The Hottest Diets Trending This Year #healthy2020 #loseweight #populardiets

As part of my ongoing Healthy 2020 series, today's article is focusing on the hottest weight loss diets trending this year. When people want to drop weight, chances are good they're following one of these eating plans. The Weekend Gourmet's correspondent is spotlighting five popular weight loss diets. This article may contain affiliate links.

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Plenty of people try out different diets from time to time in an attempt to lead a healthier lifestyle. The problem is, there are so many diets to choose from that it’s often difficult to know which diet is right for you. The best approach is to find a healthy eating regime that works with both your food preferences and long-term health goals. Here are some of the most popular diets that have been trending this year. 
Carnivore

The carnivore diet at its strictest is protein-based, allowing only meat, fish, and poultry. This diet originates from the idea that humans used to be carnivores, so why not eat that way now? Perhaps all modern-day diseases are linked to eating carbs, sugars, and processed foods. The carnivore diet is a way of going back to nature -- similar to the paleo diet, which only includes foods that could be acquired via hunting and gathering (i.e., before farming). Cutting out carbs in this way often helps maximize weight loss. 
Keto

Its full name is the ketogenic diet, and it’s a little less strict than the carnivore diet. Keto permits dieters to eat vegetables and fats in addition to protein. Again, it’s all about cutting out carbs and sugars. If you follow the keto diet properly, the theory is that your body will become better at burning fat -- instead of carbohydrates -- as energy. Keto has also been linked to improving brain function. The main negative associated with the keto diet is that you lose out on some key vitamins available from eating fruits and “good” carbs.

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Flexitarian

The flexitarian diet is actually what it sounds like, flexible vegetarianism. The idea is that you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet the majority of the time. Then, occasionally you’re allowed to add in some meat or animal products. For example: this approach gives vegetarians and vegans the flexibility to eat meat when dining at other people’s houses while mostly gaining all the health benefits of a plant-based diet. 
Raw Food

The raw food movement is based on eating soley a raw food diet. The diet is pretty restrictive -- based on evidence that the more processed a food is, the more unhealthy it is for you. The idea behind this diet is that some foods lose nutritional value during the cooking and storing processes. One major drawback of the raw food diet is that it’s quite a difficult to stick to long term. 
Intermittent Fasting

The intermittent fasting movement has become a very popular trend. Fasting is not uncommon for spiritual reasons, and now many people are trying to restrict times when they do and don’t eat. Intermittent fasting can be fit into any lifestyle -- if you plan ahead. Many people begin intermittent fasting by fasting overnight for 12 hours, then gradually increasing this period over time. The key to success on this plan is finding a healthy balance that's right for you. Skipping meals might aid weight loss, but it can also have a detrimental effect on your overall health. 
With all diets, success likely depends on which plan best suits your personal lifestyle. It’s definitely not a good idea to feel like you’re overly depriving yourself, because it’ll be much harder to stay motivated long term. Make sure you always speak to a nutritionist or doctor before you start any weight loss plan. These health professionals will be able to give you experienced, professional health advice.