What to Eat on the Waterfall Diet

If you're having trouble losing weight, one author claims it may be because of excess water rather than excess fat. In her 1999 book "The Waterfall Diet," naturopathic nutritionist Linda Lazarides details an eating plan she says will reduce the amount of fluid you retain and help you lose up to 14 pounds in a week 2. Because the Waterfall Diet contains highly restrictive guidelines for what you can and cannot eat and promises dramatic weight loss in a short time, it qualifies as a fad diet, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 23. In addition, some experts say the diet is based on faulty science. Talk to your doctor before attempting any diet, especially if you have special health considerations.

Phase 1 Foods

Lazarides argues that the primary cause of water retention -- and excess weight -- is an allergy to certain foods 2. But registered dietitian Dee Sandquist, a former Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman, says that medical research does not support the idea that a food allergy alone causes weight gain. During the initial phase of Lazarides' Waterfall Diet, followers are instructed to eat only vegetables, fruit, brown rice, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, chicken and soy products like tofu for two months to eliminate potential allergens 2. All wheat-based grains, flour products like bread or pasta, dairy items, red meat, sugar, coffee, alcohol, eggs and processed foods are to be completely avoided.

Phase 2 Foods

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During the second phase of Lazarides' program, Waterfall dieters add a previously forbidden category of food into their meals each week, watching for weight gain or symptoms like unusual fatigue, headaches or congestion. These symptoms are supposed to indicate that you are allergic to or have an intolerance of that particular food. Sandquist says that while a true food sensitivity can cause these symptoms, it may have no connection at all to weight gain. Phase 2 is four weeks. Wheat crackers, wheat flour or egg-free wheat pasta is added in week 1, while dairy products like cheese, yogurt and cow's milk are included in week 2. Week 3 allows eggs, and yeast can be added in week 4.

Phase 3 Foods

The final phase of the Waterfall plan is designed to form the eating habits you'll follow in the future. Lazarides advises that 90 percent of your diet during phase 3 should be made up of only the foods that were allowed during phase 1. The remaining 10 percent of what you eat can include foods reintroduced during phase 2 or that were not allowed during the first two phases of the diet as long as they do not trigger symptoms or lead to weight gain. Sandquist cautions that if the foods you eliminate from your diet are replaced by higher-calorie choices -- high-fat gluten-free products, for instance -- you may continue to struggle with weight loss.

Expert Insight

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If you strictly adhere to the Waterfall diet and eat only the recommended foods during phase 1, it's likely you'll lose weight 2. You may also be more likely to become deficient in essential nutrients like iron and calcium, however. The restriction on cereal grains may increase the risk of zinc deficiency in vegans and strict vegetarians. FamilyDoctor.org recommends choosing a balanced low-calorie, low-fat, nutrient-dense diet that includes a wide variety of foods. Ask your physician for advice before starting the Waterfall diet 2.