Dr Dean Ornish attracted the attention of the whole world through his ground breaking book that taught heart patients how to reverse heart conditions through an altered diet and nothing else!
‘The Spectrum Diet: A scientific program proven to feel better, live longer, lose weight and gain health’ is another book by this famed author.
In this book, the author offers a healthy diet that may be adjusted according to personal needs.
The Spectrum Diet is a diet program with a difference. The diet plan in this book can be adjusted according to personal needs. So, if you need to reduce the risk of cancer or reduce weight, all you have to do is choose which end of the spectrum you want to be at and make adjustments accordingly. Hence the name of the book.
So, if you want to lose weight, you choose foods that are healthy and fibrous. You follow the diet plan for a month and you will start losing weight naturally. In the same way, if you want to lower cholesterol levels or reduce blood pressure, you follow the corresponding diet plan for a month and evaluate results. Thus, the Spectrum Diet is a diet plan that allows sufferers to take baby steps to health.
The Spectrum is a personalized program because it takes into consideration a number of factors like genes and personal preferences. Foods are categorized into groups. Group 1 is the healthiest while Group 5 is the least healthy. The following foods are included in each group.
Group 1: Fresh vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes, soy products and nonfat dairy.
Group 2: Nuts, canned vegetables, low fat dairy, oils, avocados and margarine
Group 3: Refined carbs, seafood, oils that have a higher calorific content and margarine
Group 4: Mayo, pastries, whole fat dairy, cookies, high fat animal meat
Group 5: Egg, fried food, butter, cream, hot dogs and red meat.
People who have health problems and are eating mainly from Groups 3,4 and 5 need to adjust their eating patterns.
The diet plan also recommends an exercise plan including yoga, pilates, Tai-chi and aerobics. Here too, each person is allowed to find an exercise program that suits them.
The Spectrum Diet review
The main attraction of the Spectrum diet is its flexibility. It’s basic premise is to make use of a low fat food pyramid to help weight loss. A master chef has provided several fulfilling recipes that are healthy as well as beneficial.
The key of this diet is mindfulness. It works on the belief that when followers have an awareness of what is healthy, they will automatically choose what is good for them. This is not a diet per se but a kind of lifestyle.
Pros:
- Highly flexible and unique
- Places control in the hands of the individual
- Based on proven research
- Explores the various components involved in weight loss like stress management
- Can help sufferers get over conditions like diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Contains Oprah’s award winning recipes
- A bonus meditation DVD is also included
Cons:
- Not a structured program
- The first two groups of food are dangerously low in fats
- The diet is predominantly vegetarian
In Conclusion
The Spectrum Diet provides the blueprint for a healthy lifestyle. It is a wonderful route to fitness, wellness and health. But, it’s not for people who want close guidance and supervision. It’s for those folks who can take responsible decisions even when they are given a good amount of freedom of choice.
