Liquid diets do not provide enough nutritional value to sustain the human body consistently and should only be used for short periods of time. Liquid diets are at times necessary in these types of cases:. Look here for great liquid diet ideas. Soft diets consist of food that is easily chewed and digested.

For example, this type of diet typically excludes such difficult to chew or digest items as nuts, shellfish and spicy foods. Soft diets are used typically in the following situations:.

Look here for great soft diet ideas. For patients with diabetes, a few modifications are needed to ensure they reach optimum levels of health. The main consideration in this type of diet is to avoid food items with high sugar content. Low-calorie diets are created for patients who are seeking bariatric treatment or need to naturally lose weight.

Obesity contributes to a vast number of health problems and combating it with the proper diet is essential for patient health. These diets are implemented by limiting high-calorie foods such as butter, cream and soft drinks. A high-calorie diet is frequently needed for patients that are underweight for a variety of reasons, including eating disorders, certain types of cancer and hyperthyroidism.

High-calorie diets require the inclusion of extra carbohydrates as well as proteins. Counter intuitively, a high-calorie diet should exclude high-fat and fried foods as these items are digested slowly and spoil the appetite.

In low cholesterol diets, intake of foods high in saturated fats must be avoided. These foods include beef, pork, eggs and cheese, among other items. This type of diet is necessary for maintaining heart health in patients with heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Home Common health questions Food and diet Back to Food and diet. What should my daily intake of calories be? What are calories? Calories are a measure of how much energy food or drink contains. Calories and kilocalories The term calorie is commonly used as shorthand for kilocalorie.

How many calories do I need? The amount of energy you need will depend on: your age — for example, growing children and teenagers may need more energy your lifestyle — for example, how active you are your size — your height and weight can affect how quickly you use energy Other factors can also affect how much energy you burn.

For example: some hormones chemicals produced by the body — such as thyroid hormones some medicines — such as glucocorticoids, a type of steroid used to treat inflammation being unwell Maintaining a healthy weight To find out if you are a healthy weight, use the BMI calculator.

It simply calls for real, whole foods available at any supermarket although you may want to look for low-calorie and low-fat versions of some foods, such as dairy products.

If followed carefully, this diet is generally effective, especially in the short term. Research shows this type of diet can help overweight people lose weight. Long-term maintenance will require a lower-calorie diet than before the weight loss.

When your weight goes down, your calorie requirement decreases, and you need to adjust your caloric intake accordingly. Remember, the goal of a low-calorie diet should be good health. For long-term success, however, this diet requires lifestyle changes and added exercise. After you lose weight, your body requires fewer calories, so you can't go back to eating the way you did before starting the diet.

Low-calorie diets are generally safe if followed carefully and, ideally, recommended by and with a medical professional's guidance. A doctor or registered dietician can help you make sure you are getting the right mix of nutrients and enough calories to keep you safe and healthy.

When you consume fewer calories than you are used to, you are likely to feel hungry at first—especially if your low-calorie meals lack protein and fiber. One of the primary challenges of low-calorie diets is managing appetite and keeping nutrition balanced by choosing nutrient-dense foods that are satisfying and within your daily calorie limit.

A low-calorie diet can backfire if you can only stick to it for a short time and then rebound with weight gain. It can help if you eat slowly and chew your foods thoroughly, enjoying each mouthful.

Also, drink plenty of water. Your body needs fluids, and water contains no calories. Add lemon or lime slices for a bit of flavor. To avoid hunger, aim to include high-fiber foods at every meal. Eat multiple servings of non-starchy vegetables at most meals and choose high-fiber carbohydrates such as whole grains and starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming 14 grams of fiber for every 1, calories you eat. Following a low-calorie diet recommended by a medical professional means a good deal of planning and careful tracking of the calories you consume. Unlike a very low-calorie diet in which you only consume meal replacements , on a low-calorie diet, you make the decisions.

You are in charge of your own food intake—what, when, and how much. While this freedom can be empowering, it can also be more challenging.

For some people, a low-calorie diet is not advised. That's why it's a good idea to check with your doctor before starting this or any weight-loss plan.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not follow a low-calorie diet, nor should some athletes. The — Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests a diet of 1, to 2, calories per day for most adult females and 2, to 3, for males for weight maintenance.

To lose weight gradually at a healthy rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week, try using the U. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate plan to calculate your calorie needs to support weight loss. A low-calorie diet would reduce daily calories to 1, to 1, for most adults, which may be too restrictive for some people, depending on their current health and health history.

When followed with nutrition in mind, a low-calorie diet should offer balanced nutritional intake per USDA dietary guidelines. Since calorie needs can vary greatly, determine yours including how many you should consume a day to reach a weight loss goal with this calculator.

A low-calorie diet is the most simple way to look at weight loss: Create a calorie deficit, and you will lose weight. However, the make-up of those calories matters a lot. It's important to adhere to USDA dietary guidelines to ensure you're still getting adequate nutrition for a well-balanced, healthy diet.

While proponents of low-calorie diets claim that it will lead to increased weight loss, research shows that maintaining an optimal intake of vitamins and minerals during severe calorie restriction is not feasible for most people.

If developed with balanced nutrition in mind and followed correctly, there are no common health risks associated with a low-calorie diet. However, following a low-calorie diet that focuses on an eating schedule is the opposite of mindful or intuitive eating , which is often an effective strategy for health, weight loss, and weight maintenance.

Additionally, not listening to your internal hunger cues can be problematic for those who have had an eating disorder or are at risk for developing one due to factors such as body image issues.

The low-calorie diet is only as safe and effective as the person following it. Those who use this diet need to get good advice from their healthcare provider or a registered dietician and adhere to that advice carefully. Very low-calorie diets, even though they sound similar, are quite different because they are prescribed by a doctor and you do not consume any food, only meal replacements.

Consuming fewer calories than you burn is an effective way to lose weight, but following a low-calorie diet is not necessarily simple or easy. Do your research ahead of time and speak to a doctor or nutritionist to help you get started. This will boost your chances of weight loss success in a safe manner.

While we do not endorse fad diet trends or unsustainable weight loss methods, we present the facts so you can make an informed decision that works best for your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, budget, and goals.

Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health. The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle.

Metabolic slowing and reduced oxidative damage with sustained caloric restriction support the rate of living and oxidative damage theories of aging. Cell Metab. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. American Academy of Family Physicians.

Nutrition: Keeping a food diary. What you should know before you start a weight-loss plan. Cleveland Clinic. Harvard Medical School. Carbohydrates: Good or bad for you? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rethink Your Drink. Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. American Heart Association. Federal dietary guidelines emphasize healthy eating habits but fall short on added sugars.

Low-calorie diets.