Garlic & Onion Diet

If you are struggling with obesity, you may be intrigued by the February 2009 report of a 42-year-old Croatian who lost nearly half his body weight on a diet of garlic and onions. Momir Zmiric, a commercial painter lost 73 kg, or about 161 pounds, in just six months, dropping from 175 kg to 92 kg.

Introduction

Momir Zmiric, unable to run even two meters, decided to curtail his eating while at his sister's wedding party. Without consulting his doctor, Zmiric based his diet on garlic and onions on a plain biscuit, all washed down with carrot juice. Zmiric cut out the meat, potatoes, smoked ham and cheese that had been the mainstay of his diet. As the pounds came off, he began to walk, swim and cycle. Zmiric also quit smoking when he began his diet and has seen his blood pressure drop from 200 to 120.

Benefits of Garlic and Onion

A 2008 study conducted by Vidyashankar, Sambaiah, and Srinvivasan of the Central Food Technological Research Institute and published in the "British Journal of Nutrition," showed a reduction in diet induced cholesterol gallstones in mice. A study published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," and reported in the "New York Times" in October 2007 indicated that garlic boosts your natural supply of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, while poisonous in high concentrations, is an antioxidant. It acts to transmit cellular signals to relax blood vessels, increasing blood flow. (Onions provide vitamins B1, B6, C and K, biotin, chromium, folic acid and fiber. Like garlic, the benefits of onion are due to the organic sulfur content. Onions have also been used to treat asthma by inhibiting the spasming of bronchial muscles.

Features

The original diet consists of garlic and onions, on a soda cracker or whole-wheat biscuit, eaten as often as you desire. Drink carrot juice throughout the day. Zmiric reported he had a fish "once in a while." This extreme diet may result in weight loss simply because of the drastically reduced caloric intake.

Considerations

This is an extreme diet and may be unsustainable over a long period. Zmiric's own doctor stated that the diet was not for everyone. The concentration of garlic used in the study reported by the New York Times was the equivalent of eating approximately two medium-sized cloves a day. In countries where garlic heavy diets appear to provide disease prevention, per person consumption is eight to 12 cloves per day. You can receive the maximum benefits of garlic by allowing it to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes after crushing.

Warning

Refrain from embarking on such an extreme diet without first consulting your doctor. The limited nature of the diet fails to provide needed nutrients. The benefits of onion and garlic can be experienced in a variety of dishes, without utilizing such an extreme diet regimen