Losing weight requires a change in lifestyle that includes a restriction on the number of calories consumed and increasing physical activity. This often turn to diet plans too far from our food habits. The Mediterranean diet is the food that kept for several centuries the peoples of the Mediterranean seashore.

The Mediterranean diet is not uniform because there are several countries who enjoy it, giving each their peculiarities. But yes there are a number of characteristics common to all which can be summarized in a moderate intake of fat, olive oil as the main source of fat, high consumption of foods high in fiber (vegetables, fruits, vegetables ), fish and poultry as an important source of protein. As this is an eating pattern characteristic of our environment, one may ask: Eating a Mediterranean diet is a good strategy to lose weight?

Dr. Shai and colleagues have addressed this issue. This compared the evolution of body weight in three groups of patients. One, following a Mediterranean diet, another a diet low in carbohydrates (like the popular Atkins diet), and the other group a diet based on restricting the number of calories from fat. All followed the same type of diet for 24 months. Patients lost weight with the three types of diet. However, weight loss was greater with the Mediterranean diet and the low-carbohydrate versus low fat diet. Furthermore, those who formed the treatment group followed a Mediterranean diet better diet than those assigned to a diet low in carbohydrates.

Two years later, the weight loss was approximately 4.5 kg in the two most effective types of diet. One might think that this is little, however, has shown that weight loss of this magnitude can decrease the frequency of diseases like diabetes are type 2 and hypertension in people who do not suffer.

Ultimately, losing weight is essential for reducing the consumption of calories. You do not need to rely on types of diets that are far from our usual eating pattern. Small changes sustained over time are the best choice for anyone looking to lose weight.

The British site of the magazine and Web MarieClaire.co.uk specializing in health issues, YourTotalHealt.iVillage.com published a series of tips released by celebrities such as Carmen Electra, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston, who claim not to lose “line” during the last month of the year.

The American actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, who won an award “Oscar” for the film “Shakespeare in Love” in the year 1998, admitted carrying out the so-called macrobiotic diet. This diet was created by the Japanese George Oshawa, Japan philosopher who bases his knowledge on the balance between man and nature.

Foods such as cooked grains (rice, oats, maize), vegetables (soup, fresh or uncooked) and vegetables are essential for macrobiotics. Sometimes it is permitted, as only meat, fish and should be done under guidance of a professional to avoid compensation. It provides large amounts of fiber to the body.

Carmen Electra, who has confessed to repeatedly as “addicted to pizza and other foods high in fat, found that to keep fit makes the so-called Mediterranean Diet.” According to the newspaper Abc.es, this type of food is based on eating balanced and includes chicken, rice, bananas and garlic. It takes the advice of a nutritionist.

Another commonly used dietary regimens for celebrities is to call The Zone. The diet has been made by people like Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Sandra Bullock, Courtney Love, Cindy Crawford, Marlee Matlin, Kristin Davis and Brad Pitt. It is based on finding a balance between the proteins (30%), carbohydrates (40%) and unsaturated fats (30%), in each of the five meals a day to be accomplished.

The so-called “Zone Diet” was suggested by the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1982, Barry Sears, who devised for people diagnosed with heart disease and heart problems. Its goal is to lose weight permanently, prevent illness and achieve maximum physical level, reducing sugars, breads and starches.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Geri Halliwell were in favor of the “Atkins Diet“. Specialist Robert Atkins was the one who designed it in the early sixties and is based on reducing carbohydrates allows protein intake and fat.

Some specialists have expressed against this diet because they cause a decompensation in the body, however, some people claimed to be healthy and not think of any risk to do it.