SCARSDALE DIET
Scarsdale Medical Diet is a plan formulated by Dr. Herman Tarnower, a cardiologist. The plan is extremely rigid and emphasizes some questionable dieting practices, such as using herbal appetite suppressants, not allowing snacking, and using artificial sweeteners. The overall diet is very restrictive and provides a strict meal plan. It is calorie-restricted and high-protein, low-carb, and fat-moderate.
Foods Emphasized: Fruits, vegetables, cheese, lean meats, coffee, diet drinks
Foods Discouraged: Alcohol, oils, butter, peanut butter, bread, sandwich meats, beans and legumes
Premise and guidelines: This extreme diet has been around for quite some time; it was developed in the 1970’s and it continues to reemerge in the low-carb scene. The Scarsdale Diet consists of mostly fruits, vegetables and lean meats, and makes some big promises about the amount of weight you can lose each day- around 1 lb. each day!the first phase of the plan is a highly regimented 14-day meal plan calling for only three meals a day - snacking is not allowed. This puts your body into ketosis by limiting the intake of carbohydrates. Ketosis is a state of fasting that the body keeps on standby in case of starvation. This state is when a dieter is supposed to lose weight. using caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and herbal appetite suppressants is encouraged on this diet.
Oddly enough, this rigid dieting plan discourages exercise and strenuous activities, even though it was developed by a cardiologist. The caloric intake is so reduced on this diet, you probably wouldn’t have an adequate supply of energy to fuel exercise anyway. However, due to the reduced protein intake you could end up losing muscle mass, which is not the earmark of a well-balanced weight-loss plan.
After following the regimented phase for two weeks, you may progress to the maintenance plan. This phase is less restrictive yet still calorie-limited, so many still feel confined while on this diet. Weight loss will occur on this diet, but you may find yourself to be incredibly hungry and even agitated while on it! Some criticisms are the bland and restrictive food choices and the absence of creative substitutions or alternatives. The recommendation to drink all the coffee and tea you can is probably because the diet will leave your energy levels so low.