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Home » Diet » The ‘Therapeutic’ Diet That’s Turning Heads – LifeZette

Spring is in the air, and so are new diet plans. Everyone wants that certain body type or to get rid of a few extra pounds before its time to pull out that summer wardrobe, and there are hundreds of diets out there promising results.

Most focus on weight loss, but weight loss alone isnt always an indicator of health. And diets that call for extreme eating changes arent always healthy or palatable long-term. You may be able to eat only cabbage soup for a week, but not for the rest of your life!

Related: 10 Seriously Selfish Reasons to Be Vegan

And often the fast weight loss these diets promise is gained back just as quickly, a phenomenon thats well-documented andmay be the result of diets that are too restrictive.

It might be time for something new on the diet scene. U.S. News and World Report has released its diet rankings for 2017, and a diet youve never heard of has taken the fourthslot in the overall rankings, is thirdin heart-healthy diets, and ranks 18thin weight loss. Its called the TLC diet, and its initials stand for Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes. It doesnt sound trendy, and thats because its not.

Though weight loss is often a byproduct of the diet, it doesnt promise a supermodel body or results within a certain time frame. It was developed to combat heart disease the number-one killer of Americans by tackling high blood cholesterol with healthy lifestyle changes, but by adjusting your caloric goals you can target healthy weight loss, too.

Cut saturated fat to less than 7 percent of your calorie intake. For a 1,500-calorie diet, thats less than 10 grams of saturated fat.

Theres a lot of flexibility within the diet that allows people to eat things they enjoy. Like most effective plans for weight loss, the TLC diet involves counting calories and staying close to the range recommended for your height, weight, and activity level. You might have to get out your calculator for the first few weeks, but the guidelines are simple and quickly become habit.

Cut saturated fat to less than 7 percent of your calorie intake. For a 1,500-calorie diet, thats less than 10 grams of saturated fat, which often means less full-fat dairy and fatty meats. Trans fat, found mostly as hydrogenated oils, in products such asmargarine and packaged foods, should be avoided if at all possible and is one of very few ingredients the TLC diet tries to cut out entirely. Theres no limit on unsaturated fats, but keep in mind that foods high in fat tend to be high in calories, so keep that calorie limit in mind when choosing foods that are high in healthy fats.

Related: The Stress Fighters That Can Save Your Life

Saturated fat actually has a bigger impact on blood cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol, but cholesterol should still be kept under 200 mg a day. Full-fat dairy products, shrimp, egg yolks, and organ meats are all high in cholesterol. These foods arent forbidden, though. A 3.5-ounce serving of shrimp contains 189 mg of cholesterol. Just ditch the cream sauce and opt for olive oil and herbs instead to stay under your cholesterol limit.

The TLC diet also recommends getting a lot of soluble fiber, at least five to 10grams a day but preferably 10to25 grams a day. While insoluble fiber passes through the digestive tract pretty much undigested (giving your colon a nice workout), soluble fiber dissolves into a substance that actually coats the walls of your intestines and keeps them from absorbing dietary fat and cholesterol. Cereal grains such asoatmeal, whole fruits, and beans are all good sources of soluble fiber.

Because of research that shows heart benefits for omega-3 fatty acids, the diet recommends two fish meals a week. It also recommends avoiding foods high in sodium and restricting alcohol intake to one drink a day for women and two a day for men.

Related: Most Americans Eat Too Much of This

The last key part of the TLC diet is an important one get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week, preferably every day. Gardening, golfing (without a cart), playing tennis, biking, and brisk walking are all examples of moderate-intensity activities, and its important to pick something you enjoy. Join a group, class or club to stay motivated!

Always check with your doctor before starting a new diet, and you can check out the complete guide to the TLC diethere.

Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as Fox News Channels senior managing health editor. He also serves as chairman of the department of obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.This Fox News article is used with permission; it first appeared on AskDrManny.com.

Read more at Fox News: Hardball Health Care Option May Cost Trump and Taxpayers Utah Man Initially Denied Lung Transplant Over Pot Use Dies After Complications, Family Says Why Your Brain Has Two Halves

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The 'Therapeutic' Diet That's Turning Heads - LifeZette

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Home » Diet » The ‘Therapeutic’ Diet That’s Turning Heads – LifeZette