What better way to lose weight than leave it in the hands of God! What a concept, right?
The Hallelujah diet is one of the first diets that combine religion and food. The diet is written by Rev. George Malkmus, the founder of Hallelujah Acres, a Christian ministry that provides various resources to help people interpret the Lord’s way.
In the diet, the Rev seeks to take man back to the primeval way of eating, one which was endorsed by God and allowed early humans to be disease free and healthy.
The book is an extension of the Hallelujah Acres’ attempt to teach the natural laws of healing as outlined in the bible. By following the path described in it, dieters can stay free of diseases and sicknesses.
The diet recommends that raw foods make up 85% of our regular food intake, thus limiting cooked food to a mere 15% of the total intake. The operational principle is that God has provided enough natural foods to keep us free of hunger. The Rev also asserts that cooking is harmful because this destroys nutrients.
The diet program recommends the intake of fruits and vegetables. You are allowed one meal of cooked grains with oil. You also have to take in three servings of ‘Barleymax’, a supplement sold by Hallelujah Acres. In addition to this a cleansing product and digestive enzymes too need to be taken in regularly.
The authors recommend heavy juicing of vegetables. According to them, while eating raw foods, only a small percentage of nutrients is absorbed, but when these foods are juiced, more than 90% of nutrients are absorbed. Be warned that this does not have any medical endorsement.
Exercise is an important part of the diet. 30 minutes of regular exercise including strength training, aerobics and stretching must be a vital part of the day.
The Hallelujah Diet Review
This diet tries to popularize a particular way of eating by brining in God’s endorsement. However, the plan is pretty hard on its followers.
For instance, breakfast is not required, instead, followers must have fresh vegetable juices or drinks made of barley grass. If breakfast is taken in at all, almond milk or fresh fruit salads are allowed.
The diet completely prohibits the intake of meat, dairy, eggs, caffeine and alcohol.
Although Malkmus claims that he had healed himself from cancer through this diet, there is no solid proof to back his claim. In the meanwhile, the diet is so restrictive, bland and unappetizing that it is hard to put on weight while you’re on this diet!
Pros:
- Clean, natural, organic foods are recommended
- Plenty of fresh vegetables
- Combining religion and food practices may help some people find a way out of their weight problems
- Ideal for vegans and vegetarians
- Lots of helpful resources
- Recommends exercise
Cons:
- Very restrictive
- Not easy for non-vegetarians
- Might cause deficiencies
In conclusion
There is no doubt that this is a low-cal, healthy, organic way of life. It can help you lose weight – and lose it fast! It can also help you detox the body and live a life free of weight related disease. However, a diet that clamps down on cooked food and prohibits the intake of meat and dairy is harsh on most people, and because of its restrictive nature, may be dropped by most followers.
I recommend trying a different, more easy to use diet, such as the Every Other Day Diet plan by Jon Benson.
