What’s in For 2007: Food

Finally, a diet that is bridging the gap between fad and good nutrition.

The ABS diet is rapidly increasing in popularity. Created by David Zinczenko, the editor of Men’s Health magazine, the ABS diet is nearly identical to following that advice your doctor gave you: eat small amounts of healthy foods at regular intervals.

The ABS diet recommends eating six times a day. Concentrate on the 12 “power foods.” Add regular exercise, both cardio and weight-lifting, for maximum effect.

Dr. Christina Jackson, who teaches a yoga and Pilates course at Eastern, approves of the bulk of the ABS diet but cautions against some of its advice.

“The biggest concern I have about the diet is that it de-emphasizes exercise,” she said.

While Zinczenko advises three sessions of exercise per week, Jackson encourages more.

“All of the literature now is showing that exercise is even slightly more important than nutrition,” she said, recommending five sessions of exercise a week.

Jackson is also wary of dairy as a power food, since many people have slight allergies to dairy that they are unaware of. Instead, she recommends kefir, a liquidy yogurt-like substance in which most of the milk proteins are already broken down.

Although Zinczenko reports that some ABS diet users have had weight loss of 10-12 lbs. within the first two weeks, he and Jackson both agree that healthy progress for overweight individuals is losing an average of two pounds per week. A combination of the ABS diet and common sense can help one attain that goal.

Source: ABS Diet Book

The ABS diet power foods:

Almonds and other nutsBeans and legumesSpinach and green vegetablesDairy (low-fat)Instant oatmeal (unsweetened)EggsTurkey, fish and other lean meatsPeanut butter (all-natural)Olive oilWhole-grain breads and cerealsExtra whey protein powderRaspberries and other berries

Trends on the Food Front:Whole-grain everythingEnhanced “superfoods”Low-calorie restaurant menus

Fashionable Flavor:Pomegranate

Exercise Emphasis:Core fitness (the abs and back, as central to all movement)Holistic practices, such as yoga, Pilates and tai chiStoring the scale and breaking out the tape measure to track progress