Hawaii Diet
The Hawaii Diet is more than a way of eating – it’s a way of life. According to the creator, Terry Shintani, MD, in order to achieve optimal health, one’s spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical wellness must be addressed in addition to nutrition. Dr. Shintani developed the diet based on his belief that many diseases suffered by Hawaiians and other cultures could be prevented and reversed through a return to the native diets of their ancestors.
As a further means of strengthening the body, increasing energy levels, reducing stress, losing weight, and achieving inner peace, Dr. Shintani recommends praying, meditating, and laughing daily as well as performing selfless acts regularly.
The Hawaii Diet does not place restrictions on the quantity of food that should be consumed; rather, foods are measured according to their Shintani Mass Index (SMI), which is based on calorie density. In other words, a food’s SMI describes how many pounds would need to be consumed to provide a day’s worth of calories. For example, cabbage has an SMI of 22.8 while the SMI of French fries is 1.7.
This means it would take 22.8 pounds of cabbage and 1.7 pounds of French fries to amount to a day’s worth of calories. 200 calories worth of cabbage will weigh more, and therefore, fill the stomach more than 200 calories of French fries. This diet proposes that one can lose weight without being hungry by consuming high-SMI foods on a regular basis.
Vegan foods with high-SMI values are favored in this diet, including vegetables, fruits, tofu, beans, and unrefined grains like oatmeal, corn, potatoes, and brown rice. Poi, a highly nutritious purple paste made from pounded taro root, is an ancient Hawaiian staple and common in this diet. Meats, nuts, sugar, refined foods, and fried foods should be avoided or used sparingly.
Foods to include:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole grains
- Beans
- Healthy oils
Foods to avoid:
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Nuts and seeds
- Refined grains
- Sugar
- Trans fats
- Processed foods
- Fried foods
Pros:
- Considers primary food such as meditation
- Emphasizes whole foods
- Excludes processed foods
Cons:
- Some require meat
- Some will not do well with starches
- May be too vague for some to follow and see results
Sources:
Hawaii Diet www.holisticonline.com (Links to an external site.)
Terry Shintani’s Hawaii Diet
