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Pritikin Diet
Background
The Pritikin program was originally published as a diet and fitness plan (around 1979). The book was authored by Nathan Pritikin. Nathan founded the Pritikin Longevity Center in California.
Robert Pritikin carried on the work of his father, publishing the book The Pritikin Weight Loss Breakthrough – advocating a ratio of about 10% fats. Since Pritikin has published an updated version in 2007 called The New Pritikin Program.
Pritikin Diet Outline
The Pritikin Center advocate a very low fat diet that is high in carbohydrates. A traditional low fat diet is comprised of 20-30% fat. Very low fat diets go much lower than this.
Pritikin doesn’t have a distinct diet plan, but something called the Pritikin Calorie Density Solution. This involves looking at the combined calorie content of a whole meal. They aim to combine lower calorie content foods such as Pasta, Potatoes, Rice, Fruit, Vegetables, Seafood, and Poultry – with a small amount of fats (which they refer to as “forbidden”).
They make the interesting claim “…eat as much as you want… and you’ll still lose weight safely”.
Pritikin Diet – Is it Good?
Some of the claims made seem simply as sales speak. While it is good to reduce the fat in your diet, it is also easy to gain weight by eating too much processed or refined carbohydrates.
Some diets are only appropriate for certain people. If you are carb sensitive, this diet will not do you any favors, but some of the principles are sound.
Resources
The New Pritikin Program retails for $20.95.
I lost weight on using THE PRITIKIN PROMISE paperback several years ago – my doctor approved of this diet. I cherish this little book, but am sending it to my Son.This WILL work for you if you but try.
I am overweight because I eat the wrong foods and too much of it.
The guy who wrote South Beach diet is still alive.
WILL THE PRITIKEN DIET WORK 4 ME I, AM A DIABETIC?
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO WORK AS I 40LBS OVERWEIGHT & I,
AM ON INSULIN. WHICH DOES DOES NOT HELP EITHER.
PLEASE I NEED HELP.
THANK YOU,
MARILYN
The Pritikin Diet, like any diet is goning to take self control and effort. Nathan Pritikin made a promise, the Pritikin Promise, and if you try this diet your health and life will change dramatically for the good! And Pritikin did have a very distict diet plan, 75% carbs(high fiber, not refined), 15% protien(lean low fat), and 10% fat(healthy non sat). He spent a great part of his life studying cultures with very low rates of cancer, heart desease, and diebeties, and looked at how their diets and active life styles made this possible. All you have to do is look at what body builders do when dieting and you will see what Nathan was saying so many years ago about complex carbs and lean protien, and healthy fats.
“Some of the claims made seem simply sales speak. While it is good to reduce the fat in your diet, it is also easy to gain weight by eating too much processed or refined carbohydrate.
Some diets are only appropriate for certain people. If you are carb sensitive, this diet will not do you any favors – but some of the principles are sound.”
I know this diet very well and it is NOT sales speak, there are over 110 solid research studies proving this diet is probably the best diet on earth…TRULY. What you said below about refined/processed carbs is NOT in the Pritikin diet. He clearly is very against such carbs. Very few people have a problem with the high carb intake because they are all complex carbs and veggies and mild fruit intake. MANY THOUSANDS of people have been at the Pritikin center with amazing results for decades now, so it is not sales speak at all.
I highly recommend this diet. You will feel great, drop weight and almost completely eliminate the possibility of heart disease or obesity every being a part of your life.
Eating a very lowfat diet and getting regular exercise, with the carbs coming from Real Food ™ is healthier than any of the weird diets out there. You know the guy who wrong South Beach Diet died of heart disease, right?
My mom tried it. It didn’t work, all it did was make her sick.
“Pritikin Diet – Is it Good? …it is also easy to gain weight by eating too much processed or refined carbohydrate.” I was under the impression that the Pritikn Diet advocates against the eating of processed or refined carbohydrates.
The whole carb thing has been overplayed! Yes, REFINED carbs can cause health and possibly weight problems, but eating lots of healthy carbs- fruits and veggies etc. can help most people get healthier and LOSE WEIGHT! The sugars in produce are absorbed by the body more slowly, especially when the fiber found in produce is taken into consideration. This will prevent the problem of insulin imbalance that can occur from too much fat or refined carbs.
The Pritikin Diet can be successful and health-promoting, but the main problem is NOT the carbs, it’s that too many people don’t have the discipline it takes to cut fat percentages that low. It’s doable, but tough, especially in our culture that promotes eating unhealthy food such as junky snacks and high fat and sugar laden foods!