The Rice Diet specializes "in the prevention, treatment and reversal of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease," according to the supervising clinic's website, RiceDietProgram.com. The diet is intended to improve patients' conditions and provide them with knowledge and resources necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle and deal with their conditions long term.
Living In
The rice diet is a live-in, medically supervised program in Durham, North Carolina. Medical staff members -- such as registered dietitians, therapists, exercise physiologists and certified stress management instructors -- monitor patients and offer classes and workshops to help patients continue to stay healthy after leaving.
Origin
Walter Kempner -- a member of the Duke University's Department of Medicine -- started the rice diet program in 1939. Kempner discovered that diseases such as hypertension and diabetes were uncommon in people who ate rice as a staple food. He based the diet on rice, fruit, juices, sugar and dietary supplements.
Healthy Patients
In addition to relieving coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, and the symptoms of diabetes and hypertension, the Rice Diet also can be beneficial for people who are not suffering from a medical condition. As a low-fat, high-fiber diet, the rice diet may be able to prevent the diseases it treats, as well as reduce the risk of cancer and boost the immune system, says RiceDietProgram.com.
Foods Allowed
At the beginning of this live-in diet program, you have a limited menu to choose from. Eventually, your choices will grow to include foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, fish and legumes. There are more than 30 foods to choose from, which vary each day of the diet.
Limited Foods
The amount of salt you can eat on the diet is limited, due to the complications salt can cause in patients who suffer from high blood pressure, kidney failure, high cholesterol and obesity. Herbs and spices are used in place of salt. Fat also is limited -- patients can eat only 5g of fat each day.
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