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Rice Diet
The Rice Diet is the basis for a medically-supervised, live-in program designed for rapid weight-loss over a period of 2 to 4 weeks or more, in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and renal disease. The program operates as part of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Origins of the Rice Diet
The originator of the Rice Diet was Walter Kempner, born Germany 1903, who joined Duke University’s Department of Medicine in 1934. Kempner investigated the effect of diet on diseases including hypertension and diabetes, and found that they were rarely problems for people using rice as a staple food.
Kempner developed a diet of rice, fruit, juices, sugar, plus vitamin and iron supplements to help people with these and related health problems. The Kempner diet or Rice Diet has been used since 1939 in treating, often with dramatic results, more than 18,000 patients from around the world suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart disease and hypertension.
Available in book form: The Rice Diet Solution by Robert Rosati
Rice Diet Program
The Rice Diet is not like fad diets which come and go, but has developed into a complete, proven and well-respected program for improving health. As well as meals using the Rice Diet, the program provides classes, groups and workshops for stress management and exercise, nutritional lectures, and personal medical supervision.
Menu Plans
Participants in the program have a limited menu selection initially, then choose from a range of items comprising fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, fish, and legumes (beans), varied daily. The name Rice Diet is somewhat confusing (the diet origins being the study of rice as a staple), as more than 30 food items are available, including a number of rices.
Sample Menu
Day One: Basic Rice Diet
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner: 2 Starches, 2 Fruits
Days Two through Seven: Lacto-Vegetarian Rice Diet
- Breakfast: 1 Starch, 1 Non-fat Dairy, 1 Fruit
- Lunch and Dinner: 3 Starches, 3 Vegetables, 1 Fruit
Basic rules of thumb on serving sizes:
- 1 Starch = 1 slice bread, 1/3 cup cooked rice or beans, or 1/2 cup cooked pasta
- 1 Fruit = 1 medium sized fruit, 1/2 banana, or 1 cup cut fruit
- 1 Vegetable = 1 cup uncooked or 1/2 cup cooked
- 1 Dairy = 1 cup milk, 1 cup yogurt, or 1/2 cup cottage cheese.
Low Salt
Salt is restricted in the Rice Diet, since the body swells with salt (sodium) and water. Most people’s diet contains approx. 4-7 grams of sodium, yet less than half a gram a day is necessary for normal body function.
Salt is a problem for patients with high blood pressure and kidney failure, and this is true also for most people if present in higher quantities in the diet. Salt stimulates the appetite, whereas herbs and spices simply flavor the food.
Limiting salt reduces several health risks, including cholesterol, blood pressure, heart size and weight, as well as reducing the need to medicate for these problems.
Low Fat
As well as being low-salt, the daily diet contains 5 gm or less of fat, about 20 gm of protein, and not more than 150 mg of sodium.
On completion of the program, resources are available for participants to continue with a healthy lifestyle, and to maintain the improved health gained while on the residential program.
Resources
The Rice Diet Solution by Robert Rosati (released December 2005)
Rice Diet Program – Official Site
Look for healthy rice recipes here.
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Hi…I just started the diet yesterday and followed the WW menus. I added up the calories, fat and carbs at the end of the day and had 1014 calories, 175 carbs and 7 fat. Not too worried about the calories and fat but the carbs seemed high. Also, I have a question about what kind of brown rice people are eating. We are pretty limited in our grocery store and I bought the Uncle Bens boil in a bag brown rice but it doesnt have much fiber. Any suggestions would be helpful.
was also wondering if carrots or tomatoes are allowed? or just green veges?
the WW magazine allows 3 oz. of fish or chicken for dinner…the book is strictly vegetarian…which one are most of you following? and does it make that much difference? Has anyone tried tofu for a substitute? I’m wondering if I should buy the book? Does it show the 30 different foods you are allowed? I’m not sure on which vegetables are allowed, such as tomatoes, which have a lot of sodium….thanks for any answer…dory
Looks like we all saw this diet in the WW Magazine! I tried this diet for 2 1/2 days (I always have had an excuse to quit a diet, and gee I’m still overweight!) and I lost 5 pounds in that time. Now I’m starting it again and my goal is to stick to it until Nov 15, just to see how well it works for me until then (I’m a girl who also needs a timeline). I like eating the jasmine rice, which has a nice texture and fragrance. Here’s hoping we all stick to the plan and shed the pounds!
