What Is The Scarsdale Diet?

Dr. Herman Turnower created the Scarsdale diet, named for the New York town of its birth, in the 1970s as a weight loss program for heart patients. It was intended to be used for quick weight loss, claiming an individual could lose up to twenty pounds in two weeks if they followed it to a tee. On this diet, individuals still consume three meals per day, but limit their caloric intake to just one thousand calories. The meals are made up of forty-three percent protein, 22.5 percent fat, and 34.5 percent carbohydrates and are accompanied by four cups of water each day. The diet, which is known for being a crash diet in nature, is intended to be followed for only seven to fourteen days. Many members of the medical community advise against extreme crash diets like this one. Learn about this diet now.

Signs Of A Crash Diet

There are obvious signs of a crash diet and they cite a variety of red flags most crash diets are characterized by, explaining they cause weight cycling, otherwise referred to as yo-yo dieting, and even negative health detriments. Crash diets, for example, are always characterized by an extreme restriction of calories, which can lead to weakness, fatigue, and the inability to concentrate. The rules are unsustainable, which is why these diets are only recommended to be used for short periods. Often, crash diets also put a restriction on foods known to be healthy and contain crucial macronutrients. Although most health organizations recommend a diet consisting of at least thirty percent fat, these diet plans restrict fat intake, work by putting the individual's body into a starved state in which it quickly consumes its own fat at a fast rate because of the low caloric intake.

Get to know the basics of the Scarsdale diet now.