The 3 Day Cardiac Diet, which is also known by many other names including Birmingham Hospital cardiac diet, unit diet, American Heart Association (AHA) diet, 3-day Army diet, Three-day Navy diet, Hot dog diet (or hot dog and ice cream diet), and Kaiser three-day diet. It is believed that the diet plan was supposedly developed by the Birmingham Hospital in Alabama, though the hospital does not claim responsibility to the plan. The 3 Day Cardiac Diet was best suited for patients who wanted to lose weight up to 10 lbs quickly.
The 3 Day Cardiac Diet is based on the principle of restricting the daily intake of calories and nutrients. Though the human body can handle a fast for 3 days, it is certainly not a long term solution to weight loss. Drinking six to eight cups of water a day is strictly advised as it speeds up digestion. A diet plan for the 3 day cardiac diet schedule is given below. The menu can be altered with equally competent low-calorie foods but care should be taken to restrict calorie intake to the prescribed level, everyday.
Day One:
- Breakfast: Black coffee, water, or tea; half of a grapefruit or pink grapefruit juice; and one slice of toast with 1 or 2 tbl of peanut butter
- Lunch: Black coffee, water, or tea; 1/2 cup of water-packed tuna; and one slice of dry toast
- Dinner: Black coffee, water, or tea; 3 oz lean meat; 1 cup green beans; 1 cup beets; 1 cup vanilla ice cream; and one small apple
Day Two:
- Breakfast: Black coffee, water, or tea; one egg, any style; one banana (some versions say 1/2 banana); and one slice of dry toast
- Lunch: Black coffee, water, or tea; 1 cup of cottage cheese; and five saltine crackers
- Dinner: Black coffee, water, or tea; two hot dogs; 1/2 cup carrots; 1 cup broccoli (or cabbage); one banana (some versions say 1/2 banana); and 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
Day Three:
- Breakfast: Black coffee, water, or tea; five saltine crackers; one egg (or one slice cheddar cheese); and one 4-oz glass of apple juice
- Lunch: Black coffee, water, or tea; one hard-boiled egg; one small apple; and one slice of dry toast
- Dinner: Black coffee, water, or tea; 1 cup tuna, chicken, or turkey; 1 cup cauliflower or green beans; 1 cup beets; 1 cup cantaloupe or one small apple; and 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
Variations of the three-day diet
Versions of the 3 day cardiac diet that allow food substitutions do so on the basis that it is a calorie based diet. As long as food substitutions have equivalent calorie amounts, the effect of diet will remain same. Other versions provide specific lists of permitted substitutions:
- An orange instead of grapefruit
- Tuna instead of cottage cheese and vice versa
- Frozen yogurt instead of ice cream
- Cauliflower instead of broccoli and vice versa
- Green beans instead of broccoli or cauliflower
- Beets instead of carrots
- A slice of toast instead of five crackers or vice versa
Function
The primary function of the 3-day cardiac diet is rapid short-term weight loss. Variations of the diet imply that the diet can be used indefinitely, following a three-days on and four-days off pattern. Some online versions of this diet claim that this 3 day diet has a detoxification and weight regulation effect. The three-day cardiac diet is also claimed to reduce the dieter’s risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Precautions
The 3 day cardiac diet or any of its three-day variations is usually not recommended for all who would like to lose weight. The diet could poses a health risk to anyone with a history of heart disease or an eating disorder. As a general precaution, before switching on to this diet is to consult a physician before trying any specific diet,
especially for adolescents, women who are pregnant or nursing, people with kidney or liver disorders and patients recovering from surgery.
My husband gained too much weight last month and he want to try 3 Day Cardiac Diet. which food should i include in my husband’s 3 Day Cardiac Diet menu? can i get menu food list from Birmingham Hospital website?
I used to have a great figure without trying. But then I graduated (no more mandatory physical education), and moved out (no more Mom making me eat healthy. Now I’m getting a little squishy and I want to get back to the way I was. Maybe about 20 lbs. I’d be happy to lose even 10 lbs.