Abstract
Popular diets often appeal to athletes because they promise an easy way to reduce body fat, increase muscle mass, and improve health. This article examines 4 popular diets: raw food diets, gluten-free diets, intermittent fasting, and the Paleolithic ("Caveman") diet and discusses their premises, promises, pros, and pitfalls. Special emphasis is placed on what athletes should know if they choose to follow a popular diet. Diet plans often need modification to ensure that sufficient energy, macronutrient and micronutrient intakes are met to fuel sports training and competition.