Unprocessed Food Diets

Diets.

Most of us have tried one or two in our lifetimes, not necessarily having our health in mind.

Usually, society twists our hands to look a certain part so we resort to a quick weight loss plan that is supposed to magically thin our waistline, shrink our thighs, and lower our weight.

I’ve done some research on the crazy diets people have been doing over the decades and have found some that sound too good not to share.

Did you know there is a Werewolf Diet?

Seriously.

Along with the Baby Food Diet (you eat baby food for some of your meals), Grapefruit Diet (grapefruit with every meal), and Breatharian Diet (the only thing you need to survive are sun rays), to name the craziest.

But this is a serious article and we need to finish the series we started a month ago, finishing strong with unprocessed food diets.

Let’s recap. I’ve gone on a quest to find the most popular fad diets trending, and divided them into 4 categories:

Diets claiming to have fasting in them
Low-carb diets,
Plant-based diets
Unprocessed food diets

You can read about fasting diets (the most popular being Intermittent fasting and 5:2 Diet).

The low-carb diets, where I dove deep into the Keto diet, Atkins diet, Gluten-free diet, and South Beach diet.

And I dive deep into the plant-based diets – Paleo Diet, Mediterranean Diet, and Flexitarian Diet.

All the articles include the following criteria:

The characteristics of each diet
It’s benefits
Difficulties keeping up with it
It’s sustainability over a longer period
Comparison to the Breuss long-term fast

Now all we are left with is the last category – the unprocessed food diet.

In this article we’ll take a look at the unprocessed food diets, what they have in common, where they differ, and if they can be long-term sustainable.

The most popular unprocessed food diets are:

Zone Diet
Raw Food Diet
Weight Watchers Diet
Alkaline Diet
Whole30 Diet

Let’s dive in.

Zone Diet

An interesting fact:

The Zone Diet was originally developed by Dr. Barry Sears, a biochemist, as a nutrition strategy to enhance athletic performance. It gained popularity among athletes seeking improved energy levels, recovery, and body composition

Characteristics:

The Zone Diet focuses on a specific ratio of macronutrients, aiming for 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat
Each meal is balanced with one-third protein, two-thirds carbohydrates, and a small amount of monounsaturated fat, emphasizing the consumption of nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats
The diet revolves around the concept of achieving a metabolic state called the “Zone,” where hormonal balance is optimized

Benefits:

The balance of macronutrients is believed to optimize hormonal responses and promote weight loss
One of the key principles is to control inflammation by maintaining a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
It aims to stabilize blood sugar levels by consuming low-glycemic carbohydrates, which are slowly digested and absorbed, leading to sustained energy levels and reduced cravings
In addition to macronutrient balance, the Zone Diet recommends spacing meals and snacks evenly throughout the day to maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent energy crashes

Difficulties:

The Zone Diet requires meticulous portion control and calculation of macronutrient ratios, which can be complex and time-consuming. Measuring food portions and calculating the precise ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and fats in each meal may pose difficulties, especially for those with a busy lifestyle
It restricts certain foods, particularly high-carbohydrate foods like grains and starchy vegetables, which may be challenging for individuals accustomed to a more varied diet.
Depending on food choices, followers of the Zone Diet may be at risk of nutrient deficiencies if practicing for a longer period, particularly if they do not consume a wide variety of foods.

To learn more about the Zone diet, this article is a good place to start.

Raw Food Diet

An interesting fact:

The Raw Food Diet encompasses various approaches, including raw veganism, raw vegetarianism, and even some forms of raw omnivorous diets. While raw veganism is the most common, some practitioners incorporate raw animal products like raw fish or unpasteurized dairy.

Characteristics:

The raw food diet primarily consists of uncooked, unprocessed, and mostly plant-based foods, emphasizing whole, natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains
Raw foods are typically rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants due to minimal processing

Benefits:

Advocates believe that raw foods retain more enzymes, which they argue are beneficial for digestion and overall health
Many people adopt a raw food diet for weight loss, as it often leads to reduced calorie intake and increased consumption of nutrient-dense foods
It may offer benefits such as improved digestion, increased energy levels, and clearer skin

Difficulties:

Proper food handling and preparation are crucial to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with raw foods
While raw fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients, a strict Raw Food Diet may lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Proper planning is essential to ensure adequate intake of these nutrients
While consuming crunchy fruits and vegetables can stimulate saliva production and promote oral hygiene, their high acidity and sugar content may increase the risk of tooth erosion and decay if consumed excessively
Long-term sustainability may be challenging due to potential nutrient deficiencies and social limitations, as it requires strict adherence to raw foods

To learn more about the Raw Food diet, this article is a good place to start.

