The Goldbert-O'Mara Diet

The GO-diet
by Tanya Zilberter, PhD

"The Goldbert-O'Mara Diet" by Jack Goldberg and Karen O'Mara is not just one of the books, it has the advantage of a research investigation conducted not after but before the book has been published.

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The authors of the book participated in a 12 weeks study conducted by a major Chicago hospital. These are some of the results they received. The study results have been accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal and abstract on the diabetic study was submitted for presentation the coming summer.

The average weight loss was 20 pounds or 10% of participants' initial body weight . There was also an average of 5 inches lost in the waist. There was also a 50% decrease in triglycerides and the LDL cholesterol. The HDL did not change.

The Go-Diet is a very moderate low-carb diet with practically no restriction of calories (usually the calorie intake was up to 2,500.) Dieters can have 75 grams of carbohydrate a day and no more than 12 grams of carbs at any single meal. They're supposed to eat a lot of yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk. They were instructed not to be worried about the carb content in the label.

One of important points is fiber content: no less than 25 grams of fiber every day, mostly it comes with plenty of raw vegetables: 5 servings of leafy and cruciferous veggies.

The diet is high in calcium, magnesium and all other minerals. It contains vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K and requires practically no supplements.

The research results are consistent with another low-carb diets studies like these:

"Compared with the low carbohydrate diet, the high carbohydrate diet caused a 27.5% increase in plasma triglycerides and a similar increase in LDL-cholesterol levels; it also reduced levels of HDL cholesterol by 11%." (Diabetes. 41(10):1278-85, 1992)

In the article "Treatment of obesity with low carbohydrate diets," the authors concluded: "Concentrations of plasma triglycerides and cholesterol turned to normal during therapy. There were no side effects on the gastro-intestinal tract." (Medizinische Klinik. 70(15):653-7,1975)

"Serum triglycerides decreased more after the high fat diet (52 mg/dl) than after high protein diet (67 mg/dl)." (Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 4(4):451-9, 1985)

Related articles:
GO-diet I The PRE-biotic Inulin I Functional Foods I Probiotics