The 3-Day Cardiac diet, also known as the Cleveland Clinic and 3-Day diet, is a brief weight loss plan that, according to proponents, can help dieters lose approximately 10 lb. during the diet's three-day duration. The diet includes a highly specific set of meals that must be strictly followed to achieve the promised weight loss. Although supporters point to the quick results the diet gives as an advantage, critics believe that the long-term disadvantages of following the program outweigh any benefits.
History
The Cleveland Clinic reportedly designed the 3-Day Cardiac Diet as a rapid weight-loss program for cardiac patients who needed to quickly lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. However, the Diet Choices site claims that the weight loss plan has been attributed to several institutions through the years, including the Alabama Hospital Cardiac Unit in Birmingham and the American Heart Association. The first definite record of a diet with these particular specifications was not from the Cleveland Clinic, but a 1975 diet called the Oregon Medical School Diet, according to the website Diet Choices.
Aspects
At the core of the 3-Day Cardiac Diet is a set plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner meals for three days that are to be followed with no substitutions, changes or additions, according to Diet-and-Health.net. Dieters are allowed to drink diet soda or tea containing sweetener and to use salt and pepper to season foods, but no other beverages other than the coffee, tea, grapefruit juice and water specified in the plan and no other seasonings or spices are permitted. After completing the diet's three days, dieters are urged to resume a normal but sensible and low-calorie diet. If more weight loss is needed, the site Diet-and-Health.net advises taking four days off the diet, then resuming another three days of strictly adhering to the plan.
Meals
According to WeightLossHQ.com, on the first day of the diet, you are allowed the following: black coffee or tea, half of a grapefruit or a small glass of grapefruit juice, one piece of dry toast coated with one tbsp. of peanut butter for breakfast; 1/2 cup of tuna along with another piece of dry toast or one ounce of cheddar cheese and another cup of black coffee or tea for lunch; and one cup of both string beans and carrots or beets, 3 oz. of any lean meat, a small apple and one cup of vanilla ice cream for dinner. For breakfast on Day 2, dieters should eat one egg, one piece of dry toast and half of a banana with black coffee or tea. Lunch should consist of five saltine crackers, either a 1/2 cup of tuna or 1 cup of cottage cheese and, again, coffee or tea. The Day 2 dinner is two beef hot dogs, 1/2 cup of either carrots or turnip greens, 1 cup of either broccoli or cabbage, half of a banana and a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream. On the third day of the 3-Day Cardiac diet, breakfast should consist of five saltine crackers, 1 oz. of cheddar cheese and one small apple with black coffee or tea, while lunch should be one slice of dry toast accompanied by coffee or tea and an egg, hard-boiled. On this final dinner of the program, dieters should eat 1 cup of tuna fish, 1 cup of either carrots or beets, 1 cup of either cauliflower or beans, 1 cup of melon and a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream.
Advantages
Diet Choices acknowledges that the 3-Day Cardiac diet can, if followed exactly, result in weight loss. It is also simple to follow and inexpensive. Additionally, the site WeightLossHQ points out that the diet does not exclude entire categories of food and does incorporate normally "forbidden" foods such as vanilla ice cream and hot dogs. The ability to eat these foods might people remain on the diet for the duration of the three days and achieve weight loss success.
Disadvantages
Although the program can deliver its promise of aiding in quick weight loss, nutritionists and health professionals worry that the plan does not emphasize exercise and does not involve a way for dieters to transition to long-term, sustainable weight loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The Diet Choices site points out that following the diet for longer than three days can result in significant nutritional deficiencies.
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