The Sacred Heart Diet

The sacred heart diet is another of the 'eat your fill' diets, with the staple ingredient being a hearty vegetable soup. Named after the hospital where it was supposedly invented to treat overweight cardiology patients before surgery, it actually has no scientific credentials, with several hospitals even issuing statements disowning it.

How Does The Sacred Heart Diet Work?

The principle is to fill up on a very low calorie vegetable soup, which can be consumed in as large a quantity as is needed. Other foods are off limits, except for the foods prescribed for each day, as are alcoholic drinks and carbonated beverages. The diet lasts for seven days, after which time dieters are supposed to have lost at least 10 pounds, as well as feeling cleansed and rejuvenated.

The Sacred Heart Diet

The soup;

• 1- 2 cans tomatoes
• 3 or more green onions
• 1 big can of low fat beef broth
• 1 packet of chicken noodle soup powder
• a head of celery
• canned or frozen green beans- at least 1 pound
• 2 lbs raw carrots
• 2-3 green peppers
• seasoning- salt, pepper, soy sauce or Worcester sauce, curry, parsley, basically anything with no calories.

To prepare the soup, simply peel, slice or chop the vegetables, cover with water and add the soup mix and spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer until cooked. This is the basic food you will be eating all week, together with plenty of liquids from this list;

Tea

• Black coffee
• Juice ( unsweetened), especially cranberry
• Skim milk
• Water

In addition to the soup, the menu is as follows;

Day One;

• Fruit – any fruit, as much as you want, except bananas

Day Two;

• Vegetables, as much as you want – but be aware that doesn't mean legumes!
• A large baked potato with butter for dinner

Day Three;

• Fruit and vegetables, as much as you want, but no potato. This evening is the midway point in the diet, and you should find a weight loss of at least 5 pounds.

Day Four

• At least 3 bananas
• Skim milk – as much as you want

Day Five;

• Beef – 10 to 20 oz, cooked in any way except fried
• Tomatoes – up to six fresh tomatoes or one can

Day Six;

• Beef – as much as you want
• Vegetables, as much as you want, but no potato

Day Seven;

• Brown rice, unlimited amount
• Vegetables, unlimited
• Unsweetened fruit juice, unlimited

If you prefer, chicken can be substituted for the beef, of course without skin and not fried. One beef meal can be replaced by broiled fish. At the end of the week, you should have lost at least 10 pounds.

The Debate on the Sacred Heart Diet;

This diet is not a long term weight loss plan, and one of the main points against it is that most weight loss is temporary, caused by fluid depletion. The first three days are particularly low in calories, and may cause light headedness and weakness.

The Sacred Heart Diet – For;

• Plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• Inexpensive
• Easy to prepare

The Sacred Heart Diet – Against;

• Too low in carbohydrates
• No long term benefit
• Difficult to follow at work