Pritikin Diet characteristics (13,14,15):
- Diet plus exercise counseling for three to four weeks.
- Very low fat, less than 10% of calories compared to 35% in the normal American diet.
- Low sodium intake and avoidance of salty foods.
- High fiber with at least five ½-cup servings of whole grains daily (wheat, oats, and brown rice or starch vegetables such as potatoes, and dried beans and peas.
- Refined grain products (white flour, regular pasta, white rice) are limited to two servings daily.
- At least four 1-cup servings of raw vegetables daily or ½-cup servings of cooked vegetables. Dark green, leafy, and orange or yellow vegetables are preferred
- At least three servings of fruit, one of which can be fruit juice.
- Two servings daily of calcium-rich foods such as nonfat milk, nonfat yogurt or fortified and enriched soymilk.
- No more than one caffeinated drinks daily. Instead drink water, low-sodium vegetable juices, grain-based coffee substitutes or caffeine-free teas.
- No more than four alcoholic drinks per week for women and no more than seven for men, with red wine preferred over beer or distilled spirits.
- No more than seven egg whites per week.
- no more than 2 ounces (about 1/4 cup of nuts) daily.
- Moderate amounts of fish, nonfat dairy, and lean meat with no more than one 3.5 cooked serving of animal protein per day with fish and shellfish are preferred. Lean poultry should optimally be limited to once a week and lean beef to once a month.
- Adapted to vegetarians by replacing animal protein with protein from soy products, beans, or lentils.
- Avoid fried foods, dressing with fat, and fatty sauces, animal fats, processed meat, dairy products not made with non-rat milk, egg yolks, salty snacks, cakes, cookies, and similar high-calorie choices.
- Eat frequently with three meals a day plus two snacks.
- Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda are okay.
- Exercise component of the Pritikin Program: The exercise component includes 45 minutes of moderate exercise daily such as walking.
- Insurance approval for the Pritikin Program: Medicare may approve coverage for the Pritikin Program for qualifying individuals with a history or risk of cardiovascular events. The program has been approved for coverage under Part B of Medicare. Medicare will reimburse eligible beneficiaries for up to 72 one-hour ICR sessions, up to 6 sessions per day, at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa.
The Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease (16):
The Ornish program evidence-based benefits:
- Ornish Program findings of 3,780 patients found that the average patient lost 13.3 pounds in the first 12 weeks and 15.9 pounds after 1 year.
- Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks were still significant after 1 year.
- Exercise capacity increased by 18% after 12 weeks and 24% after one year.
- Reductions in depression were still significant after 1 year.
- Hemoglobin A1C in diabetics continued to decrease after one year.
- 5% of patients reported improvement in severity of angina (chest pain) after 1 year.
Ornish Program characteristics:
The Ornish program teaches a plant-based, meatless diet, meditation, and regular exercise with adherence to the program between 85 to 90% after one year in hospitals and clinics that have offered it.