What is the Dissociated Diet?

Does Dissociated Diet help in weight loss?

These are some of the most buzzed questions about this new world diet. The standard definition is “A diet that focusses on eating only one food group at a time”. Nutritionist suggests eating a wholesome balanced meal for a healthy weight loss and this diet is exactly the opposite. While many dieticians doubt its sustainability, it worked for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Catherin Zeta-Jones. So, let’s check out the crux of the dissociated diet.

What is a Dissociated Diet and How it works?

The Dissociated diet plan was developed by Dr. William Howard Hay. According to his study, a variety of food groups consumed together overloads the digestive system. Some of the foods like dairy and animal proteins are digested in an acidic environment while the plant-based foods and starches are digested in an alkaline environment.

When all these food groups are consumed together over a period of time. It leads to slow digestion and building up toxins in the body. It also causes fatigue and various other health issues. The dissociated diet eases the digestion process by focussing on one food group at a time. (1)

Dr. Hay’s diet strategy focussed on eating various food groups like fruits, vegetables, meat, grains. It also restricted the consumption of junk and processed foods, sugary and aerated drinks. You can follow this diet in two ways:

1. One food group per day
2. One food group per meal per day

It completely depends on your choice as both the ways give the same result.

Here is a video from DoctorOz

The Dissociated Diet Meal Plan

Dissociated diet is based on the rule that protein and carbs cannot be consumed together until the digestion of any one food group is complete. So, there are no 6 or 8 small meals in this diet. It consists of only 3 main meals which are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (2)

You can include fruits and veggies of your choice and which are easily available to you. Dairy products include Milk, Yogurt, Butter, and Cheese. Also, you can eat a boiled egg or make an omelet whatever you like more. These are the best foods to burn belly fat. Have a look at the meal plans:

Sample 1: In this sample, I have included one food group per meal per day. There are two meal plans. One has only the food group type and another is the detailed plan. Take a look at both.

The Detailed Dissociated Diet Plan

Sample 2: In this sample, I have included one food group per day. Check out the detailed plan.

How Does Dissociated Diet Help in Weight Loss?

This diet was developed in the early 1900s. Now modern science confirms that it can also help in weight loss. But how?

Looking at the diet closely, you can see that it restricts the consumption of junk and processed foods, sugary drinks which are greatly responsible for unhealthy weight gain. Restricting these foods helps in weight loss. It also suggests to include fat burning foods in the diet.

Scientists have coined the term “sensory-specific satiety” which means eating one food group entire day or a particular meal creates a monotony for our taste buds. So, it naturally makes us eat less. Nobody can overeat only veggies without rice or bread.

According to researches, people eat 35% less when offered the same food over a period of time. Eating fewer calories help us shed those extra inches by creating a calorie deficit. It also helps to get rid of bloating.

Drawbacks of the Dissociated Diet

The dissociated diet is not a sustainable diet. It creates self-restriction and boredom for food which cannot be continued for a long period of time. As soon as you achieve your weight loss goal and you stop continuing the diet, intense food cravings can cause you to overeat and regain even more weight.

Another reason for its failure is that it ignores the way of food assimilation in the body. For example, for the assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, our body needs healthy fats.

When you eat only protein without any carbs, you are likely to feel low energy since proteins take time to break down and provide energy. If you are consuming carbs without proteins you may lose substantial amounts of muscle mass.

Fruits are a great source of minerals and vitamins but they are very high on sugar. This may cause a steep increase your blood sugar levels which is very dangerous especially for diabetics.

With the dissociated diet, you are always lacking some or the other macronutrient in your diet which may cause you to binge eat as soon as the diet is stopped.

Read More: How to Drink Green Tea for Weight Loss?

Conclusion

After looking at all the scenarios of the dissociated diet, we can conclude that it may help in weight loss but temporarily. You are more likely to regain after you stop continuing with the diet. Also, it is very difficult to continue with this diet for a longer period of time.

Although you can do it once or twice every week to strengthen your digestion and flush out toxins. This way you won’t binge eat or get bored with food.

Healthy weight loss is a result of continuously choosing healthy alternatives and exercising often. Only a healthy lifestyle results in a fat loss which is sustainable. So eat wisely live happily.