Bernstein Diet

Bernstein diet concept had been devised by Dr. Stanley Bernstein. He is a Canadian physician whose forte is dealing with weight loss programs. Dr Bernstein’s weight loss program started in 1974 and presently boasts of more than 50 clinics only in Canada. Dr. Bernstein’s diet program is accessible only through clinics. His clinics are based in Canada and the USA.

Definition of Bernstein Diet

The Bernstein Diet has a target of helping you to loose 4-5 pounds in a week. This involves that one has to pay 3 visits to the clinic every week while the program is on.

The diet of Bernstein combines low calorie diet, behavior modification, education, vitamin and mineral supplements. Everyday, your calorie intake could be anywhere between 800 — 1350, though depends from case to case.

During this diet phase only the fat tissue is lost and all other tissue (muscle, electrolytes, fluid) remains in its place. Vitamin and mineral should form an important constituent of your diet. You could also take vitamin injections.

Three phases of Bernstein diet

1. Weight Loss phase
2. Maintenance phase
3. ‘Tune-up’ diet for small amounts of weight loss

Food items of Bernstein Diet

For protein intake –

• veal cutlet
• chicken livers
• small steak
• chicken breasts
• shrimp
• tuna
• white fish

Fruit and Vegetables –

• celery
• mushrooms
• tomatoes
• lettuce
• bean sprouts
• cabbage
• tomato sauce
• apples
• lemons
• oranges
• green, orange, red and yellow peppers

Spices and Seasonings –

• bay leaves
• dried herbs
• caraway seeds

Beverages and Miscellaneous –

• liquid Sweetener
• Hermasetas/Equal
• Jello Light
• herbal tea
• decaffeinated coffee
• club soda

The Bernstein diet has low levels of carbohydrate and high levels of fat.

Benefits of Bernstein diet

The key benefits of the Bernstein diet are that a constant and normal blood sugar level is maintained. The importance of maintaining constant, normal blood sugar levels were proven by the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. This was a study of diabetics from 1983–1993, being the most exhaustive large-scale diabetes study that was ever carried on. The research revealed that in diabetics, who majorly controlled the blood sugar levels, the risk for eye disease was brought down by 76%, nerve disease is prevented by around 60%, and kidney disease by 50%. This diet is also helpful for diabetics who are overweight to lose weight.



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