The 3 Day Diet is a diet plan that promises fast weight loss of up to ten pounds in three days. The 3 Day Diet reportedly dates back to 1985, and has been rumored to have been designed to prepare patients for heart surgery. There are internet legends that have attributed it to the American Heart Association, the Cleveland Clinc, the Birmingham Heart Clinic, and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, among others. Each medical institution questioned has denied any association with the diet. The menu plan and details are widely available on the internet, but several sites have sprung up, claiming to be official, where you can order the details for approximately $15.

Some of the diet's descriptions include commentary that indicates that the diet's success is due to the precise combination of foods, which increases a person's metabolic rate. There is no scientific evidence that this occurs. In actuality, ant weight loss experienced on the diet occurs because the dieter is limited to 1,000 calories a day. Although the diet maintains it is to be followed for only 3 days in a row, the initial weight loss will not be maintained if normal eating patterns are resumed.

Most authorities view this as a fad diet, rather than a healthy eating plan that can be followed for life.

Fast Facts:

1. 1,000 calories a day
2. Requires tuna fish to be eaten daily
3. Includes ice cream, hot dogs, and cheese
4. Not for long-term weight loss

Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information on the 3 Day Diet.