Today is 10/13/2010; I have read the article in the WW magazine about this Rice Diet. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, so I am willing to give this a try. I pray that it works for me like it has for so many of you! It nice to know that there is support along the journey!!
I’ve just started the diet. Nothing works for me – weight watchers – I maintained, low carb – I maintained, journaling – weight crept on. So, here goes.
One thing I would like to add that may help even though I am following the diet I am also writing down in a small book a log of everything I eat and drink I also add the calories and the sodium I know the diet says it has a 1000 calorie limit but as I was writing down everything I’m like 90 calories over so my advice is to be mindful of everything Good Luck to everyone trying it!!
Hi, this is to all of you people out there that are doing this diet. I debate with myself on this all the time and it causes me confusion so I was hoping one of you guys can help me out. I found this diet in the Woman’s world Magazine and it gives the meal plans for the diet. My questions is, you know how they have for example, the meal plan for the first day as the following: Breakfast: 2 starches;2 fruits, and then Lunch and Dinner: 2 starches, 1 fruit, and 1 dairy, would this be for EVERY meal or
I have to eat this together for my lunch and dinner?
Thank you so much Valerie for posting the diet! I gave away my magazine and never got it back….I really want to give this a try. Thanks to everyone here too for the feedback. It’s always helpful to hear others’ experiences. Wish me luck! I will post in a week or so to give my feedback, hopefully good!
Hello wonderful ladies…would anyone like to give me one days list of foods from breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and amount of fluids that you have been drinking and loosing weight…maybe I am doing something eating too much of one thing not enough of the other…i don’t know…but its sad for me that I gained weight and to hear all you wonderful ladies loosing weight…congrats to you…i hope someone wont mind to step up and give me a days worth menu from what you have had. Thank you.
cloe,
According to the book they dont want you to drink more than 74 ounces of liquid,I dont know if that has anything to do with it. Are you eating all your combinations including fruit etc each meal? I am sorry your having no success
I started diet one week ago and lost 11 pounds, I think it is a great diet. I read about diet in Womens world and then went to Barnes and Noble and bought the book” The Rice Diet Solution” I am wondering if maybe Cleo bought the wrong book.
I have now completed one week on the rice diet and I am down 17 pounds. I have been on every diet on the planet for the past 20 years and nothing has worked like this diet.
Congratulations to everyone that has found success on this diet. As for me…I did it for 5 days following the diet to a T and what did I accomplish, a weight gain of 6 lbs. As of today I am officially off this diet, since this diet is not met for everyone…carbs and I don’t work! I will try the non carb diet and hopefully I will have more success. Good luck to all of you…and keep up the good work.
Cleo –
If you also look at the book, which I had to special order and cannot return, it has no “rice” in the menus! They are full of barley, wheat, and oats – all things I was not anticipating as I am a celiac and cannot EAT those! There is only one sample menu that contains rice – lunch on one day.
I wrote to Womans World and to the Rice Diet Program’s site. I get a call back from Kitty Gurkin’s ‘nurse’ Jayne, and she starts the conversation with “First of all . . .” in this very stern voice. Who wants to listen when someone starts the conversation so unprofessionally and rudely?
Quite frankly, I can’t believe they are trying to push this off as the Duke University diet! They should be sued!
I got the issue of Woman’s World and started September 13th Today is Thursday 16th I’ve already lost 9lbs. It works, I hate the rice, but it does work!!
hi, i started the diet a week and a day ago. i have never felt better. i lost 5 lbs. the first week. i also bought the book entitled the rice diet renewal. the book really explains it. hope all you us do well!
So here it is. I read the September issue of Womens World about the rice diet. It seemed tooo good to be true. I have tried all kinds of diets, have paid a lot of money…and the end result always is, me gaining the weight back and some. So I decided to try the rice diet. I started it on Monday September 13th. I have followed the diet from the book to the exact. I have been drinking 10 glasses of water. I got on the scale this morning…and I GAINED 2 POUNDS! What did I do wrong? Does my body not like carbs, startches? I love the diet, I am never hungry but why is my scale reading the wrong way…it should show me going down, not up? I also have supper before 5pm and have nothing to eat only water till bedtime. Does anyone know what could be wrong? Anyone have any tips for me?
Oh, thank you Valerie for reprinting the diet. I took my magazine with me to the grocery store. It disappeared! Maybe the checkout clerk will join us. If so, I hope it is successful for her too.
