What is the Ornish Diet?

What is the Ornish Diet?

D Ornish, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas,  and founder of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, created the Ornish Diet in the early 1999s.

Based on his 1999 book, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease, the Ornish Diet emphasizes a vegetarian eating plan that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and limited carbohydrates, animal proteins and fat. The diet is best known for its claims of preventing and reversing heart disease. In fact, it's tied for the top spot with the Mediterranean diet as the best heart-healthy diet of 2019.

Unlike other diets and weight loss plans out there, the Ornish Diet also focuses on the mental side of weight loss by incorporating stress management techniques. Stress reduction is a core element of Dr. Ornish's program, and he recommends deep breathing, yoga, and meditation.

Dr. Ornish also advises doing a variety of exercises, including resistance training, stretching, and aerobic workouts. Deepening relationships with family and friends and building support from community are also key, as they can positively affect your health.

Does the Ornish Diet work?

Following the Ornish Diet can lead to some positive outcomes, such as increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fibre and reduced intake of refined carbohydrates, sodium, and alcohol.

 The diet is great for people living with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, who are looking to improve and potentially reverse their condition. And because it draws additional focus to exercise, stress reduction, and social support, the Ornish Diet can be good for people who are seeking to improve their overall health.

Dr. Ornish has conducted numerous studies about the effectiveness of the Ornish Diet for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes, as well as weight loss, and depression.

One of the most groundbreaking studies, the Lifestyle Heart Trial, was the first randomised clinical trial aimed at reversing heart disease without drugs or surgery. The study, which followed 48 patients with severe coronary heart disease over a six-year period, concluded that those who adhered to a healthy lifestyle—similar to the recommendations outlined in the Ornish Diet—had greater reductions in cardiovascular disease after five years. On the other hand, those who didn't follow the lifestyle change continued to experience a progression of heart disease.

Measuring Weight and Skip Meals

Measuring Weight and Skip Meals

Do you have to eat breakfast? No, of course not. Don’t eat if you’re not hungry. And this goes for any meal.

On a strict keto diet the hunger and urge to eat tend to decrease a lot, especially if you have excess weight to lose. Your body may be happily burning your fat stores, reducing the need to eat.

If this happens, be happy! Don’t fight it by eating food you don’t want. Instead, wait for the hunger to return before you eat again. This will save you both time and money, while speeding up your weight loss.

Some people fear that they will lose control if they don’t eat every three hours, thus making them eat thousands of calories and blowing their diets completely. So they obsessively snack all the time.

This obsessive snacking may be necessary on a diet high in sugar/processed carbs to control hunger cravings, but it’s usually completely unnecessary on a keto diet. Hunger will only slowly return and you’ll have plenty of time to prepare food or grab a snack.

Every 5 pounds of fat loss roughly equals 1 inch lost around the waist (1 kilo = 1 cm).

Young males sometimes lose weight faster than this, perhaps twice as fast. Post-menopausal women may lose at a slightly slower pace. People on a very strict low-carb diet may lose weight quicker, as well as those who exercise a lot (a bonus). And if you have an enormous amount of excess weight to lose you could start out much faster.

As you get closer to your ideal weight the loss may slow down, until you stabilize at a weight that your body feels is right. Very few people become underweight on a low carb diet – as long as they eat when hungry.

Few Tips to Loss Weight

Few Tips to Loss Weight

1. Eat a high-protein breakfast. Eating a high-protein breakfast has been shown to reduce cravings and calorie intake throughout the day .
2. Avoid sugary drinks and fruit juice. These are the most fattening things you can put into your body, and avoiding them can help you lose weight.
3. Drink water a half hour before meals. One study showed that drinking water a half hour before meals increased weight loss by 44% over 3 months .
4. Choose weight loss-friendly foods (see list). Certain foods are very useful for losing fat. Here is a list of the 20 most weight loss-friendly foods on earth.
5. Eat soluble fiber. Studies show that soluble fibers may reduce fat, especially in the belly area. Fiber supplements like glucomannan can also help.
6. Drink coffee or tea. If you're a coffee or tea drinker, then drink as much as you want as the caffeine can in them boost your metabolism by 3–11% .
7. Eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods. Base most of your diet on whole foods. They are healthier, more filling and much less likely to cause overeating.
8. Eat your food slowly. Fast eaters gain more weight over time. Eating slowly makes you feel more full and boosts weight-reducing hormones .
9. Weigh yourself every day. Studies show that people who weigh themselves every day are much more likely to lose weight and keep it off for a long time.
10. Get a good night's sleep, every night. Poor sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for weight gain, so taking care of your sleep is important .

If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before making changes because this plan can reduce your need for medication.

By reducing carbs and lowering insulin levels, you change the hormonal environment and make your body and brain "want" to lose weight.

This leads to drastically reduced appetite and hunger, eliminating the main reason that most people fail with conventional weight loss methods.

This is proven to make you lose up to 2–3 times as much weight as a typical low-fat, calorie-restricted diet.

Another great benefit for the impatient folks is that the initial drop in water weight can lead to a big difference on the scale as early as the next morning.

Here are a few examples of low-carb meals that are simple, delicious and can be prepared in under 10 minutes: 7 Healthy Low-Carb Meals in 10 Minutes or Less.

