or advice about any other lifestyle changes, such as
techniques for stress reduction.
Benefits
The British Heart Foundation diet claims that it
will allow dieters to lose 10 pounds in only 3 days.
Many experts suggest that if weight loss does occur
this quickly, the weight lost will mainly be water
weight that will be gained back when the dieter begins
to eat normally again. A possible benefit however, is
that losing weight quickly may help give dieters the
positive outlook required to help them continue to lose
weight using a more balanced approach. This psycho-
logical benefit may be undone if the weight is regained
quickly after the diet is completed.
There are many benefits to losing weight if it is
done at a safe, moderate pace through a combination
of healthy eating and exercise. There are many con-
ditions for whichobesityis considered a significant
risk factor, including type II diabetes and cardiovas-
cular disease. The risk of these and other diseases may
be reduced through weight loss. This is especially true
for very obese people who are generally thought to be
at the greatest risk. TheSacred Heart dietis not
considered appropriate for long term weight loss,
and losing 10 pounds in 3 days is not considered a
moderate pace.
Precautions
Dieters should consult a physician or other med-
ical professional before beginning this or any other
diet. Daily requirements of vitamins and minerals
can differ significantly between people, depending on
age, weight, gender, and the presence of certain dis-
eases and conditions. Getting all required nutrients
can be difficult when on a diet that severely limits the
types or amounts of food allowed. This diet may con-
tain as few as 700 calories a day if followed exactly.
This is not considered to be a safe number of calories
for weight loss unless the diet is done under a phys-
icians’s close supervision. Pregnant orbreastfeeding
women should be especially cautious because what is
eaten by the mother can affect unborn or nursing
babies.
Risks
There are some risks with any diet, but following a
diet that severely limits the foods the dieter is allowed
to eat generally has higher risks. When a dieter con-
sumes very few different foods it is difficult for the
dieter to get all of the different vitamins and nutrients
required for good health. The British Heart Founda-
tion diet is only intended to be done over three days.
Because it is a very low calorie diet, repeating this diet
frequently or over an extended period may greatly
increase the risk of problems relating from deficiencies
of vitamins, minerals, or calories. Pregnant or breast-
feeding women should be especially cautious, because
even minor deficiencies can carry risks for babies who
are still receiving their nutrients from their mother.
Anyone beginning this, or any other very limiting diet,
should consult a medical practitioner about whether a
multivitamin or supplement might be appropriate for
to help reduce the risk of deficiency. Multivitamins and
s! upplements have their own associated risks.Research and general acceptanceThere have been no significant scientific studies of
the safety or effectiveness of this diet. Although it is
named the British Heart Foundation diet, it was not
created by the British Heart Foundation, and the
Foundation does not endorse or recommend it.
Instead the British Heart Foundation makes recom-
mendations for slow, healthy weight loss and weight
control that involve light to moderate exercise and a
well balanced, healthy diet. The recommendations
endorsed by the British Heart Foundation for a
healthy diet are generally similar to those provided
by the United States Department of Agriculture’s
MyPyramid guide.
MyPyramid recommends that adults eat the
equivalent of 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day for
good health. The British Heart Foundation diet may
meet this requirement. Each day requires that the
dieter eat two different types of vegetables at dinner.QUESTIONS TO ASK THE
DOCTOR Is this diet safe for me?
Is this diet the best diet to meet my goals?
Do I have any dietary requirements this diet
might not meet?
Would a multivitamin or other dietary
supplement be appropriate for me if I were to
begin this diet?
Is this diet safe for my entire family?
Is it safe for me to follow this diet over an
extended period of time?
Are there any sign or symptoms that might
indicate a problem while on this diet?British Heart Foundation diet