With so many different diets to learn about, we often hear our customers wondering things like:

• Which diet is the healthiest?
• Which diet is best for weight loss?
• Which diet is best for energy?
• Which diet is best for long-term weight loss?
• Which diet is the easiest to maintain?
• Is Isagenix better than other diets?

We know it can be overwhelming to sort through all the diet and nutrition information out there, so we made a concise, easy-to-follow breakdown of some of the most popular diets vs. Isagenix so you can make an educated decision on which diet will best match up with your health, weight loss, and wellness goals.

 

Isagenix vs. Other Popular Diets

In no particular order, here are 5 of the most popular diet plans, including the Isagenix program.

We included a rating from 1 (being the easiest) to 10 (being the strictest and most difficult), a description of the diet, how much support each program offers, how much exercise is required, and the pros and cons for each diet.

 

1. The Grapefruit Diet

What Is the Grapefruit Diet? The grapefruit diet has been around, in some form or another, for almost a century now. This strict, trendy diet lasts for anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks and claims it can help participants quickly lose up to 10 or more pounds.

The theory behind this diet is that the enzymes in grapefruit help burn fat when consumed before a meal. This diet also requires the reduction of foods high in carbohydrates and sugar while focusing on foods rich in:

• Fat
• Protein
• Cholesterol

Followers of the grapefruit diet are also advised to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and are allowed to consume one cup of unsweetened coffee per day.

 

Grapefruit Diet Summary:

• Low in carbs and sugar
• Focus on foods with protein and fat
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
• Limit total calorie intake to 800 calories per day
• Level of Difficulty – This boring, strict diet requires an immense amount of effort and dedication, making it a 8 out of 10 (extremely difficult) on our difficulty scale. 800 calories a day is an extremely low amount for most individuals, especially those who are avid exercisers or lead an active life.Also, the grapefruit diet is only a temporary option, not a sustainable diet. Once it is over, you will likely gain back any weight you lost.Unless you absolutely love grapefruit and need to shed pounds fast, you may want to skip the grapefruit diet.
• Support Availability – Plans for the grapefruit diet can be obtained from the internet, but there are no advisors or support groups for encouragement or help.
• Exercise – There are no specific exercise recommendations for the grapefruit diet.
• Pros of the Grapefruit Diet – If you love grapefruit and have a special event you want to prepare for, it can be a fast way to lose a few pounds. There are no meetings to go to or enrollment fees. Grapefruit is readily available at grocery stores.
• Cons of the Grapefruit Diet – Vegans and vegetarians may have difficulty following the grapefruit diet due to the meat requirements. Consuming grapefruit may interfere with certain prescription drugs.

 

2. The Paleo Diet

What Is the Paleo Diet?

The basic premise of the Paleo Diet is that we should only consume food our prehistoric ancestors would have eaten. This means certain foods are off-limits:

• Dairy
• Refined cooking oils
• Legumes
• Potatoes
• Grains
• Salt
• Sugar

Instead, the Paleo Diet focuses on foods such as:

• Meat (preferably grass-fed, high-quality meat)
• Wild-caught fish
• Eggs
• Fruits (especially berries and in-season fruits)
• Vegetables

This diet claims to reduce excess weight, boost energy, and promote a leaner, healthier body. However, some argue that the Paleo Diet lacks enough research considering the average life expectancy of our prehistoric ancestors far less than life expectancy today. While this may have been due to environmental hardships, lack of food, or other factors, we can’t exactly consult prehistoric physicians to know for sure.

 

Paleo Diet Summary:

• Level of Difficulty – We rated the Paleo Diet at a 4 out of 10 (moderately difficult), although this plan may be easier for you if you are already used to preparing your own foods from scratch and focusing on whole, unrefined foods.
• Support Availability – The internet is full of support forums, entire websites dedicated to the Paleo Diet, and hundreds of paleo recipes. There are also a vast number of Paleo books that can be ordered for reference and inspiration.
• Exercise – There are no specific exercise recommendations for the Paleo Diet.
• Pros of the Paleo Diet – There is no doubt that the abundance of fresh, high-quality meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and healthy fats and oils can provide the body with an impressive array of nutrients. Focusing on fresh, whole foods rather than processed foods is an excellent goal and is also something you can aim to do for life rather than just as a fad.
• Cons of the Paleo Diet – The Paleo Diet is extremely difficult to follow if you are vegan or vegetarian due to its emphasis on consuming eggs, fish, and meat.

Also, cutting out entire foods, carbohydrates, and dairy can be extremely difficult and tough to stick to, especially for on-the-go individuals or people with busy lifestyles that do not have time to prepare and plan out meals.

 

3. The Atkins Diet

What Is the Atkins Diet? This diet, created by Dr. Robert Atkins, has been around for about 30 years now. While there are a variety of versions of the Atkins Diet, they all focus on limiting carbohydrates and focusing on low-carb foods such as:

• Meats
• Fish
• Eggs
• Vegetables
• Healthy fats
• Some fruits

The program typically involves four phases, beginning with a strict period of only 20 grams of carbs allowed per day. As the phases progress, additional foods get added back in. The final phase is an eating routine that focuses on lifetime weight management.

