The "No-Grain Diet" is a book and diet plan by Dr. Joseph Mercola, a proponent of alternative medicine. The plan is designed to promote weight loss by eliminating all sources of grain from the diet, including whole grains. Following this diet plan is also supposed to reduce your carbohydrate cravings, making it easier to maintain weight loss. In addition to focusing on natural foods, including organic produce and grass-fed meat, the program also uses the "emotional freedom technique" to help you deal with food cravings.
Credentials
Dr. Joseph Mercola is a New York Times best-selling author and maintains a website of articles about natural health at Mercola.com. Mercola also promotes nutrition and wellness approaches to treat disease when possible, using medications only as a last resort. He was educated at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received his medical degree from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1982. He is licensed to practice medicine in Illinois.
History and Similar Diets
The No-Grain Diet has many similarities to another diet sometimes called the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet is based on the presumed diet of cavemen and early humans. The name of the Paleo diet refers to the Paleolithic Era, which took place before the advent of agriculture or animal husbandry. The only foods available were those obtainable by hunting and gathering. This diet is also similar to the Atkins diet.
Three Phases
The No-Grain Diet has three phases. The first phase is the start-up phase, in which you eliminate all grains, sweets, starchy vegetables and fruits for three days, but must eat something every two hours. The second phase avoids the same foods as the first phase, but instead of eating every two hours, you eat three meals and three snacks. In the second phase, you should also exercise five days a week, which continues until you reach your goal weight and remain there for six weeks. In the third phase, the "sustain phase," you may add some carbohydrates back to your diet, such as honey, starchy vegetables and fruits.
Forbidden Foods
All grains are strictly forbidden in the first two phases of this diet and only small amounts of buckwheat or quinoa may be allowed in the third phase. Mercola believes grains are not fully digestible and humans did not evolve with the capability to tolerate the high amounts of grain in modern diets. Dairy should be limited, with only occasional consumption of goat, sheep or raw cow's milk recommended. Water is preferred. Alcohol is also limited.
Health Benefits
Although this diet is difficult to follow, Mercola states that it may be especially effective for diabetics. Grains and sugars have been linked to diseases related to poor nutrition, such as diabetes, insulin resistance and polycystic ovarian disease. Discuss this diet plan with your doctor, especially if you have diabetes or other health conditions.
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