A friend of mine has been on the Atkins Diet for a month and looks great. My mother has been doing the blood type diet and swears by it. With everything I hear, how can I tell which diet is for me?

A lot of my clients ask me about various diets. Some of the more popular diets out now include the Atkins diet – a high protein, high fat diet which limits carbohydrates; the Blood Type diet whose basic premise is that certain blood types have evolved eating only certain foods; and, the Zone diet, which focuses on keeping insulin levels stable.

You'll find experts with strong opinions on both sides. Each diet has some truth to its design. Because people can drop weight quickly, these diets are appealing. However, long-term many of these diets can lead to increased risk for heart disease and cancer.

The healthiest and most effective way to lose weight is gradually, the way it was put on. Eat a balanced diet, low in fat, flour products, and sugar and high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein. Exercise is also critical to weight loss so that you burn more calories than you take in. For more information, check out my website at www.opportunehealing.com.

If you would like to submit a question for a future column, please email us at cwalk@mashell.com or write to us c/o Eatonville's Wellness Center P.O. Box 543 Eatonville, WA 98328.