The American Heart Association 3 Day Diet is a cleansing program that is designed to remove toxins from the body. At the same time, the diet supposedly helps participants lose up to ten pounds in just three days. Despite its name, the American Heart Association has no direct affiliation with this diet plan, and it should be noted that the plan is not generally considered a healthy eating plan.
The so-called "3 Day Diet" has been around since approximately 1985 and goes by several different names. However, lately it is the American Heart Association title that has garnered the most attention. The American Heart Association 3 Day Diet has a rather rigid menu to follow. The foods that are chosen are meant to boost up metabolism and burn fat quickly. They are also reported to rid the body of toxins, build muscle, and provide dieters with increased energy. Some of the main food choices selected are rather surprising, though, and can be rather high in sodium, fat, and sugar.
The idea of the American heart Association 3 Day Diet is to follow strict meal plans based on the theory that certain foods, eaten in appropriate combinations, will jump start a person's metabolic rate. The total number of calories to be eaten each day totals only around 1,000 to 1,200, and only three meals are permitted. There is no space in the diet for snacks, and the largest meal of the day seems to be dinner. A sample menu might possibly include crackers with cheese for breakfast, canned tuna on toast for lunch, and vanilla ice cream and cabbage for dinner. It also incorporates tea and coffee for a caffeine jolt meant to boost a person's metabolism.
In the end, the misleading American Heart Association 3 Day Diet is not beneficial for a person's heart or other major body systems. It is just one of the many "crash diets" or "fad diets" that aim to help people shed pounds fast. Still, it is a much safer option than weight loss drugs and other fad trends and the plan can be used by those who are desperate to shed a few pounds before a major event. However, the actual weight lost will likely be from water and will most likely not be the ten pound estimate given. Additionally, after the 3 day diet is over, weight gain may result as normal eating habits resume. The diet should not be continued for any longer than three days, though, due to health concerns.
