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The Ornish diet is a weight loss plan developed by Dr. Dean Ornish. Based on Ornish's best-selling book Eat More, Weigh Less, the diet is essentially an overall health program designed to reduce the risk of heart disease. This page will provide information on how to do the Ornish diet.
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Introduction
- Noted cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish's diet claims to help reduce the chances of developing heart disease through healthy eating, exercise and stress management. The Ornish diet touts the benefits of eating low-fat, well-rounded, plant-based meals to promote weight loss and overall health.
Step 1: What Is It?
- The Ornish diet is based on the consumption of healthy foods, with only 10 percent of overall calories coming from fat. Dieters following the Ornish plan are allowed three meals and two snacks each day. Ornish eschews the consumption of meats of any kind, including:
- Red meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- In addition to the meal plan, the Ornish diet also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Stress-management is also a factor, with Ornish recommending that dieters participate in some form of stress-reducing technique, including:
Step 2: Diet Claims
- Ornish does not give an exact weight loss estimate with his diet, but he does claim that his approach may rev up the body's metabolism—or even increase it. Ornish says the consumption of high-fiber foods leads to longer feelings of fullness after meals. He says his diet will help to keep insulin levels stable, preventing energy crashes.
Step 3: What You'll Eat
- The mainstay of the Ornish diet is plant-based foods, including:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole grains, including:
- Beans and legumes
- Ornish does not recommend the consumption of red meat, fish, poultry and dairy products that are not low-fat. Other foods to avoid include:
Conclusion
- The Ornish diet is more than an eating plan; Ornish stresses the importance of eating right and exercising. If you plan to start the Ornish diet, you should know that the eating plan is essentially a vegetarian approach.
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