The Rice Diet Solution is called a fad diet, and in a way it is but 'fad' refers to a temporary fashion and this diet has been around since 1939. In fact, it's often referred to as the Duke Rice Diet because Duke University created the diet many decades ago.
The Duke Rice Diet
The Duke Rice Diet wasn't invented as a quick way to take off the poundage. Instead, researchers at Duke University put together this diet as a way to help reverse severe illness, not as a quick weight loss solution. The diet relies on severe calorie restriction and patients were under frequent medical supervision. This use expanded to treat the morbidly obese – those ladies and gentlemen that we see on TV weight 500 pounds and more.
Today, the "weight loss capital of the world" is in Durham, North Carolina. Run by Duke University, the Rice Diet Clinic medically supervises, teaches and works with those who are desperate to lose weight.
If you don't want to go to Durham, or can't afford to spend time at the Duke University clinic, two books called The Rice Diet Solution and the The Rice Diet Cookbook can give you the information you need to follow this very restrictive diet.
"What Can I Eat On The Rice Diet?"
The Good News: according to believers, you will lose 20-30 pounds in the first month.
The Bad News: you don't get much to eat – especially the first month.
The Rice Diet eliminates sugar, salt processed foods and fat and there are three phases.
Rice Diet Solution Phase 1: one week, 800 calories per day
Breakfast: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 nonfat dairy
Lunch and dinner: 3 starches, 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Rice Diet Solution Phase 2: one week, 1200 calories per day
Breakfast: 2 starches, 1 fruit
Lunch: 3 starches, 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Dinner: 3 starches, 3 protein (or 2 dairy), 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Rice Diet Solution Phase 3: last until you've lost the weight you want to lose
The diet is the same as above, except you keep adding 200 calories per week until you stop losing weight. At that point, you know you're taking in too many calories for your body to continue losing.
Rice Diet Recipes
Obviously rice is the main staple of the diet but you can also have nonfat dairy, fruits and veggies. Your nutrition will improve if you focus on a brown rice diet, rather than the traditional white. Brown rice is loaded with vitamins and minerals – and especially fiber.
When we eat high fiber foods, many of the calories don't "count". That's because the fiber causes the food to go straight through our bodies and many of the calories are NOT absorbed.
The rice diet has lots of tasty recipes, like this one for Cinnamon Peach Cobbler:
* 6 peaches
* 1/2 cup oatmeal
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon allspice
+ Peel the peaches and cut into 6 pieces (36 pieces total).
+ Combine peaches, cinnamon and allspice and mix.
+ Cover and bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring once.
+ Cover the peaches with the uncooked oatmeal, cover and bake another 5 minutes.
Makes 4 servings, a total of 100 calories each.
Verdict On The Rice Diet Solution
The Rice Diet has been used successfully since 1939 to treat ill people, folks with heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and more. And for that it is to be commended.
However, the allowed calories are too low for long term living. Besides, what happens when you go "off" the diet?
But, I doubt if that is a problem because the diet is too restrictive to stay on for long. in spite of its many healthy aspects.
Ingegerd Hanson ND says
The Rice Diet Solution and the 3 Phases of the program has been misrepresented here. The Rice Diet is NOT a “fad” diet that is used for a short time, in order to loose some weight quickly. Rather, it is a program for life style change. By adapting and staying on this program one will not only become slimmer, but one will also gain better health and become free from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease etc., caused by poor choices in ones diet and life style. I strongly suggest reading through all the information listed, before embarking on the Rice Diet, to get a better understanding about the “dieta” itself and the better health to be gained. In case one is concerned about not getting enough protein on this diet, as there is minimal animal proteins allowed, please know that beans or other legumes in combination with rice, as well as other grains, form a complete protein. And yes, one can loose a lot of weight within the first week/month. The heavier one is, the more weight is lost during the initial Detox Phase. The weight loss continues as long as one stays on the Phase 2 diet plan and does not cheat. One will loose weight without exercising on this program, however; exercise is an integral part of a well rounded life style and it should not be omitted What happens if one goes off this “dieta?” It should be obvious. If one leaves a healthy diet and lifestyle, for the American junk food diet, one will begin to gain weight and disease will return.