Many of today's 3-day diets are different in name only. The Navy Cardiac 3-Day diet is basically the same as the Birmingham Cardiac Diet, and the Kaiser and American Heart Association Diet. According to The Diet Channel, because of the food recommended by the Cleveland Clinic 3-Day Diet, "it is also sometimes known as the Hot Dog Diet or the Cabbage Diet." All these diets claim you can lose 10 lbs. in three days.
History
The history of this type of diet is uncertain. Some people say three-day diets can be traced back to the 1980s, when faxing diets became popular. Some versions claim to have been designed by a hospital or medical institution. No such claims have been verified. According to The Diet Channel, "The Cleveland Clinic denies any association with the so-called Cleveland Clinic 3-day diet, as does the American Heart Association with the so-called American Heart Association 3-day diet."
Function
This diet strictly limits calorie intake to 800-1,000 per day. The combination of foods included in the diet are supposed to increase the rate of metabolism and burn off fat. According to the Diet Channel, dieters "are probably losing water weight, with possibly a little fat loss and some muscle mass loss through the reduced caloric intake." The diet generates a rapid weight loss in 72 hours and has no influence on future eating habits.
The Diet
According to the website Diet.com, the Navy cardiac 3-day diet is as follows: Day 1, breakfast of black coffee or tea, 1/2 grapefruit, one slice toast with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter. Lunch is 1/2 cup tuna, one piece dry toast, black coffee or tea. Dinner is 3 oz. lean meat, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup carrots, 1 apple, 1 cup vanilla ice cream. Day 2 is breakfast of one egg, one slice dry toast, 1/2 banana, black coffee or tea. Lunch is 1 cup cottage cheese or tuna, six crackers. Dinner is two hot dogs, 1 cup broccoli or cabbage, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream. Day 3 is breakfast of 1 apple, 1 oz. cheddar cheese, five Saltine brand crackers, black tea or coffee. Lunch is one hard-boiled egg, one slice dry toast. Dinner is 1 cup tuna, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup cauliflower, 1 cup melon or 1/2 cup cantaloupe, and 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream.
Seasonings, Rules
This diet allows such seasonings as salt, pepper, soy sauce, lemon, mustard, ketchup, vinegar, herbs, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Any seasonings containing fat are forbidden. Any deviation is supposed to jeopardize the weight loss promised. Although some dieters may feel good both physically and psychologically with their quick weight loss, the opposite may occur if and when their weight increases a few weeks afterward.
Considerations
Anyone considering a diet such as this should consult a physician beforehand. It will work for some people and not for others. According to Diet.com, severe limitation of caloric intake has its risks. The side effects of 800 calories per day can include gall stones and cardiovascular problems. Strict low-calorie diets should be limited to the extremely obese and those with significant medical difficulties linked to obesity. This diet usually leads to "yo-yo" weight loss and gain.
