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Pritikin diet basics
The first Pritikin diet was created by Nathan Pritikin in 1979 as a way to drastically reduce the risk of heart disease and to help diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels without having to take insulin. Weight loss was an added bonus to the diet.
The initial Pritikin diet is a low fat, largely vegetable-based diet, full of fruit and whole grains. Fat in this diet only accounts for about 10% of the daily energy intake.
In 1991, a revised Pritikin diet - 'The Pritikin Weight Loss Breakthrough' - was published by Nathan's son Robert. This revised diet concentrates more on foods that have more nutrients and less calories, which can be eaten to sate hunger and initiate weight loss. The revised diet still has very little animal protein, eggs and is high in carbohydrate foods (fruit, vegetables, whole grains).
The premises of the new Pritikin diet are:
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1. The Pritikin eating plan recommends eating five or more servings daily of whole grains (barley, brown rice, millet, oats, rye, wheat), starchy vegetables (potatoes, winter squashes, yams), chestnuts, beans and peas
2. The Pritikin eating plan recommends limiting refined grains (white bread, white rice, white pasta) to no more than one or two servings daily, with no servings or refined grains being optimal
3. The Pritikin eating plan recommends eating four or more servings daily of raw or cooked vegetables, including dark green, yellow, or orange vegetables (brightly coloured vegetables)
4. The Pritikin eating plan recommends eating three or more servings daily of fruit
5. The Pritikin eating plan recommends eating two servings of calcium-rich foods, such as nonfat milk (1 cup), nonfat yogurt (3/4 cup), or nonfat ricotta (1/2 cup); or fortified, enriched nonfat or low-fat soy milk (1 cup)
6. The Pritikin eating plan is very easily adopted by vegetarians, due to its high vegetable, fruit and grain content
Disclaimer: The advice on this site should be viewed as a general guideline only and it should not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your medical or health care provider to get the advice and care for your particular and individual health, nutrition, diet and fitness circumstances.