The Hallelujah Diet, developed by the Rev. George M. Malkmus, is based in Christian tenets, specifically Genesis 1:29 of the Bible: "And God said, See, I have given you every plant producing seed, on the face of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit producing seed: they will be for your food." Malkmus claims that eating the Hallelujah Diet cured him of colon cancer, but according to a September 2007 ABC news report, nutritionists who advocate eating more vegetables and fruits remain unconvinced. Followers of the Hallelujah Diet claim that it has cured them of ailments such as acid reflux, arthritis, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer, but such anecdotal evidence cannot be confirmed. The Hallelujah Diet consists mostly of raw food and is strictly vegan, which can make it difficult to adhere to for a lifetime.
Hallelujah Diet Basics
Step 1
Start by transitioning from what Malkmus calls the standard American diet, or SAD. Increase drinking "live" foods, such as vegetable juice, and drink plenty of purified water. Reduce or eliminate animal products and all processed foods--eat more fiber instead. Reduce stress, get more rest and begin to exercise and spend time in the sun.
Step 2
Educate yourself on the structure of the Hallelujah Diet. Eighty-five percent of daily intake comes from raw foods, with 15 percent of that coming from fruits. The other 15 percent is to come from cooked foods. Expect your diet to consist mostly of fresh vegetable juice, raw soaked grains and beans, and raw soups and vegetables. A limited amount of raw nuts is permitted. Cooked foods may include caffeine-free beverages, such as tea, stewed fruit, and cooked grains, beans and vegetables.
Step 3
Part company with your common foods and snacks. Prohibited on the Hallelujah Diet: coffee, alcoholic beverages, soda pop and all types of meat and dairy, processed foods--such as potato chips, and sweets--such as cake, cookies and doughnuts.
A Day in the Hallelujah Diet
Step 1
Skip the breakfast meal. The Hallelujah Diet website notes that a serving of BarleyMax, a supplement sold by Hallelujah Acres, is either mixed with room-temperature water or with fresh vegetable juice.
Step 2
Eat an all-raw meal for lunch that can consist of raw vegetables or fruit. Thirty minutes before eating, have another serving of the BarleyMax drink.
Step 3
Start supper with another serving of BarleyMax. Thirty minutes later, eat a raw, leafy green salad. Supper is when the 15 percent cooked portion of the meal can be eaten--examples of cooked food include baked potato, steamed vegetables, brown rice, cooked legumes and whole-grain pasta.
Step 4
Include mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening snacks. Eight-ounce glasses of fresh carrot or vegetable juice are permitted during the day. According to the Hallelujah Diet website, an evening snack of a fresh piece of fruit may be eaten if desired, keeping in mind that fruit cannot consist of more than 15 percent of one's daily consumption.
Step 5
Complement the diet with Malkmus' other suggestions on how to get the best benefits. Enjoy at least 15 minutes in the sun each day when possible and exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.
Member Comments