Ornish Diet

Dr. Dean Ornish, clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and founder of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Institute in Sausalito, California, created the Ornish diet, a low-fat eating regimen, in 1977. Some of the advantages that the Ornish diet is said to offer include the reversal of chronic disease and general enhanced health.

According to Frederick, Maryland-based registered dietitian Sarah Schlichter, the diet promotes consuming a variety of plant-based meals such fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. The diet, also known as a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet plan, does not recommend eating meat, fish, or fowl, although it does allow the consumption of dairy products and eggs.

The diet divides foods into five categories, ranging from the healthiest (group 1) to the least healthy (group 5). (group five). One of the four main foundations of the Ornish Lifestyle Medicine by Sharecare program is the Ornish diet. The other four are love (the notion that joy and sociable connections with people are essential to well health) and social support.

Pros:

• No counting carbs, points or calories.
  
  
• Filling – it's rich in high-fiber foods.
  
  
• Has proven health benefits.

Cons:

• Tedious portioning, meal planning or prep.
  
  
• Potential for monotony unless you customize.
  
  
• Unsafe for some people.
  
  
• Lots of rules to remember.