We learned in preparing our review of the Mayo Clinic Diet that it is a relatively new Weight Loss Plan, introduced in December 2005 after the publication of the book “Mayo Clinic: Healthy Weight for Everybody.” It is important not to be misled by earlier so-called versions of the Mayo Clinic Plan, commonly referred to as the grapefruit diet, which are not endorsed by the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic Diet is based on scientific research and experience from registered dieticians and physicians at their facility in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Mayo Clinic Diet features a Weight Loss Plan that is built upon a food pyramid consisting of six food groups - fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, protein/dairy, fats, and sweets. This "Healthy Weight Pyramid," developed by Dr. Donald Hensrud, a nutritionist and weight management specialist, is based on larger amounts of food with fewer calories making up the majority, or forming the broader foundation of the pyramid. Moderate amounts of other healthy foods are added to your Weight Loss Plan as you progress to the top of the pyramid. We’d like to further simplify this description in our review by providing the daily suggested servings - fruits and vegetables, a minimum of 3 and 4, respectively (no limit), carbohydrates (unrefined and whole grains) 4 - 8, protein/dairy (lean meats and low-fat dairy) 3 - 7, fats 3 - 5, and last are sweets limited to 75 calories.

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One factor we’d like to emphasize in our review of the Mayo Clinic Plan is that there is no restriction on types of food in the Mayo Clinic Diet, just a suggested amount of each group, based on your weight, gender, and weight-loss goal. As you can see, there’s nothing complicated in the Mayo Clinic Plan; if you follow the food pyramid, you should consume fewer calories than you expend. Participants in this Weight Loss Plan will receive a free diet profile, personalized menus, and shopping lists, and a variety of customized services to assist you in losing weight. We are all aware of the importance of motivation and support, and find that this is well provided for through the Mayo Clinic Plan, with a staff of registered dieticians and nutritionists for advice and tips to keep you focused on your weight loss goal.

This Weight Loss Plan, like others we’ve reviewed, also encourages daily physical activity in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic Diet. Whether you decide on walking, aerobics, or another type of fitness program, any of these activities are recommended to help reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other health issues.

Finally...

After completing a thorough review of the Mayo Clinic Plan, we feel that most dieters are more apt to stay on this Weight Loss Plan, primarily because of its simplicity and no food being completely off limits. If, however, you are the type of person who dines out frequently, adhering to the Mayo Clinic Diet may not be so easy. This brings us to the all-important question – what results can I get from the Mayo Clinic Diet. If the recommended number of servings and proper serving sizes are carefully followed in the "Healthy Weight Pyramid," a dieter can expect to lose up to 2 lbs., on an average, per week. The Mayo Clinic Diet is by no means a crash diet, but it is definitely a safe and healthy Weight Loss Plan.

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