Overview
Dr. Dean Ornish is a physician who has written several best-selling diet books, including, Eat more, weigh less, and Daily cooking. Dr. Ornish is primarily a cardiologist and created his diet primarily as a way to lower cholesterol in his patients and reverse the symptoms of heart disease. Ornish is a vegetarian and recommends a plant-based diet as a means of lowering cholesterol and losing weight. His diet aims not only to reduce weight, but also to reverse the symptoms of heart disease. The basics of this diet are large amounts of vegetables and fruits, supplemented with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains. Ornish recommends a diet consisting of 70% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 10% fat, while the typical American diet consists of 40% fat, 40% carbohydrate, and 20% protein. Ornish was and is a notable detractor of low-carb, high-fat diets like the Atkins diet, and claims that low-carb diets pose a health risk.
Pros
- Healthy: A diet low in fat, rich in fruits and vegetables is widely recognized as one that will not only promote weight loss, but also better overall health.
Cons
- Too strict: As good as it is to eat only fruits and vegetables, most people cannot maintain such a diet in the long term, and that is not the goal of all weight loss programs.
Bottom line
If you love fruits and vegetables and would be happy and satisfied living on that fee, then of course this diet might be right for you. If you’re feeling hungry after eating nothing but salads, there are other plans that can help you lose weight without such a restrictive regimen.