The Ornish Reversal Diet's primary objective is to reverse cardiovascular disease. Dieters are instructed to eat foods with very low amounts of cholesterol and fat in an effort to reverse the blockages in their coronary arteries and increase the blood flow through their arteries. The low-cholesterol, low-fat diet also helps people improve their cholesterol levels and lose weight, according to "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease."
Features
"Eating fat makes you fat (and also gives you heart disease)," wrote Ornish. The Ornish Reversal Diet has no limits on calories, but dieters are instructed to get only 10 percent of their calories from fat and as close to zero saturated fat as possible. Dietary cholesterol is almost banned, with only 5mg daily allowed. The U.S. government reports that 299mg daily is OK. The Reversal Diet consists of 70 to 75 percent carbohydrates, mostly complex carbs such as beans, fruits, grains and vegetables, and 15 to 20 percent protein.
Details
The Ornish Reversal Diet bans egg yolks, fish, meat and poultry. The only permitted animal products are egg whites, nonfat milk and nonfat yogurt. Fiber is crucial. Eating unrefined carbohydrates such as apples and tomatoes is preferable to refined carbohydrates such as apple juice and tomato juice that lose a lot of their fiber during the refinery process. Salt and sugar are not considered major health problems and are permitted in moderate amounts. Moderate alcohol consumption is permitted. Caffeine is banned.
Comparison
When Ornish introduced the Reversal Diet in the late 1980s, average Americans got about 45 percent of their calories from fat, 30 percent from carbohydrates and 25 percent from protein, according to "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease." However, Americans have increased their carbohydrate intake to 51 percent from calories and decreased their fat intake to 32 percent, "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" reported. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's current recommendation is 29 percent from fat, 55 percent from carbohydrates and 18 percent from protein.
Effects
The Reversal Diet has reduced dieters' heart artery blockages, cholesterol levels and blood pressure, according to "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease." The diet's low-cholesterol, low-fat composition emulates diets in the undeveloped part of the world, the book reports. "Coronary heart disease is as rare there as malaria is here," Ornish wrote. A diet low in animal products also "decreases the risk of many types of cancer," Ornish added.
Analysis
The Ornish Reversal Diet has had "success with reversing atherosclerosis," according to "An Invitation to Health," a college textbook. However, author Dianne Hales attributed Ornish's success to "an integrated program" that includes exercise and behavioral changes such as reducing stress rather than the low-fat foods. High-fat diets increase heart-disease risks, but it is "not clear" that dramatic reductions in fatty foods decrease those risks, she wrote. Low-fat diets also can raise triglycerides and reduce good cholesterol, the book reports.
References
- "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease;" Dr Dean Ornish; 1996
- USDA: Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- "An Invitation to Health;" Dianne Hales; 2003
- "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution;" Dr. Robert Atkins; 2002
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