The CSIRO diet, or the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization diet, is the official government-approved diet of Australia. The CSIRO diet is similar to other diets that promote the ample consumption of protein while restricting carbohydrate intake. The CSIRO diet may help you shed extra pounds, but visit with your doctor before starting any new diet program. This diet may not be appropriate for everyone.
TWD
In 2005, CSIRO released the "Total Wellbeing Diet Book," or TWD, a high-protein and low-fat diet, backed by research conducted by CSIRO and partially funded by Australia's meat and dairy industries. The book quickly climbed on Australia's bestseller list, claiming to help dieters lose weight and boost their overall health.
The Protein Factor
The basic TWD diet consists of eating 7 oz. of animal protein every day at dinner. To satisfy this allotment, the dieter should eat red meat at least four times a week, the same amount of chicken twice a week and fish, once a week. Dieters should eat an additional 4 oz. of meat protein at lunch, for a daily total of 11 oz. of protein from animal sources.
Where Do Carbs Fit In?
Healthy carbs play a vital role in the CSIRO diet. The dieter should eat two slices of whole-grain bread, two pieces of fruit, 1 cup of high fiber cereal, 1 cup of salad greens, 2 cups of vegetables in any combination, and 3 cups of low-fat dairy products each day.
Additional Diet Tenets
The CSIRO diet limits oils, including margarine, to 3 tsp. per day. The diet contains four levels, with the basic level being the one most women continue to follow, according to the "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition." Men, and women who want more food, may progress to higher levels, although everyone starts on the basic level. As the levels increase, so does the allotment of red meat, although the rest of the diet remains the same. Dieters should exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
Conflict
Critics cried foul after discovering that Australia's meat and dairy industry paid for part of the studies that lead to CSIRO's adopting the TWD diet. In addition to funding the research, Meat and Livestock Australia, the nation's leading meat-producing association, paid for the publication of "The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet." The association also published a booklet about the diet for inclusion in women's magazines, casting doubt on the integrity of the studies.
Concerns
The Diabetes Centre at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in South Australia published a 2006 report questioning whether the CSIRO diet was safe, especially when followed long term. The report noted that high-protein diets might not be safe for everyone, especially diabetics. Another 2006 report, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, denounced the CSIRO diet for promoting excessive meat consumption.
References
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe, 2008
- PubMed: High Protein Diets and Diabetes
- PubMed: Australian Diet Plan Slammed
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