Duke University’s Rice Diet Program is a lifestyle program that helps treat heart disease, prevent diabetes and foster weight loss. Implemented in 1939, the Rice Diet promises to teach patients basic tenets to promote healthy, permanent lifestyle changes through constant monitoring, educational classes and a supportive team of medical professionals.
History
The Rice Diet was created by Duke University’s Walter Kempner. Kempner originally experimented with the effects of rice on individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes. He found that those using rice as a food staple rarely suffered from either of the two diseases. He consequently developed a diet of rice, fruit, juices and sugar along with a variety of iron and vitamin supplements. Since 1939, more than 18,000 people have used the Rice Diet program to treat obesity, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. The Rice Diet program is operated as a part of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Patients are medically supervised over the course of 2 to 4 weeks in a live-in program near the university. It is specifically designed for rapid weight loss.
While initial menu selection is limited, over time participants have a wide range of items from which to select, including a variety of rice. According to the book "The Rice Diet Solution," the diet is a low-fat, low-sodium diet which also restricts the consumption of sugar and processed foods Sugar and sodium are appetite stimulants that participants are to avoid. Participants may choose from a menu of approximately 30 items consisting of fruits, vegetables, beans, non-fat dairy, whole-grain starches and lean protein. Calories are limited to from under 1,000 to a little over 1,200 while on the program.
Phase One
Phase one of the diet lasts for one week. The goal of phase one is to detox and prepare the body for lasting weight loss. The first day, participants eat fruits and grains only. This diet, which consists of 2 starches and 2 fruits for each of the three meals, is referred to as the Basic Rice Diet. For the rest of the week vegetables, whole-grain cereal or bread and non-fat dairy are added. Breakfast consists of one starch, one non-fat dairy and one fruit. Lunch and dinner includes 3 starches, 3 vegetables and one fruit. This is the Lacto-Vegetarian Rice Diet.
Phase Two
The focus of phase two is lasting weight loss. Each week begins with one day of the Basic Rice Diet. The diet for the next five days includes fruits, vegetables, grains, non-fat dairy and whole grain cereal or bread or the Lacto-Vegetarian Rice Diet. On the seventh day, 1 protein source is added to the diet. This is referred to as the Vegetarian Plus Rice Diet. Breakfast includes 2 starches and 1 fruit. Lunch is 3 starches, 3 vegetables and 1 fruit. Dinner is 3 starches, 3 protein or 2 dairy, 3 vegetables and 1 fruit. This phase increases the sodium intake due to the presence of natural sodium in whole foods. Incorporating the protein group adds 200 calories a day to the diet.
Phase Three
Once your goals have been met, you move into phase three, the maintenance phase. The diet in phase three is the same plan as phase two, but more food choices are available.
Results
Participants on average lose approximately 20 to 30 pounds in the first month. Afterwards, a 2 to 3 pound weight loss per week is normal. The program garners successful results for the majority of the participants. According "The Rice Diet Solution," 63 percent of those who have lost weight on the program report they have maintained their weight one year later. And in most cases, reliance on prescription medication has been reduced or eliminated altogether.
References
- The Rice Diet Program
- EveryDiet: Rice Diet
- "The Rice Diet Solution: The World-Famous Low-Sodium..."; Kitty Gurkin Rosati and Robert Rosati
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