Low-Carb Diet Plans

The Diet Cure 

Plan's name: The Diet Cure 

Book(s): THE DIET CURE (Dr. Julia Ross) published in 1999.

About the author: Julia Ross, M.A., is the Executive Director of Recovery Systems, a clinic that treats eating and weight disorders with nutrient therapy and biochemical rebalancing. 

Basic Philosophy: In a chapter entitled "Nutritional Rehab for the Ex-Dieter" she has a list of steps in "How to Undiet." These are:

1. Do not skip meals
2. Eat at last 25 percent of the day's calories at breakfast
3. Do not undereat
4. Start your meals witih plenty of protein -- 20 grams or more of protein per meal.
5. Eat unlimited amounts of green vegetables with yor protein. Eat some red and yellow ones, too.
6. For snacking, eat fruit or vegetables with proteins.
7. Be sure to include some good fats in each meal
8. Stop counting calories and fat grams

She stresses that fats are not the enemy, carbohydrates are. There are other eating regimens -- to combat yeast problems, etc. -- as well as very specific guidance on supplements for a variety of ills (including cravings, balancing blood sugar, etc.) 

By the numbers: : In her summary, she says: Be sure to eat:
3 meals minimum per day,
4 cups or more of colored low-carb veggies, mostly green. Eat as many of your vegetables raw as you can.
At least 20 grams of protein at each meal
At least one-quarter eof your day's total calories at breakfast
2 servings of fruit or more daily
other whole-food carbs -- beans, rice, corn -- as needed after you've eaten your vegetables, protein and fat
good oils, like olive and canola, in salad dressingsand sauteed disihes 

Method: Nothing to add except -- avoid white flour and sugar, refined products. Avoid dieting!

 Typical menu: Ross lists her typical day:
Breakfast: "Usually I eat 2 servings of fruit with 1/4 nuts and seeds, protein powder and nutritional yeast, blended into a smooth; or 3 eggs scrambled with veggies, avocado and black beans and a corn tortilla or two."
Lunch: "I often eat a very large raw vegetable salad with 4 ounces of salmon and a bowl of split pea soup or a side of roasted potatoes."
Dinner: "2 to 4 cups of sauteed veggies with tofu or sheep's feta cheese and 21 cup wild rice pilar with brown basmati rice."
Plus snacks of trail mix or fruit with cheese or nuts.

This is obviously higher carb than many other plans considered here, but she doesn't say you MUST eat the legumes, rice, etc. 

 Emphasis: Several mentions of fats not being the enemy, stop fighting fats, etc. Emphasis on protein. The banning of sugar. Not as much concerned with exercise. It's a nutrition book -- lots of info on supplements for various ills -- anemia, blood sugar problems, stress, adrenal depletion, etc. 

Unique Fatures: The book has check lists where the reader determines what ills s/he has. Ross is careful to point out the few supplements that MUST be prescribed by a physician. But I'm never sure how much one can trust a self-help book -- perhaps it's worth reading to make a list of ills/supplements and then check them with one's own physician?

I did try her supplements regimen two years ago when I first tried low carb -- well, first time since the 1970s I felt wonderful. Unfortunately, they cost $120 a month and I couldn't keep them up

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Summarized by: Alto