Mayo Clinic Diet: Another View

 

Gotta be good, right? The problem is the "Mayo Clinic" Diet" is no such thing, and is in fact a thorn in the side of the hallowed institution in Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Diet is actually a fad diet dating back to the 1940s, which was not created by, promoted by, nor ever connected to the real Mayo Clinic.

So what is it? There are a number of different spins but they're all Atkins-esque eating plans which allow unlimited fats and proteins, while banning carbs. But the real hallmark of a "Mayo Clinic" Diet is excessive consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit products, because of their supposed mysterious, miraculous fat burning powers. Stick to the plan and you're supposed to drop 50 to 55 pounds(!) in 10 weeks.

The rules are: on the plan for 12 days, off for 2 days, repeat. Continue the cycle for 10 weeks. Here's a sample of a day's eating plan:

Breakfast:
1/2 grapefruit or 4-8 oz. glass grapefruit juice (unsweetened)
2 eggs any style
2 slices bacon
Black coffee or tea

Lunch:
1/2 grapefruit or 4-8 oz. glass grapefruit juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any kind, any amount)
Salad or raw vegetables (with any kind of dressing, unlimited amounts)

Dinner:
1/2 grapefruit or 4 oz. glass grapefruit juice (unsweetened)
Meat or fish (any kind, any amount)
Vegetables (green, yellow, or red vegetables, cooked in butter or any seasonings, no white onions or potatoes)

Bedtime snack
1 glass tomato juice or 1 glass skim milk

Other rules include banning all sugars, starches, desserts, breads, white vegetables, other fruits, sweet potatoes, diet salad dressings and alcohol. Drink 8 glasses of water a day, and keep caffeinated drinks down to one cup with your meals. Frying your meats and vegetables is acceptable. And no snacking between meals.

Does this make sense? Unlimited amounts of meat and fried zucchini yet the pounds will just fall off?

This diet plan is riddled with holes. First off, while grapefruit is good for you - it's low calorie and loaded with potassium, vitamin C, beta carotene and other essential nutrients - it does not possess magical miracle fat burning properties. There is no scientific evidence in existence to support that claim. Furthermore, limiting what kinds of foods you eat so severely is a sure path to boredom and going off the reservation. Not to mention that a dietary concentration of meats and veggies cooked in butter is a sure path to increased cholesterol and clogged arteries. This diet is totally unbalanced and unhealthy. And finally, there are no recommendations for exercise or other lifestyle changes that are necessary for dieters to maintain their weight loss over the long haul. If you lose any weight on this plan, you can be sure it will pile back on once you can no longer bear the sight of a grapefruit and go off the plan.

There is, though, a "real" Mayo Clinic Diet from the clinic in Minnesota. Go to their website and in the Healthy Lifestyles section you will find the sub-heading Nutrition and Healthy Eating. There is extensive information on nutrition and weight loss, including the "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid." Mayo's diet has four key elements:

1. Food choices guided by the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid
   
2. Exercise and increased physical activity
   
3. Be realistic about your goals, and define how you will reach them, and stay there
4. Tips for staying motivated

Mayo is a world renowned health center for a reason. You can't go wrong with their advice.