![The 3-Day cardiac diet is one of the popular fad diets for weight-loss.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/3-day-cardiac-diet.jpg?output-quality=75)
The idea of a healthy weight loss rests on the pillars of regular exercise and healthy food choices. The 3-day cardiac diet proposes a considerable weight loss in a short time which may be dangerous to your health. Furthermore, experts suggest that such a sudden weight loss mainly constitutes the loss of water and muscle mass rather than fat. This may make you feel weak and lead to repeated cycles of weight loss and weight gain. Such changes in weight can be damaging to the heart and overall health.
Due to the restricted food options in the 3-day diet, you may end up having unhealthy cravings and nutritional deficiencies. A restricted food plan is also not practical and may be difficult to continue in the long run. The deficiency of essential nutrients in such diet plans can make your immune system weak. This will make you prone to various infections.
A good diet is not the one that just helps you lose weight quickly. A good diet plan must help you meet your nutritional requirements as well. A modest weight loss of even five to 10 percent of your total body weight can protect you from various diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
You must consult your healthcare provider to know what diet and lifestyle changes will help you achieve a healthy weight safely.
What is the 3-Day cardiac diet?
The 3-Day cardiac diet is one of the popular fad diets for weight-loss. The diet claims a weight loss of about 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms in a week. The diet makes robust claims of faster and significant weight loss, detox, lowered cholesterol and increased energy. None of these claims, however, have been scientifically substantiated. The diet is also called the Birmingham Diet because the advocates of this diet claim that it was developed at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The researchers at the university, however, deny such claims.
The diet constitutes a three-day diet plan (on days) that provide between 800-1000 calories. This is followed by four days of responsible eating when a person can have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meat and nuts. The diet pattern can be followed over and again till the desired weight loss is achieved.
What does a 3-day cardiac diet menu contain?
The 3-day cardiac diet offers an inexpensive but restricted menu. Sticking to the menu is proposed to result in 10 pounds of weight loss in seven days. You are not allowed to make any substitutes to the menu or add anything except salt and pepper.
DAY 1:
Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit or juice
1 Slice of dry Toast
1 Tablespoon of Peanut Butter
Black Coffee or Tea
Lunch
1/2 Cup of Tuna
1 Slice of dry Toast or 1 Oz. of cheddar cheese
Black Coffee or Tea
Dinner
3 ounces of any lean meat
1 cup of string beans
1 cup carrots or beets
1 small apple
1 cup of vanilla ice cream
DAY 2:
Breakfast
Black coffee or tea
1 egg
1 slice of dry toast
1/2 banana
Lunch
Black coffee or tea
1 cup of cottage cheese or ½ cup tuna
5 saltine crackers
Dinner
2 beef franks
1 cup of broccoli or cabbage
1/2 cup of carrots or turnip greens
1/2 banana
1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream
DAY 3:
Breakfast
Black coffee or tea
5 saltine crackers
1 Oz. of cheddar cheese
1 small apple
Lunch
Black coffee or tea
1 hard-boiled egg
1 slice of dry toast
Dinner
1 cup of tuna
1 cup of beans or cauliflower
1 cup carrots or beets
1cup melon
½ cup vanilla ice cream
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