The UltraSimple Diet
The UltraSimple Diet is a new book from Dr Mark Hyman, author of the bestseller UltraMetabolism.
UltraSimple is a 7 day program that seeks to address toxicity and inflammation. Hyman believes that these two factors are the reason why many people struggle with obesity.
Here is a rundown of the diet:
Elimination
Foods containing the following are eliminated from the diet.
- Caffeine
- Processed and refined carbohydrates and sugar
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Hydrogenated (trans) fats
- Processed, packaged, junk, or fast foods
- Alcohol
The book provides very detailed instructions and guidance on how to go about removing these things from your diet (along with any supplementation that may be required).
Foods to eat
During the program, the following foods should be eaten.
- Filtered water
- Fish, especially small, nonpredatory species such as sardines, herring, wild salmon, black cod or sable fish, sole, and cod
- Lean white meat chicken breasts (preferably organic)
- Fresh or frozen noncitrus fruits, ideally berries only (preferably organic)
- Fresh vegetables (preferably organic)
- Fresh vegetable broth (three to four cups per day)
- Legumes (lentils, navy beans, adzuki beans, mung beans, tofu, and others)
- Brown rice
- Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and pumpkin seeds)
- Flaxseeds (ground, preferably organic)
- Lemons
A very detailed day-by-day plan is included - along with recipes, and even lifestyle changes.
Summary
I believe that inflammation, food insensitivities, and environmental toxins are a very real issue with our modern diets - and our health. While our bodies are equipped with detoxification mechanisms - I suspect that without the full complement of antioxidants and nutrients (that tend to come with a whole foods diet) - we will never quite be working at full par.
To blame obesity on these factors alone would be an oversimplification - people still lose weight on nutrient-poor (and calorie deficient) diets. Health, however, is another story.
In some respects, Hyman has written the diet to appease our desire for "instant-gratification". Apparently many people thought the 8 week UltraMetabolism program was too long and "never gave the program a chance" (according to Hyman).
"I designed this program [Ultrametabolism] to be only 7 days (which anybody can do) to prove just how good you can actually feel once you have addressed the core problems of toxicity."
Read More
- The Aquavore Diet (Diet Blog)
- Eat The Foods You Love Diet (Diet Blog)
- Meet Greg, 155 Pounds Down! (DailySpark)
- 2012 Super Bowl Commercial Winners: Oikos and Belvita [VIDEOS] (Diets in Review)
56 Comments
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Created / Updated: October 30, 2011
Here it is so simply that you don't even need a book: Eat stuff that grows and stuff that eats stuff that grows.
ReplyOnly berries? That was the weird part for me, but ok.
ReplyBerries are lowest on the glycemic index compared to other fruits, so maybe that is why.
ReplyBerries, especially blueberries have the highest concentration of antioxidants in fruit.
ReplyYou lost me with no caffeine. ;-P
Well really, other than my java, I'm already there! Woo Hoo!
ReplyYAAAAAAAAAWWWWNNN!!!! Same old, same old.
ReplyWhy are people so obssessed with "detoxing"? We should all eliminate
processed and refined carbohydrates and sugar; HFCS; trans-fats; processed, packaged, junk and fast foods, and cut back on (or eliminate) alcohol and caffeine.
People will "do" this diet for the seven magic days, congratulate themselves on their detox, then go back to the eating style that made them fat and tired in the first place.
ReplyI've got a simple two-step diet for you:
1. Eat less crap (i.e. eat more whole foods).
2. Exercise regularly.
These detox books, IMO, are a rip-off. Is there anyone who still believes fast food is good for you or that you can eat as much as you like of Food A as long as you eliminate Food B? I feel like there are hundreds of books outlining common sense concepts at $10 a pop.
The foods the author suggests people should eat during the program are the foods people should be eating all the time. Whole foods are good for you. Processed foods tend to be bad for you.
It's simple...and doesn't require a trip to Amazon.com.
ReplyI agree with Never Teh Bride. I've tried a lot of these diets and detox regimens. They never work as promised and the changes never lost. What finally worked for me was gradually changing my lifestyle to be healthier. I ate less, I ate healthier and I exercised more. Amazingly enough, I lost weight!
Gal
ReplyI, for one, am a fan of Dr. Hyman’s books, although I have not yet read this new one. In his previous books, he does present a clear case for minimizing toxins in our food in order to improve health and lose weight. His dietary approach will also lower calorie intake for most people and improve their insulin response to food, leading to weight loss.
Comments from some of your other readers suggest that this is a “no-brainer” diet. However, most of those I advise on weight loss are confused and need direction. Some still think the way to lose is to skip meals or live on processed diet foods. A whole foods diet is definitely the better way to go!
ReplyThe ultra simple diet is: Eat healthy and less, and exercise more... Yo really don't need a book for that !
ReplyUh, hasn't this already been said by someone else? This is hardly anything new!
ReplyMy home town in a village in Hainan Island of China.
In the old days most people eat sweet potato,vegetables as laking of rice;eat less meat such as pork,beef but easier to have fish as sea is not far away.
Air is clean and fresh.
Quite a number of people live long lives there, not difficult to find people with ages reaching 85,95 or so.
ReplyI bought the book and find the title misleading. The diet is not ultrasimple as you are supposed to create shakes with rice protein and crushed flaxseed, among other things. Personally, I don't have these things handy and have to go to a special store to get them. This would be ultrasimple if I could go to my local grocery store for the ingredients. (Also, this guy seems really obsessed with constipation.) I've had to simplify the "ultrasimple" diet in order for me to give it a try.
ReplyOy, I ordered this book and forget it. You have to drink 3-4 cups a day of the "ultra-broth", you have to make "ultra-shakes" and take mega doses of vitamins and supplements. Seriously, if this is so good for you, why do you need so many supplements? It certainly seems very healthy, but utterly ridiculous...another one I'm getting rid of. Blech.
ReplyAnything worth doing is going to take some work and change. Try not to be cynical. Love yourself enough to do some research into this diet.
ReplyMy friend bought this book and somehow roped me in to trying this diet. I only agreed because I know I am addicted to sugar and caffeine and need to break the addiction with a cleanse. We went to Trader Joe's and Hi-Health. Many of the ingredients were not in either location. Frankly, I don't know where we were supposed to go to get all those ingredients. Then the schedule of 20 minutes of yoga twice a day, 20 minutes of journaling twice a day and then 30 minutes of exercise, steam, AND an ultra bath....you've GOT to be kidding!! I am a single parent who works 40 plus hours a week and has two kids - so that's not happening. I'll be lucky to squeeze in the 30 min of exercise and maybe a bath. Then the ultra shakes are about as flavorful and have the consistency as wet cement. I will say drinking the flavorless broth is a lot more enjoyble than pouring the wet cement down your throat. I would not recomment this book. Like it says above. Just avoid processed foods. Drink lots of filtered water, exercise, and don't eat anything that comes in a box.
Reply