In this article, we are going to discuss the “Newcastle diet”. I will also include the food consumed on the diet, and food that is prohibited on that diet. I will also include the benefits and drawbacks of following the Newcastle diet.
What is the Newcastle diet?
The Newcastle diet is named after the Newcastle university in Britain. The university did research on the relationship between diabetes and weight loss. The diet constituted of restricting food and following a very low-calorie diet plan to see the effect on diabetes. The diet focused on type 2 diabetes and lasted for 2 months.
The diet constituted 800 calories only, restricting much food for 2 months. People who have type 2 diabetes are resistant to insulin. The mechanism by which the disease develops is unknown, yet it s a gradual process.
Unhealthy eating patterns, picking food that would spike your blood sugar, food known as high glycemic index food. Type 2 diabetes requires lifetime adherence to dietary modifications and restrictions. With the aim of keeping the blood sugar levels stable.
Since diabetes causes some serious medical complications later in life, including many body organs such as the eyes, kidneys, heart, nervous system, limbs, and so on. There comes the need to find ways to try and reverse diabetes, which is almost impossible.
A study was done at the University of Newcastle in Britain to see how far diabetes can be reversed and the results were amazing. After 3 months of the diet, diabetes was gone after they resumed their normal diets.
It has to be noted that almost 63% of the participants remained diabetes free on the 800-calorie diet. The diet only included 3 things: a meal replacement that contained carbs, protein, ad fat. Which basically contains all the macronutrients together.
It had a total of 600 calories, with carbs less than 50%, protein a bit over 30%, and 20% of fat. This supplement is balanced with all the macronutrients together. The carbs were provided for these people as a source of energy.
The body needs a source of energy to function normally, thus to prevent any complications from low blood sugar, some carbs were given.
The second part of the diet included vegetables. Specifically non-starchy vegetables. Since starchy vegetables increase the blood sugar of diabetics, it was avoided.
Some of the vegetables that are low in starch are broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms. The seasoning for the food was permitted with the exception of salt.
The diet included water to hydrate and prevent any dehydration from occurring. The water was limited to 2 liters of water.
Starchy food is avoided such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, and legumes. The diet eliminated fruits and vegetables, and dairy food groups. Salt and alcohol were not allowed. In addition, all kinds of meats were prohibited.
What are some of the benefits of the diet?
One of the most essential benefits of the Newcastle diet included the results of the absence of diabetes for 3 months. Diabetes is a chronic disease that can not be recovered from. The diet showed hope in this manner.
Due to the weight loss that occurred as a result of the low-calorie diet of 800 calories, the blood glucose was reduced.
This is due to the balance in carbs consumption and the avoidance of food that could spike the blood sugar, such as high glycemic index food like sugar, chocolate, and simple carbs.
The diet contained a very important and healthy food group which is vegetables. Vegetables are rich in fiber and provide so many vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
What are some drawbacks to the Newcastle diet?
One of the drawbacks of the Newcastle diet included the symptoms that were accompanied by such a low-restrictive diet. Participants suffered from nausea, dizziness, hunger, fatigue, and hunger.
The diet repeats itself daily which would become very boring and hard to follow. The same food daily would become bland and monotonous.
The diet is lacking in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that the body needs. This makes the diet inadequate and causeway deficiencies.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the “Newcastle diet”.I also included the food consumed on the diet and food that is prohibited on that diet. I also included the benefits and drawbacks of following the Newcastle diet.
