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The oatmeal diet, also known as the “Herculean diet,” at first glance, has little in common with the legendary ancient Greek strongman Hercules. The Roman spelling of his name gave the name of a variety of oatmeal known since Soviet times. Good satiating power, ease of absorption and rich composition of oatmeal make the popular product a worthy support for accomplishing feats. And to the dozen of famous great deeds of Hercules in our days, one more is added – helping thousands of women to get rid of extra pounds.
An oatmeal diet that assumes that Hercules cereals become your main food is not a bad choice for a mono diet if you stick to it for no more than a week. But fresh oatmeal traditionally plays its best role in the morning – nutritionists say that such a breakfast helps fight carbohydrate cravings during the day, which means it “cuts” excess calories.
Oatmeal diet – feeds, invigorates, and cleanses
The oatmeal diet, also known as the Herculean diet, is considered one of the most effective. Including due to the fact that it is most often tolerated without the painful feeling of hunger, and after all, the feeling of an empty stomach, according to studies, is the most common reason for both overeating and the collapse of dietary plans.
The secret to oatmeal, the main “dish” of the oatmeal diet, is that it has a low glycemic index.
Oatmeal is an example of a “long” chain carbohydrate diet, when consumed, glucose is gradually released into the bloodstream, evenly supplying the body with energy and preventing the insulin release characteristic of fast carbohydrates.
For this remarkable quality, you can thank the grain structure: soluble oatmeal fiber begins to break down only when it reaches the lower digestive tract, and thanks to this, the blissful sensation that appeared after a portion of warm food on an oatmeal diet is guaranteed to stay with you for several hours.
An oatmeal diet will provide you with many bioavailable (easily digestible) nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, fluoride, iodine, iron, as well as vitamins, including the most valuable E, H, PP, B1, B2, B3, B6. Since oatmeal retains fat-soluble substances, including retinol, which is necessary for immunity, beautiful skin and sharp eyesight, a source of lipids must be added to the oatmeal diet. Such a useful fat will be, for example, extra virgin olive oil (its amount can be limited to half a teaspoon per serving of porridge).
Reviews of the Herculean diet make it clear that weight loss success is accompanied by the property of oatmeal to stimulate intestinal motility. Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract helps to remove toxins and old breakdown products of protein foods, which noticeably affects both the condition of the skin and well-being, and, most importantly, improves the quality of absorption of nutrients through the intestinal walls – this is another explanation of the wonderful properties of the oatmeal diet.
Oatmeal Diet: Hercules or Extra?
The Herculean Diet is the generic name for all meal plans that use oatmeal as their staple food. However, “Hercules” is not the only type of cereal from which it is prepared.
The most common, inexpensive and trusted domestic oat flakes are presented in two main varieties: in fact, “Hercules” and “Extra”. For a diet on oatmeal, in general, you can use any: experts in the food industry argue that differences in their composition and nutritional value, if any, are insignificant.
However, there is a certain clear difference: oat flakes are prepared, according to the state standard, from the highest grade oats, and for “Extra” flakes, a lower first grade cereal is used. To improve the commercial characteristics, the unsightly “Extra” is more crushed and polished more thoroughly (which, accordingly, relieves the grain of a significant part of the valuable grain shell), and therefore cooks faster.
Whichever variety you choose for your oatmeal diet, it makes sense to put only recently released cereals in the grocery basket – oats contain a certain percentage of valuable oils, which, like any fats, tend to go rancid and turn a herculean diet not just tasteless. but also of little use. By the way, the cardboard box, in contrast to the transparent cellophane packaging, better protects the raw materials for the Herculean diet from the sun’s rays.
The oatmeal diet assumes that you do not use cereals that do not require boiling for the preparation of the main course, as well as ready-made porridge mixtures, in which the benefits of grain are successfully covered by all kinds of artificial additives and sugar.
Cooking porridge for a diet on oatmeal correctly! 7 easy steps
Measure out the amount of oatmeal you will need for the next day of the oatmeal diet.
Sort and rinse the flakes if necessary.
Place the entire volume in a glass dish, fill with water (water should cover the flakes) and, after covering, leave at least overnight or for a day at room temperature. Pre-fermentation will help activate the nutrients dormant in oatmeal.