Weight Watchers Diet

An interesting fact:

Weight Watchers was founded in 1963 by Jean Nidetch, a homemaker from Queens, New York. It began as a support group for women who wanted to lose weight. Since then, it has evolved into one of the most popular weight loss programs globally.

Characteristics:

Weight Watchers employs a unique SmartPoints system, which assigns a point value to foods based on their nutritional content guiding towards lower-point foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins

Benefits:

Allows flexibility in food choices, enabling individuals to enjoy a variety of foods while still achieving weight loss goals
Focuses on teaching lifelong healthy habits and skills, such as portion control and mindful eating, for sustained weight management
Emphasizes lifestyle changes rather than short-term dieting, promoting sustainable habits for long-term weight management
Designed to support long-term, sustainable weight loss and maintenance, promoting a healthy lifestyle for the future

Difficulties:

Participation in the Weight Watchers program typically requires a subscription fee, which can be a financial burden for some individuals, especially if they are on a tight budget.
While the Weight Watchers program can be effective for weight loss and promoting healthier eating habits in the short term, some individuals may struggle to maintain the program’s principles over the long term. The need to constantly track points for every meal and snack and adhere to strict guidelines may become exhausting or unsustainable for some people, leading to potential relapse into old eating habits and potential disengagement from the program.

To learn more about the Weight Watchers diet, this article is a good place to start.

Alkaline Diet

An interesting fact:

The concept of the Alkaline Diet originates from the belief that certain foods can affect the body’s pH level, leading to better health. It gained popularity in the early 20th century but was further popularized in 2010 by the book “The pH Miracle,” written by Robert O. Young.

Characteristics:

The Alkaline diet focuses on consuming foods that promote a more alkaline pH level in the body, aiming to maintain a pH balance conducive to overall health
It emphasizes the intake of alkaline-forming foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, which are believed to have an alkalizing effect on the body, and advocates for reducing the consumption of acidic foods like meat, dairy, refined grains, and processed foods, which are thought to contribute to acidity in the body

Benefits:

It claims to support bone health by reducing the acidity that may lead to calcium leaching from bones, although scientific evidence is limited in this regard
It suggests that alkaline-forming foods may help preserve muscle mass by reducing the risk of muscle wasting associated with acidic conditions in the body
Some proponents claim that an alkaline diet may aid in weight loss by reducing inflammation and promoting detoxification, although more research is needed
It is believed to improve digestive health by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and reducing the risk of gastrointestinal issues

Difficulties:

While the diet promotes the consumption of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, it has been criticized for being overly restrictive and lacking scientific evidence. Skeptics argue that the body has robust mechanisms for regulating pH levels and that diet-induced changes are minimal
It may be challenging to sustain it long-term due to the restrictive nature of eliminating certain acidic foods and the lack of robust scientific evidence supporting its efficacy

To learn more about the Alkaline diet, this article is a good place to start.

Whole30 Diet

An interesting fact:

The Whole30 program is designed to reset eating habits by eliminating potentially inflammatory foods for 30 days. It has a strong online community that provides support, resources, and recipes for participants. This sense of community can enhance motivation, accountability, and success throughout the 30-day journey.

Characteristics:

The Whole30 program is designed to reset eating habits by eliminating potentially inflammatory foods for 30 days. It focuses on whole, unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, nuts, and seeds to help identify food sensitivities and promote a healthier relationship with food
It involves strict guidelines, including avoiding sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods for 30 days, and doesn’t permit cheat days or cheat meals during the 30-day period to maximize results

Benefits:

In addition to weight loss, the Whole30 program emphasizes non-scale victories such as improved energy levels, better sleep, clearer skin, and reduced cravings. These benefits contribute to the overall goal of improving well-being
The Whole30 program has a strong online community that provides support, resources, and recipes for participants. This sense of community can enhance motivation, accountability, and success throughout the 30-day journey

Difficulties:

It is intended to be a short-term reset rather than a long-term dietary plan, making it potentially challenging to sustain indefinitely
Requires discipline and commitment to adhere to the strict guidelines for the entire 30-day duration

To learn more about the Whole30 diet, this article is a good place to start.

Comparison of the Unprocessed food diets to the Breuss long-term fast.

When comparing the diets in previous articles, there were no common points regarding the process except with Intermittent fasting.

As in previous posts, the unprocessed food diets are based on omitting certain foods in this case highly processed foods, whereas in long-term fasting you don’t ingest any solid food for 3-6 weeks.

