Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital Diet

The Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital Diet is a diet plan that promotes rapid weight loss 1. Dieters eat large quantities of soup to reduce caloric intake while feeling full. This fad diet is not nutritionally sound and may be dangerous for your health. Talk to a doctor before beginning the diet to see if it makes sense for you.

History

The Sacred Heart Diet is a fad meal plan that allegedly originated from a cardiology department at Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital, according to EveryDiet 1. The diet was supposedly recommended as a quick weight loss solution for overweight cardiac patients. However, the Sacred Heart Hospital in Montreal, Canada, the American Heart Association and the Sacred Heart Medical Association deny any association with the diet, reports EveryDiet 12.

Features

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The Sacred Heart Diet is a seven-day meal plan that features vegetable beef soup 1. Dieters make a large batch of soup that they eat several times per day. Large amounts of fruits and vegetables accompany most meals. The diet permits small portions of non-fat milk, beef and brown rice on certain days. Acceptable beverages include green tea, coffee, water or juice. Avoid alcoholic beverages and soda when following the Sacred Heart Diet 1.

Nutrition

The large quantities of fruits and vegetables eaten on the Sacred Heart Diet provide your body with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that promote good health 1. The soup itself is not unhealthy, but eating primarily large amounts of soup may leave your body malnourished. The American Heart Association warns against fad diets that overemphasize one type of food 2. These diets cause nutritional deficiencies because they do not balance intake of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean protein.

Effects

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Following the Sacred Heart Diet for one week allegedly causes dieters to lose 10 to 17 lbs., according to the website EveryDiet 1. Much of the weight lost is water weight which may be gained back after returning to a standard diet. Eating many fruits and vegetables boosts fiber intake, promoting frequent bowel movements. This clears the digestive tract of excess waste, further lowering your weight.

Warning

Doctors warn that the Sacred Heart Diet is a fad that is an ineffective as a long-term weight loss solution 1. The American Heart Association reports that quick weight loss plans may cause adverse medical effects 2. The Sacred Heart Diet may leave you malnourished and deficient in important vitamins or minerals 1. A balanced diet containing carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats combined with frequent physical activity is a better weight loss solution. Talk to your doctor before beginning the Sacred Heart Diet to determine if it is an acceptable choice for you 1.