HOW TO SPEAK THE HEALTHY FOOD LANGUAGE: A GLOSSARY

So are you more of a keto, a paleo or a pegan dieter? All of these exotic terms represent specific regimens aiming at improving our health

The vegetarian diet: excludes the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry and seafood, and any other type of animal flesh). Eggs and dairies are allowed.

The vegan diet: bans all animal products and its associates, such as eggs, dairies and other animalderived substances. Vegans also oppose the use of animals for any purpose, including clothes and accessories.

The paleo diet: consists of a diet high in nutrients, unprocessed food, based on ingredients that were available in Paleolithic times. This diet allows wild plants (fruits and vegetables), nuts, animal flesh, fish and shellfish. Beans, grains, salt, dairies and processed sugar are banned.

The ketogenic diet: High-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat epilepsy. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. The ketogenic diet may even have benefits in the fight against diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It shares many common elements with the Atkins and low-carb diets.

The gluten-free diet: excludes the protein gluten, which can be found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, triticale and oats (at risk of contamination during production). Most processed foods also contain gluten.

The flexitarian diet: based on reducing meat consumption and adopting a more environmentally sustainable approach to eating.

The pegan diet: combines the principles of the paleo diet with a vegan regimen. Only a little meat and all-you-can-eat fruits and vegetables, mixed with grains and cereals, are on the menu.