 

Atkins Diet Summary:

• Level of Difficulty – The Atkins Diet gets a 5 out of 10 for difficulty. While there is no need to count calories, followers of this diet must stay within the carbohydrate limits.
• Support Availability – There are many books, websites, and forums dedicated to the Atkins Diet, making it easy to find fellow followers of the diet, recipes, support, and tips.
• Exercise – While there is no formal exercise requirement, the Atkins diet does encourage some form of daily exercise.
• Pros of the Atkins Diet – There is a wide range of food you can still consume on this diet. Some pre-packaged Atkins snacks and foods are available for convenience. There are no meeting requirements or membership fees.
• Cons of the Atkins Diet – Diets this low in carbohydrates can be difficult to follow and feel restrictive to many people, making it difficult to stick to. It is surprisingly easy to consume 20 grabs of carbs in no time. Even a simple apple (25 grams of carbohydrates for a medium apple) or a medium sized banana (27 carbohydrates) will have you blowing your carb limit in the first phase.

 

4. The Dukan Diet

What Is the Dukan Diet? This diet, developed in 2000 by Dr. Pierre Dukan plan, shares similarities with the Atkins diet. The main difference is the requirement to consume oat bran with every meal.

The plan includes 4 phases, each of which adds back in more foods that had initially been restricted. The initial phase consists of ample amounts of lean protein, water, and oat bran. The second phase — which can last for months depending on how much weight you want to lose — focuses on increasing the amount of oat bran consumed each day.

The third phase adds back in additional food selections while the last phase is intended to be a maintenance phase. This final phase involves daily oat bran and one day a week that follows the rules of the initial phase.

 

Dukan Diet Summary:

• Level of Difficulty – We rated this at a 7 in terms of difficulty. Although participants do not need to count calories, carbohydrates need to be counted and limited. The restrictive food selection and strict requirements may leave some followers bored and deprived rather quickly.
• Support Availability – The plan is learned from a book and completed by yourself, although there are options for online coaching programs (for a monthly fee) to help you through the phases. There are many recipes available and inspirational stories from others who have followed the plan.
• Exercise – This plan encourages at least 20 minutes of physical exercise each day.
• Pros of the Dukan Diet – Foods on this diet can be found at your local grocery store. There are no membership fees or meetings to attend. This diet focuses on whole, nutrient-dense foods.
• Cons of the Dukan Diet – There is limited support for this diet, making it difficult for anyone who enjoys or needs the support of a group. This diet can feel strict and difficult to follow in the long-run.

 

5. The Isagenix Program

What Is Isagenix?

The Isagenix diet is a program focusing on nutritional cleansing. It aims to replace parts of your current eating regime with high-quality protein, vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to help support weight loss efforts and boost energy levels.

The program clearly sets out your daily need for healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates, calories, and nutrients. It also encourages the use of high-quality supplements such as enzymes, adaptogens, minerals, probiotics, and vitamins.

One of the cornerstones of the Isagenix plan is the concept of “Shake Days” and “Cleanse Days” On shake days, participants can have one healthy, low calorie meal, several Isagenix snacks, and two IsaLean meal replacement shakes.

Cleanse days involve drinking ample amounts of water, having several Cleanse for Life drinks, and consuming several 100 calorie Isagenix snacks.

The Isagenix program aims to help your body burn fat for energy without compromising lean muscle mass. Upon achieving your weight loss goals, you can maintain your results and promote overall wellness with Isagenix’s other products and supplements.

 

Isagenix Summary:

• Level of Difficulty – We rated this program a 3 on the scale of difficulty. Products are available online and can be shipped automatically, ample support is available, and you only have to prepare one fresh meal a day, making preparation simple. However, as with any diet, it still requires you to put in the effort and stay dedicated to achieve results.
• Support Availability – with this program, you’ll find a strong sense of support thanks to the online community. There is a wide range of fellow Isagenix users, forums, your Isagenix representative, and program coaches available to help you along the way, provide encouragement, and answer questions.
• Exercise – The Isagenix program encourages individuals to get at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise daily.
• Pros of the Isagenix Diet – Pre-packaged products and supplements, along with clear goals and guidelines, make it possible for this diet to fit seamlessly and conveniently into even the busiest lifestyles.There are also a variety of options when it comes to dietary preference such as vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free. Also, Isagenix focuses on the long-term picture, not just short-term weight loss. The program is designed to be more of a lifestyle approach, not a temporary or fad diet.
• Cons of the Isagenix Program – For some people, the downside of the Isagenix diet plan is the cost of the pre-measured, pre-packaged products (signing up for auto-shipments reduces the price). Also, you can’t simply grab the items from your grocery store. However, some people see this as an advantage since it means fewer trips to the store and less time meal planning.

 

Which Diet Is Best For You?

We hope this comparison of the 5 most popular diets helps you decide which plan might work best for you. If you still have questions on how to find a the best diet plan for you or are wanting to learn more about the Isagenix diet plan, please feel free to reach out to us or browse our blog featuring easy, healthy recipes, weight loss tips, exercise tips, and more.

 

*Important Note* As with any changes to your dietary or exercise routine, it is important to consult with your doctor.