1. The Ornish Diet Has Too Little Fat
Dean Ornish, MD, author of "Eat More, Weigh Less," touts a low-fat diet. However, careful nutritional research and a study of native diets reveals that the human body needs quite a bit of fat. One of the health risks of the Ornish Diet is that you may not receive the nutrition you need. Weight loss is better achieved by cutting nutrition-less carbohydrates, not good fats and oils. Those on the Ornish diet may be at risk for vitamin deficiencies, since several important vitamins are fat soluble. Without sufficient fat, dieters will be unable to utilize these vitamins.
2. Vegetarianism Is Encouraged in the Ornish Diet
Even lean meats contain small amounts of fat, which is considered taboo by the Ornish diet. Thus, low-fat vegetarianism is touted as the healthy way to eat. Nothing could be further from the truth. Overall, vegetarians have a higher mortality rate than those who eat meat and dairy products. While grains and vegetables, prepared correctly, are very good, most need fats and proteins in animal products to be fully utilized by the body. Vegetarianism poses many health risks and may lead to nutritional deficiencies.
3. The Ornish Diet Disallows Fish
Many types of fish and seafood offer excellent health benefits, providing omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and nutrients. The Ornish diet frowns on fish, so those following its recommendations will miss out on all the health benefits of fish and seafood. Fish oils are especially helpful for ensuring proper brain function and have long been revered as a superfood in many cultures across the world. One of the health risks of the Ornish Diet is missing out on the benefits of these important foods.
4. Know the Risks of Soy in the Ornish Diet
The Ornish Diet promotes products, including frozen processed meals, full of soy and partially hydrogenated oils. The health risks of both soy and partially hydrogenated oil are well documented by health researchers and independent studies. Soy is heavily marketed by growers and soy companies, but the overwhelming evidence is that soy is not a healthy food for people. Furthermore, somewhere in the vicinity of 80 percent of soy is genetically modified, which has its own harmful effects.
5. Ornish Dieters Eat Excessive Carbohydrates
Ornish Diet followers get the majority (70 percent) of their caloric intake from carbohydrates. The body tends to store carbs, and too many of the wrong type of carbohydrates can lead to weight gain. We do need carbohydrates, but not in excessive quantity. One of the risks of the Ornish Diet is improper nutritional balance.
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