People have come to identify some essential factors which influence the general state of health and quality of life. These factors include eating, working, exercising, resting and spiritual activity closely linked to one's mental state.

Eating crucially influences the state of health. It provides the body with essential vital substances which are subsequently converted into the necessary forms of energy for life. For this reason, special attention has always been given to eating. A wide range of diets emerged from various traditions and philosophies.

Classification

• according to one main eating direction into: omnivorous, carnivorous, vegetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, fruitarian (a version of vegetarian).
• according to the degree of food processing:
  • raw-food diet
  • refined-food diet
• Specific national diets according to geographical location and local traditions. The principal categories are:
  • Mediterranean diet
  • Asian diets: Chinese diets, Japanese diets, Indian diets
  • Latin diets.
• Diets based on various philosophies, including religious ones:
  • Asian-philosophy based diet: Macrobiotic diet
  • Diets based on Christian principles:
    • Bible diet
    • Hallelujah diet
    • Maker's diet
• Detoxifying diets
• Diets whose main target is to regulate some bodily substances. Examples:
  • low-cholesterol diet
  • gluten-free diet
  • low-glycemic diet
  • low-potassium diet
  • low-protein diet
  • low-purin diet
  • low-sodium diet
• Diets for special needs, vary as to:
  • age
  • gender
  • activity
  • physiological state
• Weight-related diets:
  • Weight loss diets:
  • Fad diets
  • Diets based on one food
  • Calorie counting diets
  • Diets based on modifying the chemical structure of the body.
  • Weight-gain diets

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