Fletcherism Is a Dietary Belief Where Food Is Chewed Thoroughly

The ancient Greeks were the first to frown upon gluttony and express the belief that a sensible diet was a civic responsibility to ensure a healthy society for all. Early Greek diets recommended an intake of varied but plain foods accompanied by daily exercise. Many Ancient Romans believed it was healthier to eat only one meal a day that was typically consumed around the noon hour or midday. A type of wheat called spelt was mixed with ground meats, peppers, spices and fennel, and cooked in a wine reduction. Called Julian stew, it was traditionally eaten by the soldiers of Julius Caesar's army as the quintessential Roman dish.

Listed below are some of the successful and less successful fad dietary plans:

• ROLLO DIABETIC DIET - in 1797, Scottish military surgeon John Rollo published Notes of a Diabetic Case. The study contained a heavy meat diet recommended for diabetic patients as a life-extending dietary management plan.
• BANTING LOW-CARB DIET - The English pamphlet that outlined the low-carb, low-calorie Banting diet became the first popular menu plan used a model for modern diets. William Banting's booklet has transcended many generations and remains in print today.
• PETERS LOW-CALORIE DIET - The first weight loss book to become a best seller in the United States was written by physician Lulu Hunt Peters in 1918 and titled Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories.
• GREAT MASTICATOR DIET - American health food enthusiast Horace Fletcher popularized the idea that food should be chewed until thoroughly liquefied before swallowing (32 to 100 chews per mouthful). A Victorian-era concept called "Fletcherism".
• CABBAGE SOUP DIET - Popular in the 1950s, the name says it all. The cabbage soup diet promises 10-15 pounds of weight loss in one week; but not permanent. With such a low calorie intake, it is not sustainable and most of the weight will be water weight and muscle.
• THE BEVERLY HILLS DIET - Considered the West Coast equivalent of the Scarsdale Diet, experts criticized the fruit-based diet created by Judy Mazel, who had no nutritional credentials. The 42-day diet requires you to eat all the fruit you want but at least an hour apart.
• ZONE DIET - Created by Dr. Barry Sears, the Zone Diet was developed to reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses and heart disease. To reduce overall inflammation, the diet encourages followers to eat balanced ratios of 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat for every meal or snack.
• MIND DIET - Combining the best of the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet created a dietary approach designed to support healthy aging by preventing dementia and loss of brain function. This sensible eating plan boasts of having tons of proven science behind it.

Let's face facts. The easier a diet is to follow, the better the chances you have of sticking with it. Trying to follow a fad diet that does not include sustainable, long-lasting changes can leave you feeling frustrated. In part, fad diets ignore your body's way of regulating food intake with hunger hormones and satiety. MRC's personalized menu plans help you stay in touch with the foods you eat. Call today to schedule a free weight loss consultation.