Very similar to Dr. Dean Ornish's Eat More, Weigh Less, the Pritikin plan calls for limiting fat intake to 10-15% of your total calories, but incorporates lean meats. His claim is based around the "Fat Instinct," which has been copyrighted for his program. He states that we consume more fat due to a biological drive to conserve calories. Pritikin proposes that we consume a very high volume of complex, fibrous carbohydrates. Due to the high food-volume-to-calorie ratio of these types of foods, stomach distention may occur quickly, leading to early meal termination and thus a reduction in calorie intake.

The Downside

Regardless of his theory, the plan includes healthy foods but has the same limitations as the Ornish program. Very low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets are difficult to maintain but may be appropriate for a small minority.

Always beware of a "one size fits all" diet. Any time you remove a significant portion of any macronutrient (protein, fat or carbohydrate), it can sabotage your success by eventually causing an uncontrollable desire to consume the missing food type, or worse, it may lead to cravings you never had before