Rice Diet

The Rice Diet is a program specializing in the prevention, treatment and reversal of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure. The diet consists of fruits, grains, vegetables, beans, and olive oil with small amounts of non-fat dairy and seafood (& lean meats), which is what patients are directed to eat when they return home both for continued weight loss and maintenance. On completion of the program, resources are available for participants to continue with a healthy lifestyle, and to maintain the improved health gained while on the residential program.

Origin

The Rice Diet was created by Dr. Walter Kempner, born in Berlin, Germany, in 1903. Joining Duke University's Department of Medicine in 1934 more as a researcher than a clinician, he had received his early scientific training in the lab of Otto Warburg and as a consequence was oriented around the problems of cellular oxygen. When the war broke out, he was needed as a clinician and it was in this role that the Rice Diet was born. The story goes that he told a woman to eat only rice without salt and fruit and come back in two weeks. She appeared to have misunderstood and returned after two months transformed and so the Rice Diet was born. His original studies addressed the problem of malignant hypertension. What was soon revealed due to the interconnectedness of the various organ systems, was that the rice diet helped control many other serious conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Kempner was reputed to be a strict disciplinarian and was said to have his patients tested daily for changes and adherence to the program. He expected complete commitment to the very restricted eating program. He also strongly recommended daily exercise, mainly walking, to supplement the diet. A careful reading of the literature will reveal that the working theory of the rice diet is to bring more oxygen into the tissues. He found that even slight overall elevation in overall oxygen tension brought with it significant health benefits.

A weight loss in the range of 12 to 20 pounds in the first month is typical on the modern version of this diet. The rate decreases to between 1 and 3 pounds lost a week after that.

Outpatient Treatment Program

As well as meals using the Rice Diet, the outpatient treatment program based in Durham, North Carolina, provides classes, groups and workshops for stress management and exercise, nutritional lectures, and personal medical supervision.

Menu

The original diet advocated by Kempner was an eating plan consisting of two portions of unsalted, unseasoned rice served with two portions of fruit eaten three times daily for a limited number of weeks while under on-going medical observation.

The diet has evolved over the years and now consists of three phases: a one-week "Detox" phase, a "Lasting Weight Loss" phase to observe until weight goals are achieved, and a "Maintenance" phase to keep at a stable weight. All phases emphasize the importance of both portion control and very low consumption of salt. As with most weight loss promoting diets, medical supervision is recommended.

In the Rice Diet's current format, the original eating plan is observed one day a week regardless of phase. The remaining days of the week feature expanded selections of starch/grains, some dairy, several servings of (non-starchy) vegetables, and half the amount of fruit.

The phases differ primarily in the number of days in which (animal-based) protein is optionally consumed.

Phase 1 (Detox) is:

• 1 day a week of Basic Rice Diet
• 6 days a week of Lacto-Vegetarian Diet

Phase 2 (Lasting Weight Loss) is:

• 1 day a week of Basic Rice Diet
• 5 days a week of Lacto-Vegetarian Diet
• 1 day a week of Vegetarian Plus Diet

Phase 3 (Maintenance) is:

• 1 day a week of Basic Rice Diet
• 4 days a week of Lacto-Vegetarian Diet
• 2 days a week of Vegetarian Plus Diet

The three diets used in the three phases breakdown as follows:

Basic Rice Diet
Breakfast - 2 starches, 2 fruits
Lunch - 2 starches, 2 fruits
Dinner - 2 starches, 2 fruits

Lacto-Vegetarian Diet
Breakfast - 1 starch, 1 non-fat diary, 1 fruit
Lunch - 3 starches, 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Dinner - 3 starches, 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Daily - 0 to 4 fats

Vegetarian Plus Diet
Breakfast - 2 starches, 1 fruit
Lunch - 3 starches, 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Dinner - 3 starches, 3 proteins (or 2 dairy), 3 vegetables, 1 fruit
Daily - 0 to 4 fats

Portion control depends on the starch/vegetable/fruit/protein/fat being consumed but falls roughly into the following ranges: 1/3 to 1/2 cup for starches, 1/2 cup for cooked vegetables, 1 cup for raw vegetables, 1/2 to 1 cup for fruits, 1 ounce for animal-based proteins, and 1/3 cup for plant-based proteins. Fats should be consumed sparingly; a portion is 1 tsp for oils and 1 tbsp for nuts.

Low Salt

Salt is restricted in the Rice Diet, since the body swells with salt (sodium) and water. The average American's diet contains approx. 4-7 grams of sodium, yet less than half a gram a day is necessary for normal body function.

Salt is a problem for patients with high blood pressure and kidney failure, and this is true also for most people if present in higher quantities in the diet. Salt stimulates the appetite, whereas herbs and spices simply flavor the food.

Limiting salt reduces several health risks, including cholesterol, blood pressure, heart size and weight, as well as reducing the need to medicate for these problems.