Doctor’s Dean Ornish diet, also called the “life choice diet”, it is very different from the other well-known diets. It is a new approach, teaching you not only to eat healthy but also develop a new lifestyle.First developed for doctor Ornish patients, whom had heart diseases, but then spread around the world, this diet helped lots of people to have a healthy life. Although this diet was developed for hart’s disease patients with a level of cholesterol over 150, the normal value being 100, it can also help you lose weight.  

     The “reverse diet”, used by patient with cardiac problems, and the “prevention diet”, used by peoples who want to change they’re life, are based on a vegetarian system.These two diets differ very little. The prevention diet is not so strict, allowing you a vaster regime.All fats are reduced to almost zero, high-fiber is the dominant group food eaten. It is a 10% fat, 15% protein and 75% carbohydrates diet.

     As the organism needs 4-6% fat calorie level for well function of the body, expressed in essential fatty acids, Dr. Ornish believes that his diet, with a total amount of 10% fat, will be more that sufficiency for the organism.This vegetarian diet allows fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes but is against meat, nuts or seeds, oils, alcohol or high-fat products.

     With this regime, Dr Ornish’s propose is to lower the cholesterol level, control the body weight, prevent hart diseases, and increase the body’s metabolism. Eating fat aliments brings to the body high cholesterol levels, and this cholesterol is deposing itself to the heart coronary, causing the narrowing of the arteries lumen. This causes hart difficulties. Cutting of the fat products from your daily diet, like margarines, whole milk, yogurt, butter, egg yolks or honey, corn syrup, and aliments with more than two grams of fat per portion can stop the narrowing process, if you already have problems with your cholesterol level, or prevent it.

     The nutrients that the fat products broth to the organism, like calcium, can be replaced by eating the non-fat aliments, like skim milk, nonfat yogurt, nonfat cheeses, nonfat sour cream, and wither eggs.The products of this kind that have a high sugar level have to be avoided.Vitamins and other nutrients necessary for the well-function of the body, are brought by eating as much as you want, legumes like black-eyed peas, navy bean, lentils, kidney beans, peas, black beans or fruits like strawberries, cantaloupes, watermelons, pears, honeydew apples, apricots, bananas, oranges, peaches, raspberries, cantaloupes, tomatoes.

     Exercises and meditation are strongly recommended.Choosing a place in the house just for eating, no more eating in front of the TV or while reading a book, is an attitude that must be acquired. The eating has to take a while, no more fats eating. You also have to analyze the food that you are eating, who it looks, how it taste, and you have to eat slowly and until you are full but not stuffed.

     There were studies that demonstrate that persons that have followed Ornish diet had very encouraging results. They reported a lowering of blood pressure and the frequency of chest pain was reduced.But, by cutting of to zero the animal protein source deprive the organism of some major nutrients and makes it a little more vulnerable. Dr Ornish excludes fish, or fish oil, despite the fact that there was lots of research that demonstrated the protective effect of fish meat or fish oil against hart diseases.

     Although this diet allows you to eat as much as you want, as Dr. Ornish says it brings fewer calories per meal that the other diet known for weight lose, and help’s you stay in good health.

We don't take responsibility for the advices you get on our site. If you have a medical problem you should consult a specialist before trying anything it's suggested to you.

Comments

stephen cesare  (2007-02-25 21:49:53) is boneless, skinless chicken ok? I'm looking to reduce my cholesterol.Also I did not see carrots or iceberg lettuce in the list of fruits and veges.

Moderator - J. Benot  (2007-02-26 13:26:03) If you want to improve your cholesterol, it's not enough to eat less fat but also you need to follow a nutritionally balanced diet that provides you with the right balance of macronutrients (fats, protein, carbs) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), plus sufficient amounts of both soluble and insoluble fiber. So you can continue eating chicken meat especially chicken breasts with skin removed. Carrots are the richest source of beta-carotene which is of great benefit in the fight against cancer. Carrots are also beneficial for the heart, circulation, eye sight, skin and lungs. So I see no reason why you should cut them of your daily menu. As for the Iceberg lettuce it’s known to have very little nutritional value; it is mostly water and a small amount of fiber. It contains no cholesterol.

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