The Sacred Heart Wellness Diet is also known as the Sacred Heart Medical Diet or simply the Sacred Heart Diet. It is a fad diet based around a soup that spans seven days. As it gained popularity, so did the myth that the diet was originated by the cardiology department at Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital or by the Sacred Heart Medical Center. However, both these claims are false urban legends and are vigorously denied by both these groups, who condemn the diet as unhealthy and unsustainable.
Proponents of the Sacred Heart Wellness Diet claim that you will lose 10 to 17 lbs. on the diet. Even if this extreme weight loss is possible, it is not advisable. The recommended amount of safe weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs. per week. Proponents also claim the combination of the foods is responsible for the weight loss, which has never been studied or proven. The actual cause of weight loss is a drastic reduction in calories, and a drop in water weight because of the high liquid consumption. The high-fiber intake of the diet may also be responsible for causing dieters to drop pounds if they experience increased bowel movements.
Soup Ingredients
If you follow this diet, you may eat as much of the soup as you want, at any time. The soup's ingredients are: one or two cans of stewed tomatoes, three large green onions, one large can of non-fat beef broth, one package of Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup mix, one bunch of celery, two cans of green beans, 2 lbs. of carrots and two green peppers. Allowable seasonings for the soup are salt, pepper, curry, parsley, bouillon, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The soup is made by simply cutting the vegetables and boiling them in the broth.
Routine
Each day on the diet has a set diet and number of items you can consume. The foods vary each day, and include one day with any fruit except bananas. Other days include a day of unlimited nonstarchy vegetables, days with bananas and milk and days with meat and tomatoes. Each day also includes unlimited soup.
Risks
Because of the emphasis on vegetables, this fad diet is not as unhealthy as others, but it is not a nutritionally sound way of eating. For example, the number of calories on any given day may not be enough to sustain an adult's activities. On many days, the protein or fat intake is low, and these are essential nutrients. Furthermore, by banning large numbers of foods on any given day, the diet does not teach a healthy relationship with food and may lead to cravings and binging or may exacerbate eating disorders. Consult with a dietitian, nutritionist or your physician before beginning this diet.
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