A lot of women suffer from weight gain in middle age, especially around menopausal age. The Galveston diet, created in the late 1980s by Mary Claire, MD, an OBGYN, is designed in preventing this from happening by implementing a diet that consists of lean proteins as well as low-carbohydrate diets.
The Galveston diet was specifically designed to help women in menopausal stages shed weight by combating inflammation instead of cutting calories.
Although there are many personal success stories on the website of the diet, however, there aren’t any scientific studies that show that the Galveston diet is more effective in helping you shed weight than other balanced, healthy diets.
Here’s what you should be aware of prior to taking the Galveston diet.
Everything You Need To Know About Galveston Diet
The Galveston Diet Is Specifically Designed
Galveston diet is created to aid you in battling menopausal weight loss. But, it also provides tips on how to alleviate other symptoms of menopausal, such as hot flushes.
The goal is to lessen inflammation by restricting the time in which you consume food and eliminating food items that cause inflammation, such as Gluten as well as sugar.
Foods That You Can Eat According To The Galveston Diet
Below is how you should consume as you adhere to this Galveston diet:
Meats: Only lean proteins are permitted in order to prevent excessive saturated fats, which have been associated with weight gain.
- Salmon
- Turkey and Chicken
- Lean grass-fed beef
Vegetables: Veggies that are low in starch and high in inflammatory-fighting antioxidants are encouraged.
- Spinach
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
Fruits These are fruits which are lower in sugar and rich in antioxidants are suggested.
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
Fats: Dietary guidelines allow mostly unsaturated fats that are better choices for anyone who is trying to shed weight.
- Avocado
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Nuts and seeds
Foods To Stay Clear Of When Following The Galveston Diet
One dairy item to be recommended is Greek yogurt, as it contains higher levels of protein than other yogurt types. In addition, the sole grain that the diet contains is quinoa due to the fact that it is a protein-rich food, and also contains carbs.
When following the Galveston diet, you must avoid processed food items and foods with the addition of sugars. The website advises you to stay clear of the middle aisles in the supermarket which is where snacks and packaged foods can be located.
What To Eat When On The Galveston Diet
The diet is not only a way to set restrictions on the foods you consume as well as what you consume. If you’re following the diet, it is recommended to follow daily intermittent fasting in which you limit your food intake to an 8-hour period, for instance from 10am to 6pm and then fast for the remaining 16 hours.
It is the intermittent fasting component in the Galveston diet designed to reduce inflammation and also burn fat. In order to access all the information about this Galveston eating plan, you will need to pay one-time cost of $59 that provides access to a comprehensive curriculum that covers inflammation, hormones, as well as other health-related topics. There are menu plans, recipes, and shopping lists.
Should You Follow The Galveston Diet?
It’s essential to change your lifestyle when you enter menopausal stage, says Stephanie Faubion MD MBA Director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health.
“Women need to be aware that if they don’t change something at menopause — eat less and exercise more — they will gain weight.”
While the diet does have some restrictions, Faubion states that it isn’t likely to cause harm. However, she cautions that paying for it may not be worth the cost.
“There are many diets that focus on lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and are low in saturated fat that women can follow, the Mediterranean being one such diet.”
The guidelines on the food choices for women in menopausal stages aren’t much different from those that for the rest of us, Faubion says.
But, “midlife women tend to gain a pound or two per year, and avoiding that weight gain is very important to avoid increased cardiovascular risk over time.”
Key Takeaways
The Galveston diet promotes many simple diet ideas, such as cutting out processed foods, and including vegetables. It differs from other diets due to its inclusion in the practice of intermittent fasting.
Although intermittent fasting has been established to aid in losing weight, there isn’t much evidence of the Galveston diet’s efficacy.
If you’re looking to stay clear of strict rules or pay for diet guidelines, you might consider an alternative like the Mediterranean diet plan.