Making Sense of Popular Diets

Answers to everyday health questions, based on the freshest research findings

THE DIET

JUICING

The new coldpressed juicers crush produce into more nutrient-rich elixirs than their predecessors. Proponents claim juicing can boost the immune system and increase energy.

PALEO

Taking a cue from our prehistoric ancestors, Paleo dieters eschew processed foods (including bread and cereals) for lean meats, nuts, seeds and produce.

ALKALINE

This latest diet craze separates food into alkaline- and acid-forming categories. Advocates insist highacid items can disrupt pH balance and lead to osteoporosis and cancer.

THE GOOD

It’s “an easy way to get a high dose of nutrients,” says dietitian Lindsay Jang.

Dietitian Shauna Lindzon says the low-sugar diet can help maintain insulin levels.

The diet strongly recommends limiting our intake of processed, packaged and sugary foods.

THE BAD

It can be expensive: eight carrots might only produce 250ml of juice. Extended all-juice cleanses can lack the fibre, protein and fats necessary for full nutrition.

The plan prohibits grains, legumes and dairy, Lindzon notes, so “you miss out on nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which are essential for bone health.”

“Our acid-base balance is regulated by the kidneys and lungs, not by the foods we eat,” Lindzon explains. “The science is not behind this diet!”

THE ANSWER

Limit consumption and focus on homemade vegetable juice; fruit can spike blood sugar.

Eat fresh, unprocessed foods whenever possible, but avoid eliminating entire food groups.

Focus on produce, grains and seeds, but leave the pseudoscience out of it.