Rice Diet
If you're a salt addict, you won't be after the rigorous detox of The Rice Diet.
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BACKGROUND
Created in 1939 in Durham, North Carolina, the Rice Diet is a program that can help you overcome weight-related diseases like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and others. You can experience weight loss quickly when you reduce calories, sodium/salt and fat. The Rice Diet is a very low-calorie, low-fat plan
In addition to a complete Web program and several books in print, the Rice Diet has had a brick-and-mortar clinic located in Durham, North Carolina for almost 70 years. It's an outpatient clinic where patients suffering from many weight-related diseases are treated using diet and exercise, group therapy and stress management.
There are four steps to follow for the Rice Diet:
1. The Diet - adhering to the food rules of the Rice Diet
2. Mindful Eater - educate yourself about nutrition and make smart choices
3. Resting - find time each day for yourself to meditate or exercise
4. Support Network - include friends and family to keep you motivated
FOOD & RECIPE
Salt and sugar cause you to have an increased appetite. By eliminating these items you're more likely to lose weight, and with the Rice Diet, you'll accomplish that quickly. You'll consume very little calories, only about 1,000 each day. One way to reduce your calorie consumption is to limit processed and fatty foods.
There are three phases in the Rice Diet that dictate how and what you'll eat:
1. The first week is all about detox. You'll have very little food and what you will have is quite limited. There is absolutely no salt or sodium. Each day you'll have starches like brown rice and quinoa. Six of the seven days you can have vegetables and some no-fat dairy. Fruit is permissible one time this week.
2. This is the weight loss phase. Follow the same food plan as in phase one. However, vegetables and no-fat dairy are permissible only five days per week and on the seventh day you can have a serving of protein (ideally fish).
3. This is the maintenance phase. Weight loss will slow down and allow you to manage a healthy weight. You'll also increase calories by adding fish or other lean protein two times each week. You can also incorporate tofu, cheese and nuts to the previous food plans.
The Rice Diet has an online store where you can buy a wide variety of low- or no-sodium foods. You'll find condiments, beverages, cereals, snacks, pasta, soups and more.
EXERCISE
You should incorporate as much exercise as possible while following the Rice Diet. Ideally, one hour a day would provide great benefits. However, if your schedule doesn't permit or you're new to exercise, then start out slow and work your way to a more consistent regimen. The Rice Diet recommends spiritual activity like yoga or tai chi, or individual activity like swimming or walking.
EXPENSE
Participating in the Rice Diet's online program is free of charge. Or, there’s the cost for the book, The Rice Diet Solution.
If you're interested in becoming a patient a the Rice Diet clinic, prepare to pay for it. The cost goes down each week of your stay, but starts at $2,300 for the first week, $1,000 for the second, $800 for the third, $700 for the fourth and $539 each week after. These prices do not include hotel accommodations. This is not covered by Medicare or most insurance companies.
PRO
- Meal plans and recipes
- Treats weight-related illnesses
- Quickly lose weight
- Maintenance plan to keep weight off
CON
- Caloric intake very low, about 1,000 calories/day
- Seems complicated
- A lot of rules
- Strict portioning
- No salt or sodium
- Very little fruit
CONCLUSION
The benefits of the Rice Diet are clear- lose weight quickly and overcome many weight-related illnesses. It's a plan that will show you how to eat and live healthier. However, it's quite restrictive in that it provides little protein, healthy fat and fruit. The Rice Diet also has a low calorie consumption.
The Rice Diet is nearly 70 years old, with books on the New York Times Bestseller list and a reputable clinic in North Carolina. It's definitely not a fly-by-night plan. However, it might be too restrictive and not flexible enough for the harried schedules of most dieters.
common misspellings:
Rice Deit, Riced Diet
Jillian X: the rice diet is definitely going to give results because it's so strict and the calorie consumption is very low, watch out for your body going into starvation mode due to this
Anonymous: I doubt I could stick with this diet for the long term, but it could be great to jump start a diet.
Anonymous: Hi, I just need to clarify one thing on the rice diet. You are not eating very little fruit. In fact, you're eating fruit with every single meal you eat,every single day. The formula is truly choosing the right foods low in sodium and processed sugar. If you find yourself hungry after a meal, it teaches you to grab for the healthier snacks rather than the highly processed, saturated fatty foods. So it's truly retraining your brain to think beyond your hunger point and more about taking care of your body, reading nutritional labels, understanding what your body needs, appreciating the VAST delicious food options and enjoying the food you put into your body. I'm 140 pounds right now. I started on the rice diet a few weeks ago and lost 10 lbs. It's working!!! Not to mention that I'm working out (running and circuit training) and have way more energy than I ever had.
Sunni : I did this diet about 2 months ago for about 3 weeks. I lost around 7 -10 lbs total. I also did hiking and elliptical trainer. I liked this diet and it did give excelent results. But the lack of protein led me to feel light headed and get tired easily, especially after working out. I would recomend this diet to severly overweight people who are unable to exercise, and to people looking for a good detox program for 1-2 weeks. There is a lot of fruit and the recipies are delicious. But the portion and calorie control is way restrictive. Had a hard time cooking for my husdband and myself. He was not on a diet because he is too skinny anyways, and I had trouble when making dinner, not to over eat on their portion allowences. But my husband did like their recipies and he ate whatever I didnt!
Cindy: I think what the writer meant to say is that MEAT is permissible one time this week. Fruit is to be eaten daily, and lots of it!
Dana: This is not just a diet. It is a healthy lifestyle. The program is more about retraining your brain to learn the difference between really being hungry and emotional eating. The program shows you a new lifestyle of exercise, meditation, and great fresh foods. I have been on this diet for a little over a month and I have lost 40 lbs. and have crazy energy! This lifestyle is about seriuos commitment to yourself.
D.D.: Everyone should be aware of this: Diet/Dieta is GREEK for Way of Life. Weight loss from this transformation is the reward, the real benefits are GOOD HEALTH, LIFE, and awareness about what HEALTH really is.
