Calorie Restriction Diet Plans: Are They Healthy?

Alternatives To Calorie Restriction

Several alternatives to calorie restriction are available, and these tend to focus on the quality of food and certain food groups. The ketogenic, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and Whole30 diets are some examples of these approaches. While some patients using these methods choose to count calories, others simply focus on getting a sufficient quantity of particular nutrients. For example, patients might count their intake of carbohydrates, protein, fat, or sugar. Many alternatives to calorie restriction emphasize the use of whole foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, and eating organic food is encouraged. Another alternative approach known as intuitive eating helps individuals learn to distinguish physical hunger from emotional hunger. Followers of this plan listen to their body cues, and they learn to eat only when they are physically hungry. No calorie counting is required, and the plan does not place any limits on the type of food an individual can eat.