On June 30, 2009, a segment of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" featured Oprah's friend and physician, Dr. Mehmet Oz, discussing the advantages of the calorie restriction diet. The rules are similar to other low-calorie diets, but Oz indicates the plan can promote health as well as weight loss. Like many subjects touched on by Winfrey on her show, the diet subsequently experienced a surge in popularity.
Purpose
Oz told Winfrey's audience that by restricting calories to just a portion of what you normally consume, you'll teach your body to conserve its resources. By choosing the right foods to help you stay within the calorie limits, your body will have less toxic waste to deal with and dispose of, so your cells will live longer. According to Oz, this results in improved health, cognitive abilities and mood. Oz also indicates that calorie restriction could increase your lifespan and help you to lose weight.
Rules
Calorie restriction involves two rules. First, figure out how many calories you usually consume per day, then cut that number by a certain percentage. The exact percentage is up to you. Guests and proponents of the diet on the June 2009 "The Oprah Winfrey Show" indicated that they had cut up to 30 percent. Next, make your calories count. Replace unhealthy foods in your diet with healthier ones. For example, choose fruit instead of other snacks.
Foods Allowed
Calorie restriction doesn't prohibit any particular foods, but Oz indicates that if you're going limit your daily calories, you can't use them all up on a cheeseburger or a slab of chocolate cake. A guest on the show advised focusing on lean protein sources, fruits and vegetables. Get your fats from nut or plant sources. Choose foods that are low in calories but cover the spectrum of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body requires daily.
Pros
Like most low-calorie diets, if you stick to calorie restriction faithfully, you will most likely lose weight. One of Winfrey's guests reported losing 45 lbs. He had been on the diet for seven years and indicated that both his heart rate and blood pressure improved. He also said he has more energy. Another guest indicated he felt "like being kinder" to others. Although the calorie limits you set for yourself might feel like deprivation, you can indulge in a treat occasionally, as long as you stay under your calorie quota. This might make the diet feel less restrictive.
Cons
Oz cited studies done on rodents to support the premise of calorie restriction, and Diets In Review indicates that, as of 2010, no human studies have proven it increases the lifespans of people. The diet requires counting calories, but if you stick with the similar fruits, vegetables and lean meat from day to day, you'll probably memorize the calorie counts in short order.
Member Comments