What we eat definitely influences the way we feel. There is no doubt about it. Yet, have you ever wondered how our eating habits have evolved throughout history? In this article, we want to present to you 5 of the most revolutionary diets that have left a lasting mark.
#1. The Banting’s Diet (the 1870s)
The Scarsdale diet is one of the most popular low-carb diets. Yet, did you know that the idea of adopting such an eating style comes from the book “Letter on Corpulence” by William Banting? He was an obese English undertaker who managed to lose weight by limiting the number of carbohydrates. Mr. Banting’s diet included consuming white wine, meat, fruit, and vegetables.
#2. The Chewing Diet (1900s)
When it comes to feeding habits, we definitely need to say a few words about chewing. Horace Fletcher was the person who raised awareness of the importance of chewing. The main idea of the so-called Fletcherism is that you need to chew every food very thoroughly (up to 700 times if necessary).
On the one hand, chewing helps you slow down and eat less. On the other hand, it improves digestion because food gets mixed with saliva. Interestingly enough, it is important to mention that you should chew even drinks.
#3. The Counting Calories Diet (1910s)
Counting calories is another one of the dietary habits that a lot of people have adopted. The LA physician Lulu Peters first introduced the idea that calories are the key to health and diet. She devoted a whole book to the topic and discussed the amounts of calories contained in different types of food.
#4. The Atkin’s Diet (1990s)
In recent years, it has become more and more popular to go on a keto diet. One of the most famous ketogenic diets is the one of Dr. R. Atkins (1972). This type of diet focuses on eliminating unhealthy eating habits such as eating sugar, white bread, soda, etc. Limiting the number of carbohydrates allows the body to move into a state of ketosis. Thanks to this, it can turn stored fat into energy.
#5. The Paleo Diet (1970s)
Finally, some experts also recommend the Stone-Age diet. Loren Cordain’s book “The Paleo diet” (2002) raised awareness of the fact that humans feel best when they eat what their bodies are adapted to. This includes foods such as fish, meat, root vegetables, fruits, and nuts. In other words, it is recommendable to stick to what our ancestors used to eat while they were hunter-gatherers.
To sum up, it is helpful to know more about the evolution of diet, so that we can make conscious choices about our eating habits. However, do not forget to focus on what is suitable for your own body, as well as to not follow trends blindly.
