The 3-Day Cardiac Diet is one of the many names given to a quick weight loss plan that is alleged to have been used as a way to help cardiac surgery patients lose weight prior to surgery. Also known as the "Cleveland Clinic Diet," the "American Heart Association Diet" and the "Birmingham Hospital Cardiac Unit Diet," the program consists of a detailed list of meal plans that, if strictly followed, can supposedly help you lose up to 10 lbs in three days. Health professionals, however, criticize the 3-Day Cardiac Diet as potentially harmful to your health and warn that it is a poor choice for people seeking long-term, sustainable weight loss. Speak to your doctor about the possible risks before beginning the 3-Day Cardiac Diet.
Cardiac Diet Guidelines
Followers of the 3-Day Cardiac Diet are instructed to adhere to specific breakfast, lunch and dinner menus for three days. After this time, the dieters are allowed to return to their normal eating habits for four days, then to repeat the three-day cycle if they wish to lose more weight. Breakfasts on the diet consist of various combinations of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, an egg, toast, saltine crackers, a banana or a slice of cheese accompanied by tea, black coffee or water. Lunch may include more crackers or toast paired with tuna, cottage cheese or an egg, and dinner consists of hot dogs, 3 oz. of lean meat, vegetables like carrots, green beans or broccoli, and 1/2 to 1 cup of vanilla ice cream. Salt, pepper, lemon juice and mustard are the only condiments allowed. Few food substitutions are recommended since, according to the diet's proponents, this will decrease the ability of the food combinations to help you lose weight.
Effects of Low-Calorie Diets
If you follow the 3-Day Cardiac diet exactly as detailed, you will consume approximately between 600 to 1,100 calories per day. MayoClinic.com doesn't recommend diets that provide less than 1,200 calories daily since they may increase your risk of becoming deficient in protein or in essential vitamins and minerals like iron or calcium. In addition, any eating plan that provides too few calories may cause your body to begin breaking down muscle for energy and can weaken your heart, kidneys and immune system.
Effects of High-Fat Diets
The 3-Day Cardiac Diet menu instructs followers to eat foods like ice cream and hot dogs that are high in cholesterol and saturated fats while severely limiting intake of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. The American Heart Association warns that diets high in fat and low in fiber are directly linked to an increased risk of medical conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, stroke, high cholesterol and certain types of cancers.
Expert Insight
Both the Cleveland Clinic and the American Heart Association have publicly stated that they did not develop the 3-Day Cardiac Diet and do not endorse the program as a way to either lose weight or enhance your health. Both medical institutions encourage dieters to avoid restrictive "crash" diets like the 3-Day Cardiac Diet and instead focus on making lifestyle changes that can lead to long-term weight loss and a decreased risk of serious medical problems in the future. These changes include exercising regularly and eating low-fat, low-sugar foods like whole grains, fish, lean meats, beans, seeds, nuts and a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
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