Speaker: Rachel Anderson
Title: Fad Diets
Specific Purpose: My speech will inform the audience about the current fad diets in society, as
well as their benefits and disadvantages.
Introduction
I.
II.
III.
IV.
As the obesity epidemic in America grows, the market for diet books and plans grows
as well.
More and more diets are emerging, and before starting any diet, you must be
completely informed in order to choose the diet that is the healthiest and most
effective for you.
As a nutrition major, I’ve always been interested in healthy eating, and fad diets are
always a controversial topic in the health community.
Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of health, but not all diets are the same,
so it is important to have a complete understanding of a diet before you start it. Today
I am going to discuss some of today’s most popular diets. First I will discuss the
Paleo diet. Next, I will discuss the Mediterranean diet. Finally, I will discuss the
Atkins Diet.
(Let’s begin by discussing the Paleo Diet.)
Body
I.
The Paleo diet’s website says the diet is based on the understanding that the best
human diet is the one that we are best genetically adapted to.
A. This diet revolves around the idea of eating the same foods that cavemen ate.
1. It is rich in animal fats and whole foods, and processed foods are not
allowed.
2. It is low in carbs but high in fat and protein.
3. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and eggs are encouraged, while grains, dairy,
legumes, and sugar are not.
B. There are several medical benefits to the Paleo diet.
1. It is believed to prevent many chronic illnesses.
2. It also is completely natural and high in protein, which is good for
digestion.
C. There are, however, some disadvantages to the Paleo diet.
1. It is not an easy diet to follow because you must completely eliminate
grains and dairy, staples in most of our diets, and a lot of time must be
spent preparing meals.
2. The diet is also low in Vitamin D, but the vitamin can also be obtained
from sunlight.
(While the Paleo diet is based on a valid idea, it definitely has its downfalls.)
(The next diet I will discuss is the Mediterranean diet.)
II.
The Mediterranean diet is based on the lifestyle, eating patterns, and cooking
techniques of Mediterranean countries.
A. The Mediterranean diet is about an overall healthy lifestyle.
1. Like the Paleo diet, it emphasizes natural and unprocessed foods.
2. The Mediterranean diet encourages plenty of fruits, vegetables, oils,
legumes, whole grains, and fish, along with wine in moderation.
3. It also supports a healthy exercise plan.
B. This diet is supported by many health experts because of its many advantages.
1. The Mediterranean diet is easy to follow because there is no weighing or
measuring required and there is a variety of food involved.
2. It has also been shown to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
C. As with any diet, there are also cons.
1. Many people are not accustomed to the style of food required in the
Mediterranean diet, so they may struggle with the adjustment.
2. Also, since natural and fresh foods are encouraged, there may be a lot of
cooking involved.
3. Although dieters may lose up to 10 pounds in 5 weeks, the Mediterranean
diet was not originally designed for weight loss, so it may not work for
everyone.
(So, overall the Mediterranean diet is very healthy.)
(The final diet I will talk about today is called the Atkins diet.)
III.
According to WebMD, the Atkins diet is based on the theory that overweight people
are eating too many carbs.
A. The Atkins diet emphasizes a reduction of carbs and the addition of more
protein and fat.
1. Atkins allows you to eat rich foods such as red meat, eggs, cheese,
poultry, mayonnaise, and butter.
2. However, carbs are extremely limited. No refined sugar, milk, white rice,
or white flour is allowed.
3. After a two week period, fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat foods are
allowed.
B. A low-carb diet like Atkins definitely has its benefits.
1. Many men like this diet because it allows hearty foods in decent portion
sizes.
2. Following the Atkins diet has also been shown to improve dieters’
cholesterol.
3. As far as weight loss goes, Atkins is usually very successful.
C. Several serious health problems can occur because of Atkins, however.
1. By following Atkins, you may not get all the nutrients and vitamins
needed found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
2. Most Atkins dieters will experience halitosis (bad breath), constipation,
and occasionally, dehydration.
3. Also, sometimes low-carb diets can affect calcium levels.
(Before using Atkins, you should probably consider whether the health risks are worth the
weight loss.)
(We have now discussed three of the major diets in America today.)
Conclusion
I.
II.
III.
IV.
It is important to know as much as you can before starting any diet.
The Paleo diet is based on our ancestors’ diets, while the Mediterranean diet is based
on natural Mediterranean foods and the Atkins diet is based on reducing carbs.
As I said in my introduction, fad diets are always controversial because of their
various effects on the human body and their many pros and cons.
The next time you try to lose weight or decide to start eating better, make sure you are
well-informed and weigh the benefits and disadvantages before starting any diet.
References
Cordain, L. (2010-2010). About the Paleo Diet. The Paleo Diet. Retrieved on March 22, 2012
from http://thepaleodiet.com/about.
Dent, L. (2011, August 14). Paleo Diet Plan Review- Eat Like a Caveman and Get Fit!. Diet
Plan World. Retrieved on March 22, 2012 from http://www.dietplanworld.net/dietplans/paleo-diet-plan/#axzz1pnTb9lmX.
Med Diet Editorial Board. (2011, December 14). Get Started with the Mediterranean Diet.
Mediterranean Diet for All. Retrieved on March 22, 2012 from
http://www.mediterraneandietforall.com/.
My Lifestyle Diet Review Board. (2011). Mediterranean Diet Review. My Lifestyle Diet.
Retrieved on March 22, 2012 from http://www.mylifestylediet.com/Mediterranean-DietMenu.php.
Zelmen, K. (2012, February 1). Atkins Diet. WebMD. Retrieved on March 22, 2012 from
http://www.webmd.com/diet/atkins-diet-what-it-is?page=4.
Scott, J. (2009, March 30). Pros and Cons of the Atkins Diet. About. Retrieved on March 22,
2012 from http://weightloss.about.com/od/morediet1/qt/blatproscons.htm.