To prepare a portion, measure out the required part of the oatmeal, drain the excess liquid and place the flakes in boiling water (the proportion of cereal and water is 1: 1,25).
Cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, add a little salt.
Remove from heat, let the porridge “rest” under the lid for a few minutes.
Serve with a little olive oil. Bon appetit and effective Herculean diet!
Herculean oatmeal diet – a weekly course for harmony
Before putting into practice any kind of Herculean diet, do not forget to consult with your doctor. Do not start losing weight if you are expecting a baby, breastfeeding, or experiencing an exacerbation of any disease!
The rules for a weekly oatmeal mono-diet are simple – five times a day you eat oatmeal boiled in water without added sugar (you can add just a few grains of salt) and with a little olive oil. A portion of one meal on a Herculean diet is not more than 250 grams. Oatmeal in water should not be cooked for future use, as it cools down, it will lose its minimum taste.
In between meals, you can drink green tea (no more than 4 cups per day), as well as water (no less than 1,5 liters per day). It is important not to drink food, but to drink liquid half an hour before meals or at least an hour later.
Also, in between meals on an oatmeal diet, you can snack on fruits (not grapes or bananas). The guideline for determining the permissible daily amount of fruit during the Herculean diet is two medium apples (or, respectively, two oranges, four kiwis, three nectarines …).
For a week of a diet on oatmeal, judging by the reviews, you can safely say goodbye to 3-4 extra pounds.
Diet on oatmeal and kefir
There are many types of diets that combine oatmeal and kefir. The simplest thing is to organize a fermented milk “extension” for the Herculean diet for a week, in the intervals between eating oatmeal, delighting yourself with kefir (no more than 1,5 liters per day).
Another option is to eat a glass of kefir with two tablespoons of oatmeal pre-soaked in it (for at least 2 minutes) every 3-10 hours for three or five days. During breaks, you can drink plain non-carbonated water. A diet of oatmeal and kefir will help you lose about 700 grams each day.
Diet on oatmeal, cottage cheese and apples
This Herculean diet is also known as the Three Foods. To achieve a noticeable result, it is recommended to stick to it for twelve days. The daily menu must be followed without indulgence; every fourth day of this type of Herculean diet is allowed to eat an additional 300 grams of raw or steamed vegetables.
Breakfast: a serving of oatmeal in water, no additives, two apples
Dinner: a portion of oatmeal in water with 1 tsp of honey, three apples, 100 g of cottage cheese
Dinner: four apples, 200 gr of cottage cheese.
American Three Phase Oatmeal Diet
The benefits of oatmeal abroad are not only known in the UK: nutritional medicine specialist Mispa Matus, known for her writings on the theory and practice of raw food, introduced the American public to a Herculean diet consisting of three phases. The active duration of dietary nutrition itself is 37 days, at the end of which there is a phase stabilizing the result, the duration of which is not discussed. As conceived by the compiler, this diet not only allows you to regulate weight, but also lowers blood cholesterol levels and serves as the prevention of cancer.
The American Oatmeal Diet: Phase One
During the week, you eat oatmeal 5 times a day (60 grams of cereal per 150 ml of water or skim milk) and drink water. Any other food is prohibited.
The American Oatmeal Diet: Phase Two
Oatmeal, cooked in the proportion known from the first phase, must be eaten three times a day – the other two meals do not limit food, but the total calorie content of the daily menu should not exceed 1300 kcal. In the morning, you can add 50 grams of any fruit to the porridge, in the evening – the same amount of raw vegetables.
The American Oatmeal Diet: Phase Three
At this stage of the Herculean diet, you can return to your regular menu, in which one meal and one snack daily is oatmeal. It is important to control your fat intake and not lean on simple carbohydrates so that the oatmeal diet maintains its slimming and health benefits.
Interview
I tried the oatmeal diet and liked the result.
I try to eat oatmeal in the morning, it’s a healthy breakfast!
I do not believe that you can lose weight on oatmeal – this is a rather high-calorie product!
I know that the Herculean diet is useful, but I can’t bring myself to – I can’t stand this porridge!