Plant Base Diets Were Popular with the Ancients

"Walking Is Man's Best Medicine" was a popular quote issued by Hippocrates in 400 B.C. Greece. Observation of thin, healthy Greeks led the physician to encourage patients to eat mainly a fresh, plant-based diet as a primary form of treatment. Since the banks of the Nile River contained fertile soil, Ancient Egyptians also consumed mostly a vegetarian diet based from farro, a local grain that was nutritious and filled with fiber and protein to improve immunity, lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar levels.

When it is time to get serious about losing weight, the last thing you want is to start another failed diet cycle. To broaden your understanding of building healthy habits and behaviors, review the list below of fad diets through the ages:

• LIQUID DIET - Early uses of an alcohol diet are credited to William the Conqueror, who after becoming severely overweight later in life, chose to follow a liquid diet consisting mostly of alcohol.
• ROLLO MEAT DIET FOR DIABETICS - John Rollo, a 18th century Scottish surgeon may have published the first medical diet in 1797 in Notes of a Diabetic Case, where the military doctor described the benefits of a meat diet for patients who suffered from diabetes mellitus.
• VEGETARIAN DIET - Established in 1847, the Vegetarian Society headquarters are housed in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, which is also the location of the institute's Cookery School.
• KETOGENIC DIET - Developed in the 1920s for epileptic patients, the keto diet turns the body into a fat-burning machine. By depriving the body of carbs, the liver is forced to produce ketones that burn stored fat deposits for energy instead of glucose.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY DIET - First mentioned in Jacqueline Susann's novel Valley of the Dolls, The Sleeping Beauty Diet recommended that dieters take sedatives to miss mealtimes. Elvis Presley supposedly tried the diet in the 70s but obviously regained any pounds that he lost.
• THE BEVERLY HILLS DIET - Originally, Judy Mazel's diet required people to eat enzyme-rich fruit only for the first 10 days of a 42-day regimen. Highly criticized by experts, the New Beverly Hills Diet promotes all food groups but focuses on conscious food combinations of fruit and vegetables.
• PALEO DIET - The Paleo Diet emulates the food intake of the cave man and consists primarily of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood and nuts. Absent from the diet are dairy products as well as whole grains and legumes.

When people become conscious of their dietary intake, they are often surprised at what they are consuming throughout the day. Being mindful of everything you put in your body can help you accelerate you weight loss by eating at just enough deficit to allow your body to burn through its fat stores. For a personalized diet plan that works for you, contact Metabolic Research Center today.