Diet trends come and go, but the Ornish diet doesn’t involve any supplements that haven’t been researched or ‘crazy’ advice that’s impossible to follow. This diet will benefit your waistline, but more importantly can reverse diabetes and heart disease.
The Ornish Diet: The Ornish Diet, as reported by US News, claims to make you live longer, feel better, lose weight, and gain health. Well, that sounds pretty great when diets like the Garcina Cambogia just make you look like you’re starving to death. Losing a few pounds is possible with cutting out certain foods and a little exercise. Reversing heart disease takes a few more changes, but let’s take a look at this diet and you decide if it’s something you can do.
The diet was developed by Dean Ornish, a professor of medicine at the University of California. Ornish and his team of researchers proved that heart disease can indeed be reversed without the need for surgery. The diet also lowers blood pressure and reduces bad cholesterol according to US News. So, before you give up on your heart, try the Ornish Diet. You aren’t doomed to have a triple bypass or die of a heart attack.
What Do You Have to Eat? Ornish doesn’t make you cut anything out of your diet. You decide. Foods are grouped into five categories. The more you eat from the first three categories, the better off your heart and overall health will be. Produce, whole grains, and fish are the best foods. Do you like fruits and vegetables? Whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas? How do you feel about tilapia, salmon, and tuna? You can eat other things, don’t get me wrong here; but for the best results you should fill the majority of your grocery cart with good choices. This diet isn’t about starving yourself to look thin and feel horrible. It’s about changing the way you eat to feel better and look beautiful.
So the next time you hit the supermarket, really look at what you are putting into your cart. What percentage is truly healthy? Pick up the book by Dean Ornish called, “The Spectrum, ($27 dollars)” or just read more about the Ornish diet here. You’ll find recipes, guidelines, and a wealth of information.
Exercise: So to reverse heart disease do you have to exercise? Gosh, you sure do! There isn’t a magic button to fix years of damage. Do you have to work out like some kind of P90X enthusiast? No, you don’t, although you certainly can if you’d like. Dr. Ornish recommends cardio (of course), flexibility, and weights. Once again, it’s up to you how much or little you do.
The Great Aspects of the Ornish Diet: The best part of this diet is that you won’t feel hungry. You get to eat lots of whole grains and will feel satisfied instead of like you’re going to pass out. The only supplements you are asked to take are Omega 3 and a multivitamin, but if you have heart issues you should be taking those anyway. The diet is customizable; you can do a vegan, gluten free, Kosher, or a low salt diet plan. You really are in charge with this diet and can be as strict or lenient as you choose. If your goal is to prevent or reverse heart disease, it is recommended that you follow the low fat guidelines and do the exercises.
Don’t jump on the “starving model” bandwagon. Your body isn’t meant to live on kale and water, or meant to be “sped” up by supplements that haven’t been thoroughly researched. Being thin and being healthy are two completely different things. Choose health.
