There are different schools of thought in the field of diet and nutrition. Each diet considers certain scientific principles from a certain point of view and based on this, the constituents of the diet are decided. But not all the diets would be suitable for every individual. Different individuals have different body conditions and so different diet plans would apply to them. Based on this idea, people have come out with different diet plans and Hay Diet is one of them.
What is the Hay Diet?
William Howard Hay, a New York based physician came up with this idea in the 1920s. This nutrition method works by separating food groups into three categories- acidic, alkaline and neutral. The diet plan tries to prevent the combination of acidic and alkaline food.
Foods falling in the acidic category include:
- Meat
- Fish
- Dairy products like cheese, yogurt and milk
- Beans, kidney beans, soy beans
- Red wine
- White wine
- Apples
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Berries
- Apricots
- Kiwis
- Lemons
- Pineapples
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Nectarines
Foods falling in the alkaline category include:
- Rice
- Grains
- Potatoes
- Breads
- Wheat products
- Barley
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Sweet potatoes
- Ripe bananas
- Raisins
- Dates
- Beer
- Ripe bananas
Foods falling in the neutral category are:
- All nuts except peanuts
- Butter
- Cream
- Egg yolks
- Olive oil
- Whiskey
- Gin
What is the History of the Hay Diet?
Dr. William Hay was diagnosed with Nephritis. He was slowly approaching death. At that point of time, he started consuming natural foods. His calorie intake dropped down and he observed an improvement in his health. He then turned his attention to the study of naturopathy and food combining. He was trying to find out a way of diminishing the acid end-product of digestion.
He observed that the complete metabolism of fruits and vegetables produced an alkaline environment while the digestion of processed foods left back a highly acidic environment. Based on these findings, he started advocating the theories on food combining. The combining proportion is very important because incorrect combinations can lead to an imbalance.
Dr. Hay said that an alkaline condition supports the digestion of carbohydrates and so it should never be combined with sour fruits since the acid and the alkali would neutralize each other. He added that the carbohydrate foods should also not be taken with concentrated protein foods as these foods lead to the activation of too much of hydrochloric acid during the process of digestion in the stomach.
Dr. Hay suggested that one should take three different types of meals daily. The first meal of the day should consist of alkaline foods only, the second meal would take into account protein foods with salads, vegetables and fruits while the day's last meal should comprise of starchy foods with salads, vegetables and sweet fruits. He recommended maintaining a gap of 4 to 4.5 hours between each meal.
The Contemporary Hay Diet
- The present versions of Hay Diet still consider the classification of foods into the acidic, alkaline and neutral categories.
- The diet comprises of fruits and vegetables and an individual is asked to wait for at least four hours before taking the next meal.
- Some versions recommend the intake of proteins, fats and starches in limited quantities.
- The modern day Hay Diet also recommends the intake of whole grain products and unprocessed starches.
- Some plans even permit the intake of alcoholic beverages.
- Some other plans prohibit the consumption of processed foods containing refined sugar, margarine and white flour.
- The meal plan under Hay Diet suggests that proteins and neutral foods can be combined.
- This plan also permits the combination of neutral foods and starches. But this diet plan does not permit the simultaneous consumption of proteins and starches.
Functions of the Hay Diet
Dr. Hay developed this type of diet plan to address obesity related problems. He was of the opinion that a change in the diet plan and not the intake of medications, would result in the improvement of conditions in cases of heart and kidney diseases.
- In the modern days, this diet plan has found its application in weight loss.
- Those who believe in natural treatments, suggest that the diet is helpful in the treatment of arthritis, constipation, indigestion and flatulence.
- This diet has also been found to be useful to people affected with asthma and allergies.
- This diet recommends the consumption of fruits and vegetables. These are low-calorie foods which are rich in fiber. Eating these foods would give a feeling of fullness for a longer time.
What are the Drawbacks of this Diet?
- This diet does not consider the issues on portion control.
- Moreover, this diet restricts food groups to one meal per day and so the followers of the diet might not be getting enough vitamins and nutrients.
What is the present level of acceptance of the Hay Diet?
The Hay diet recommends the intake of fiber-rich foods. These foods digest very slowly and the feeling of fullness stays for a longer period of time. So people do not feel hungry and they eat less. This is the way they lose weight. These nutritional principles have been accepted well in the healthcare industry. But Dr. Hay's food-combining theory drew a lot of criticisms. Critics argued that the human digestive system was able to metabolize the starches and proteins taken from a single meal. They also countered that some foods contain proteins as well as carbohydrates.
The Hay Diet gained popularity among the believers of natural treatment and healing. But one shouldn't consider this diet as the only way to treat conditions like asthma, constipation, heart and kidney disorders. The doctor might prescribe medications to treat these conditions and one should consult his physician before starting this diet plan.