All these diets emphasize the consumption of whole, unprocessed foods, hence unprocessed food diets.

Whether it’s lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, or healthy fats, the diets encourage choosing natural, minimally processed options over highly processed and refined foods.

I can’t argue that this kind of eating is better for your health, however, it cannot be compared with the benefits of long-term fasting.

The health benefits of long-term fasting are drastically superior in every aspect. The weight loss, cleansing the body of toxins, and difficulty of managing without food for so long.

I’ve written extensively about the benefits of long-term fasting. You can start with this article if you want to know more.

However, disregarding the process, we can draw a comparison between unprocessed food diets and long-term fasting in two main points: the benefits and sustainability.

Benefits:

Each unprocessed food diet promotes foods that are rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. By prioritizing nutrient-dense foods, these diets aim to support overall health and well-being. The health aspect is also the main goal of long-term fasting. drinking only vegetable juice provides the body with all the necessary ingredients to thrive and help remove the toxins that have accumulated over the years.
Hydration is a common emphasis across these unprocessed food diets. They often recommend drinking plenty of water throughout the day to support digestion, metabolism, and overall health. With long-term fasting tea consumption is even more important than vegetable juice, since teas help heal the body and process the toxins faster, all the while protecting the organs like our kidneys to work in overdrive.
Portion control is a key aspect of these unprocessed food diets, albeit approached differently. Whether it’s through portion-controlled meals (Weight Watchers), balanced macronutrient ratios (Zone), or avoiding overeating (Whole30), these diets promote mindful eating habits to manage calorie intake effectively. This is where long-term fasting is different. There is no portion control since you don’t ingest any food in 3-6 weeks.
While some unprocessed food diets differ in their approach to animal products, they all emphasize the importance of incorporating plant-based foods. Whether it’s through raw fruits and vegetables (Raw Food Diet), alkaline-forming plant foods (Alkaline Diet), or simply including a variety of fruits and vegetables (Weight Watchers, Zone, Whole30), plant-based foods play a significant role in these unprocessed food dietary patterns. As in the unprocessed food diets, long-term fasting is also based on vegetables (beetroot, carrots, rout celery, and black radish), you only ingest the freshly squeezed juice from the vegetables.

Sustainability

While each unprocessed food diet offers unique approaches to nutrition and health, sustainability varies depending on individual preferences, lifestyle factors, and the flexibility of the unprocessed food diet’s guidelines.

This restrictive nature of unprocessed food diets may make it difficult for some individuals to sustain them long-term.

Long-term fasting (even if the name of it suggests it) is not long-term sustainable. There is a period of 3 to a maximum of 6 weeks that you can long-term fast.

The six-week period helps rid the body of difficult diseases such as cancer, tumors, and in my case infertility. You can read about my journey in this article.

Once you decide to fast and make it through your fasting period you cannot attempt it again for at least a year. This is mandatory to give your body a chance to recover from the hard work it has done.

The conclusion

I won’t lie. I’ve had my fair share of diets in my life.

I even tried one of the unprocessed food diets above – the raw food diet.

I did everything from eating raw nuts and plants to ‘baking’ bread – drying the mixed ingredients in the sun.

It’s incredible the things we do to stick to a certain diet promising weight loss.

However, as expected nothing worked.

Why?

Because I couldn’t stick to it.

It was too difficult to follow. Also, I was hungry all the time. It’s such a shock to the body, going from a diet of mainly highly processed foods to a diet of unprocessed food overnight.

I couldn’t do it. I was focusing on a fruit and vegetable diet and my body didn’t get enough ‘food’ to feel full so I gave up after about two weeks.

What did I learn from a month of researching diets?

There is a lesson in everything we do if we decide to look for it.

I found that I like fruit, I’ve discovered so many different ways to prepare it.

My taste buds were also getting used to the taste of different vegetables and I’ve incorporated more of it in my diet.

Every diet I’ve tried has left me with new knowledge and practices I use to this day.

But as I wrote in all of the conclusions.

I believe that a healthy moderate diet including all of the food groups is essential for a healthy way of living.

And I know by now I can always reset my body and the cravings with a period of 3-week fasting to get back on track if needed.

This was the last of the four articles, taking a closer look at different types of diets.

I hope it was useful and that you now have new knowledge about what popular diets are available at this time.

But as always I urge you to consider all the options, pros, and cons if deciding to try one.

And above all, discover what your body responds to the best and do more of that.

Until next time, try out a new vegetable recipe,

Ann