The Ornish diet, as you might guess, was invented by a man with that last name, namely, a professor of medicine from the University of California, Dean Ornish.
Its goal, in addition to weight loss, is also to improve heart health, lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
How to Lose Weight on the Ornish Diet
The main rule is that fat should not exceed 10% of the total calorie intake.
Meat, fish, butter (and margarine), olives, avocado, seeds, nuts, sweets and fatty dairy products should be excluded, as well as alcoholic beverages.
The diet should consist of fruits and vegetables, legumes and grains - these products can be eaten without restrictions. It is also allowed to consume low-fat dairy products, low-fat crackers and egg whites.
Ornish recommends not only following a special diet, but also engaging in physical activity (at least 30 minutes 5 days a week or 60 minutes 3 days a week).
He also advises dealing with stress through yoga and meditation and spending time with loved ones.
Ornish Diet Results
In 1998, a study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, according to which people on the Ornish diet lost 10 kg in a year.
However, in 2005, Dr. Michael Dansinger found that participants on the Ornish diet lost between 7 and 16 pounds in a year, and another 2007 Stanford University study found an average weight loss of 5.8 pounds.