On this plan, you can eat good food until you’re full and still lose a ton of fat. Welcome to paradise.

Your Diet Plan for Weight Loss

Your Diet Plan for Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, there's no shortage of diet plans. Check any magazine rack, and you're bound to see the latest and greatest diet plans. But how do you know if a diet plan fits your needs and lifestyle?

Ask yourself these questions about any diet plan you're considering:

• Does it include various foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein sources and nuts?
• Does it include foods you like and that you would enjoy eating for a lifetime — not just for several weeks or months?
• Can you easily find these foods in your local grocery store?
• Will you be able to eat your favorite foods or, better yet, all foods (even if some are in small quantities)?
• Does it fit your lifestyle and budget?
• Does it include proper amounts of nutrients and calories to help you lose weight safely and effectively?
• Is regular physical activity part of the plan?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, keep looking. There are better diet plans out there for you.

DASH Diet-Best Diet For Weight Loss

Before you start any diet or introduce a new eating plan into your routine, talk to your doctor. Your MD will assess your blood pressure levels, weight, and heart disease risk factors to determine the right DASH diet plan for you. Most doctors will recommend the original diet plan that caps your sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams a day.

To get started, make a grocery list of the foods you'll need to prep your meals. Check out the food list above or follow the meal plans outlined in the DASH diet book and begin planning a week's worth of meals. Go for whole grains, like quinoa, brown rice, farro, or whole-wheat pasta. There are also bean-based pastas, which pack in more fibre and protein than the whole-grain varieties.

Choose lean cuts of meats such as sirloin and top loin and use kitchen shears to trim excess fat. When purchasing poultry, remove the skin and choose white meat. And, don't forget to load up on plenty of vegetables—the plan calls for four to five servings daily. The fibre will fill you up and keep cravings at a minimum. Be sure to also stock up on healthy fats and low-fat dairy. Fat will keep you satisfied, so you don't break into a bag of chips soon after eating your meal. The best sources of good fats are extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, and nuts or nut butter. To satisfy your sweet tooth, consider these low-sugar fruits, but you can also use artificial sweeteners to make your favourite baked goods healthier.

Make a Healthy Diet Plan to Loss Weight

Make a Healthy Diet Plan to Loss Weight

Your weight is a balancing act, and calories are part of that equation. Weight loss comes down to burning more calories than you take in. You can do that by reducing extra calories from food and beverages, and increasing calories burned through physical activity.

Allthough that seems simple, it can be challenging to implement a practical, effective and sustainable weight-loss plan.

But you don't have to do it alone. Talk to your doctor, family and friends for support. Ask yourself if now is a good time and if you're ready to make some necessary changes. Also, plan smart: Anticipate how you'll handle situations that challenge your resolve and the inevitable minor setbacks.

If you have serious health problems because of your weight, your doctor may suggest weight-loss surgery or medications for you. In this case, your doctor will discuss the potential benefits and the possible risks with you.

But don't forget the bottom line: The key to successful weight loss is a commitment to making changes in your diet and exercise habits.

You are Getting Fat by Taking Oatmeal

You are Getting Fat by Taking Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the best breakfast options available. Whether you make it in the microwave or opt for creative overnight oats recipes, this hearty whole grain cereal can fill you up and help you slim down. But only if you make it properly.

That’s right; as healthy as oatmeal can be, there are still common mistakes that can make you pack on the pounds. From overdoing it with the maple syrup to eating it plain, oatmeal can quickly go from a slimming breakfast to a blood sugar-spiking, fattening disaster—which could make it one of the worst breakfast habits for your waistline. Here’s what to avoid the next time you mix up a bowl for breakfast.

On its own, oatmeal is relatively low-calorie, high in fiber, and high in protein. A serving of ½ cup dry oatmeal made with water sets you back 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, 27 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 5 grams of protein. But even though it’s made with whole grain oats, oatmeal is pretty carb-heavy. To maximize satiety and prevent spikes in blood sugar, add a little more fat and protein to your oatmeal. Stirring in one tablespoon of nut butter not only makes it creamy and delicious, but it will also add about 4 more grams of protein and 8 more grams of fat. Tossing in some chia seeds and/or almond slivers will also do the trick.

You may think you’re saving time by buying conveniently prepackaged oatmeal, but even healthy-sounding varieties can be teeming with extra chemicals and sugar. Some instant oatmeal packets contain as much as 14 grams of sugar and questionable ingredients like inflammatory vegetable oil and artificial dyes. You’re better off buying plain, unflavored oats and adding your own toppings. Plus, it will save you money in the long run.

Starbucks’ Classic Whole-Grain Oatmeal is a great breakfast option, especially when you’re on the go—but only if you just add the mixed nuts. Tossing in the brown sugar packet that comes with it adds in an additional 12 grams of sugar and 50 calories. This goes for when you enjoy it at home; adding in brown sugar, maple syrup, or table sugar can quickly up the carb count and spike your blood sugar. If you’re craving sweetness in your oatmeal, opt for fresh fruit and cinnamon instead. A handful of blueberries or chopped apple slices will add a little natural sugar with some essential filling fiber to keep you full until lunchtime.