The Sonoma Diet - a Healthy and Delicious Way to Lose Weight and Overcome Diseases

New weight loss diets appear on the market almost every week. Today, we are going to have a look at one of them - a diet popularized by Registered Dietician Connie Guttersen, PhD, in her hot bestseller The Sonoma Diet.

This relatively new dietary approach seems to be in a complete sync with the mainstream recommendations of the US health authorities, including the “prudent” diet of the American Heart Association and the Food Guide Pyramid. The Sonoma Diet emphasizes nutrition based on a low-fat, whole-grain, and portion-controlled concept. As a dietary consultant, Guttersen advocates for a pattern of eating that features wholemeal breads, low-fat dairy products, red wine, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Just like a popular low-carb diet designed by famous Doctor Atkins several decades ago, Guttersen’s weight-loss approach requires a 10-day initial induction phase. However, unlike Atkin’s, the Sonoma Diet does not ask dieters to restricts carbohydrates and other tasty foods. On the contrary, it discourages the consumption of saturated fat and rich meats, especially during the induction period.

During the first phase of the Sonoma Diet, the author recommends to opt for low-calorie cereals, wholesome breads and other unrefined grain products; nuts; reduced-fat dairy products, and eggs. After the initial 10-day period, dieters are allowed to eat foods from almost every group, including lean beef, occasional desserts, and natural red wines. However, processed products that contain white flour, sugar, artificial additives and “unhealthy fats”, namely, butter, cream, bacon and other animal fats, as well as synthetic trans-fatty acids, are strongly discouraged.

Therefore, this diet can be recommended for those who love the Mediterranean way on eating which embraces minimally-processed plant-based foods, such as fruits, grains and veggies, supplemented with fish and skim dairy products. On the other hand, everybody who loves to indulge in chips, ice-cream and huge steaks may find the Sonoma diet “too healthy” and definitely boring. In addition, people with a sensitive digestive tract may not thrive on the Sonoma Diet, either, since it advocates the consumption of large amounts of hard-to-digest whole grains and fibre-loaded nuts, veggies and fruits.

In the opinion of Connie Guttersen, the most important “power foods” that greatly contribute to weight loss and support overall health are: almonds; green veggies, such as broccoli and spinach; unrefined olive oil; berries, especially blueberries and strawberries; nightshade vegetables – tomatoes and bell peppers; grapes; and whole grains, including popcorn, oatmeal, fibre-enriched breads, rice, and various cereals. Fish and other seafood, lean meats, omelettes, wine, and low-fat cheeses should play a supplementary role.

When following the Sonoma Diet, you should effortlessly reach your target weight by approaching Wave (Stage) 3 – a life-long maintenance period, during which you can eat almost everything, except for harmful junk foods, hydrogenated oils, or large amounts of animal fat.

Although in her book Connie Guttersen does not emphasize exercise to any particular extent, many experts agree that the Sonoma diet encourages a rapid loss of excess weight, especially during the induction wave.

Tim Ford