The Rice Diet Solution
What it is: The Rice Diet Solution is a strict plan that causes extreme weight loss by limiting salt, sugar, fat and processed foods. The plan is also designed to prevent and reverse diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.
How it works: The rice diet starts with a daily consumption of 800 calories and is gradually raised to 1,200, where dieters are expected to stay. The diet’s strict sodium restriction causes water loss, and subsequently appetite loss.
What you do: Meals on the rice diet are based around whole-grains, fruits, vegetables, non-fat dairy and extra-lean meat. While rice is part of the plan, there are 30 food options available at each meal. It is also recommended that dieters supplement the diet, which is low in calcium and vitamin D, with a multivitamin.
Benefits: The diet can help you lose weight, reduce stress and has a solid exercise plan, but experts agree that it works best in a supervised environment, like the Durham clinic where it originated.
The Down Side: Experts disagree with the conclusion that salt is such a major factor in increased appetite, arguing that there are many other factors at work. There are also concerns about a diet with such a low calorie intake could be hard to maintain over a long period of time and may trigger binging.
