Cardiac diet plan can help you lose up to 2-7 pounds in 5 days or 22-33 pounds in 15 days.
Foods in this diet plan are rich in vitamins and minerals, so the founders claim that you won’t have a feeling of weakness or exhaustion.
Which is very unlikely.
At first, it may seem similar to citrus diet, but it’s not.
Although very similar, these two diets differ in some details so it’s important to treat them separately.
If your goal is to lose just a few pounds then repeat this 5-day meal plan cycle up to 3 times, for a maximum of 15 consecutive days.
On the other hand, if your goal is to lose more than 7 pounds then between every 3 cycles have 15 days of break.
In other words, 15 days diet, 15 days rest, then repeat.
Cardiac or medical diet is a term for a heart-healthy diet. It was given due to the fact that similar diet plans are applied to patients with heart problems, who need to lose weight before surgery without losing their strength.
Please note, this is an unofficial diet. If you have heart problems, please see a cardiologist!
WHY THIS DIET WORKS
This diet is considered to be very restrictive since it’s low in calories, which is in the short run effective for rapid weight loss.
The negative side is that if you don’t stick with healthy eating habits afterward, the weight will come back. This is also known as the yo-yo effect.
Cardiac diet meal plans are based on eating lots of nutrient-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits and veggies, fish and lean poultry. While trans fats, saturated fats, sugar and excess sodium should be avoided.
Here is an example of a 5-day meal plan:
DAY 1
Breakfast
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or tea (without sugar)
Lunch
- 1 orange
- 1 boiled egg
- 1/2 cups of yogurt
Dinner
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 boiled eggs
- 1 cucumber or 1/2 of lettuce salad
DAY 2
Breakfast
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
Lunch
- 1 orange
- 1 boiled egg
- 1/2 cup of yogurt
Dinner
- 1 Burger (125 g of minced meat)
- 1 orange
- 1 tomato
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
DAY 3
Breakfast
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
Lunch
- 1 orange
- 1 boiled egg
- 1/2 cup of yogurt
- 1 lettuce salad or 2 cucumbers
- any sugar-free drink (avoid soda and diet cokes)
Dinner
- 1 burger (125 g of minced beef meat)
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
DAY 4
Breakfast
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
Lunch
- 125 g of non-fat cheese
- 1 tomato
- 4 crackers
Dinner
- 1 burger (125 g of minced beef meat)
- 4 crackers
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 apple
DAY 5
Breakfast
- 1 orange
- 4 crackers
- 1 cup of coffee or sugar-free tea
Lunch
- 200 g of fish or chicken
- 4 crackers
- 1 tomato
Dinner
- 500 g of cooked vegetables
- 1 boiled egg
- 1 tomato
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Meat and cooked vegetables can be lightly seasoned with whichever herb or spice you like
- Meat should be baked on a teflon pan to reduce the need for additional fat
- You can replace fresh tomatoes with cooked ones
- Never skip meals
- Hydrate your body by drinking a lot of water- strive for 2-3 liters per day.
- The listed foods should be consumed in the specified quantities and order
HEART-HEALTHY FOODS
Here are a few additional foods that are good for your heart and weight loss.
Vegetables:
- Arugula
- Broccoli
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Bok choy
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Tomato
- Cauliflower
Soluble fiber:
- Oats
- Beans
- Ground flaxseed
- Berries
Omega 3 fatty acids:
- Sardines
- Salmon
- Herring
- Tuna
- Hemp Seeds
- Ground flaxseed
- Chia seeds
- Walnuts
SIDE EFFECTS
Because the meal plans are low in calories it’s very common to feel hungry and lack of energy.
If you are switching from high-carb diet then headache is a possible side effect as well.
