the rise is the vegan diet (vegetarian minus eggs and dairy) with many high profile sports people and celebrities adopting the lifestyle change, including Ellen DeGeneres, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth.

Low carb

A very popular diet fad in the last decade, think GM or Atkins, this diet has had people running away from carbs! This diet tends to focus on a high intake of meat and completely omits or limits carbohydrates, including whole grains, breads, legumes and fruits.

This diet is popular because of quick weight loss results. This is achieved because people cut out highly refined, high-sugar carbs like soft drinks, lollies, biscuits, and chips – a great idea for anyone looking to lose weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle. However, they also cut out good carbs like whole grains and those found in some fruit and veggies.

Now that you have a fair idea about the kinds of diets that took 2018 by storm, we wonder what 2019 is likely to bring with respect to new eating ideas and habits. Do you have an inkling? Comment and let us know!