1. No Grains, No Gain
The No-Grain Diet is the brainchild of Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician. The book of the same name details the theory behind the diet plan, which essentially says cutting out carbohydrates by eliminating the intake of grains and sugars will not only help you lose weight, but might stop the underlying cause of some diseases such as cancer or diabetes. This three-phase diet plan culled "Total Health Program" by Dr. Mercola consists of a start-up phase (complete elimination of grains for three days), a stabilize phase (introducing exercise and supplements) and a lifelong sustain phase that adopts positive lifestyle changes.
2. Foods to Say Goodbye To, Some to Say Hello To
On the No-Grain Diet, you'll have to turn away from some your favorite foods. White breads, pastas, pastries, cereals, potatoes, white rice: say goodbye to all of these carbohydrate-rich foods. The diet also says no to most fish, processed foods and polyunsaturated oils. The diet does state that some whole grains and even potatoes are not necessarily bad, and after the initial start-up phase may be consumed in moderation, but generally the diet emphasizes eating organic fruits (in limited quantities) and vegetables, eggs and high-quality meats.
3. Too Much of Any One Thing Is Bad
So the real culprit in bad eating habits, according to Dr. Mercola, is an excess of carbohydrates. It has been shown that high consumption of carbohydrates leads to weight gain (since the body's ability to store excess carbohydrates is limited and thus converts them to fat), bloating, fatigue, depression, high blood pressure and low blood sugar. The No-Grain Diet uses the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), an acupressure system that combines stimulation of pressure points on the head with positive thinking to help eliminate carbohydrate and sugar cravings.
4. Refined Versus Whole
It should be noted that the grains targeted in the No-Grain Diet are those that are refined, such as white breads and most cereals, rather than whole grains. Oats, brown rice, whole-grain cereals and bran are all examples of whole grains that are beneficial to health as well as in weight control. Since these grains are fiber-rich, they tend to fill you up, so you'll eat less and therefore not consume as many carbohydrates as you would by eating refined grains.
5. Is No-Grain a No-Brainer?
Despite the decrease in fat-causing carbohydrates and an emphasis on healthier foods, the No-Grain Diet should be carefully considered before being undertaken. For example, fish and polyunsaturated oils are included in the American Dietetic Association's recommendations for a healthy diet. The diet also calls for eating raw egg whites, a practice that's not considered healthy for the digestive system, as well as consumption of raw nuts and unprocessed grains like quinoa and amaranth, all of which should ideally be exposed to necessary processing methods to remove toxins and neutralize enzyme inhibitors.
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