I also read about the diet in Women’s World. I have been reading about diets and nutrition for at least 30 years and have never heard of the Rice Diet prior to this article. I have started today. I have always been against fad diets. This diet sounds like a winner. I do need to lose weight and lower my cholesterol. I have not had success just eating less. I am looking forward to the results.
Can you really lose 4-5 lbs a week! The menus look varied, I am in Central America now where people survive on a similar diet/lifestyle, but they use a lot of oil in preparation? Any thoughts about how oil impacts the diet?
Thanks
I saw this diet also, I am excited about doing this. I have quiet a few pounds to lose and I do believe this will get me back on track. Can anyone tell me if they have been on it and how much they have lost so far and what time span. Also, I take it we use regular rice, nothing organic, etc.? Thanks for your input. Good Luck TO US All.
I have been reading up on this diet all morning I also seen it in WW Sept. Issue I’m so excited to begin this diet just a reminder please do not forget to take a multi vitamin along with this diet I read that throughout my research good luck and be blessed will update progress! =]
I have the same magazine… it sounds strict, but at the same time, it takes the worry out of what to eat.. Im starting next wk so I’ll be interested to hear how imtexan and Chica007 is doing!! Good luck!!
Hi all! . . . I read the WW magazine 6 Sept. issue, and thought the diet sounded interesting. I started yesterday morning, using the meal plan in the article. This morning, I am down 4 1/2 pounds!! With all of the fiber in the rice (I use Rice Select-Royal Blend) and all of the fruit, I believe the first loss is from a cleanse. It is hard for me not to eat between meals, but I am sticking to it. Also, for ease of preparation, I use the frozen vegetables (no sauce added) in the “steam” bags. 6 min. in the microwave! Anyway, good luck to all!
I have already started this diet. They had the diet plan posted in the September issue of Women’s world. I have only been on it 2 days and i have lost 4lbs!
I have posted it below:
DUKE UNIVERSITY RICE DIET
** You need to talk a multi-vitamin once a day on this diet
*** NO SALT – use herbs and spices to season your food
*** Drink Water and caffeine-free coffee or tea (you can use a sugar substitute for coffee and tea)
For each meal time you will have 3 menu selections to choose from each day for FIVE DAYS. On the SIXTH DAY you will do the “TURBO MENU”
(choose one daily)
MEAL 1
6 oz plain fat free yogurt
2/3 cup of berries or any fruit
1 slice whole grain toast (1tsp all-fruit jam)
MEAL 2
2/3 cup brown rice
2 cups or 2 pieces of fruit
MEAL 3
1 cup high fiber cereal
1 cup of soy or fat-free milk
½ banana or 1 piece any other fruit
———-
(choose one daily)
MEAL 1
½ can vegetarian chili ** I use hormel vegetarian chili
6 no-salt corn chips or ¼ cup brown rice
2 cups tossed salad (season with oil and vinegar and herbs)
1 piece of fruit
MEAL 2
1 ½ cups whole wheat pasta
1 cup steamed veggies
½ cup no-salt tomato sauce
1 cup fruit or fruit salad
MEAL 3
1 ½ cups grilled vegetables
2Tbs Greek yogurt
1 whole wheat pita
1 cup grapes or any fresh fruit
—–
(choose one daily)
MEAL 1
1 cup brown rice or wild rice
3 oz baked fish, shrimp or chicken (use herb seasonings, olive oil)
1 ½ cups salad veggies (ex: raw broccoli, squash, tomatoes)
1 piece of fruit
MEAL2
3 oz. turkey burger
1 tsp no salt ketchup
1 whole-grain pita or 1 ear of corn
1 ½ cups grilled veggies
1 cup melon or any fruit
MEAL 3
3 oz shrimp or chicken breast
1 ½ cups whole wheat pasta
½ cup no salt tomato sauce
1 cup steamed veggies
1 cup fruit
Eat the following meal for all three meals on your sixth day
2/3 cup brown rice
2 cups or 2 pieces of fruit
It is 2 starches and 2 fruits at each meal.
I am getting ready to start this plan also. The 2 starches and 2 fruits are for each meal not for all day. I bought a women’s world magazine 6SEP issue and it has the Rice Diet featured in it. It gives you meal ideas and is a little different than this one.
2 starches and 2 fruits per meal
Hi everyone!!…I want to try this diet as well but I know this sounds stupid:P but I wanna ask ya all if 2 starches, 2 fruits should be eaten in every meal? or 2 starches and 2 fruits for the whole breakfast,lunch and dinner?..I’d really appreciate your help to this confuse girl;P…thanks alot!!:)