Cereal diet: types, losing weight on cereals at home

General rules

Did you know that you can lose weight with porridge without starving?
You probably know, it’s not for nothing that porridge is an essential component of any dietary diet. The current market has a huge selection of cereals that allow you to perfectly diversify your classic diet and carry out a cereal diet for weight loss. In addition, cereals are so rich in valuable and beneficial elements that they will help your body overcome any ailment.

Why are porridges so healthy that many of us disliked as children?

But the fact is that porridge is the richest source of our energy and substances valuable to the body. Cereals are simply necessary for humans, especially in winter, as they are a source of complex carbohydrates, on the digestion of which the body spends a lot of energy and effort. And thus, in cold times, porridge can warm us no worse than a warm fur coat, only from the inside.

Grains are an endless source of substances that cleanse the intestines, fiber, and vitamins that give us beauty and longevity. It has been noted that people whose diet includes 3-5 whole grains have a 20% lower risk of heart disease, obesity and skin diseases.

Almost every cereal is characterized by its beneficial properties and can be used in dietary nutrition. Most cereals help cleanse the intestines of cholesterol , strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and improve the functioning of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. There are several diet options, which are based on such dietary cereals for weight loss as: rye, buckwheat, pearl barley, rice, oatmeal, barley, corn, wheat and millet. Let's tell you in more detail about the benefits that each of them will bring.

What grains can you eat on a diet?

Buckwheat

The beneficial effects of buckwheat are due to the proteins, fiber and slow carbohydrates contained in it. No wonder it is recommended for many diets. Buckwheat can quickly fill you up, although its calorie content per 100 g of finished product is only 100-110 kcal. In addition, buckwheat can completely replace animal protein: this is perfect for vegetarians. Also, buckwheat porridge is recommended for people with liver and stomach disorders, people with hypertension and high cholesterol, constipation and swelling.

Researchers have proven that regular consumption of buckwheat can minimize the development of cancer due to its high content of flavonoids, and magnesium and other elements help cope with depression and apathy, and have a beneficial effect on a person’s mood. Buckwheat perfectly removes waste and toxins from the body, which is why the skin looks better, becomes smooth and elastic.

Millet

Millet porridge in Rus' was the main dish on the peasant table, and the saying “you can’t cook porridge with it” refers specifically to millet. First of all, this porridge is always recommended to people who are being treated with antibiotics : the porridge copes well with their side effects, and at the same time rids the body of toxic substances. Due to its rich potassium content, millet is recommended for heart diseases, and the presence of silicon and fluorine in its composition maintains the beauty of teeth, hair, nails, and strengthens bones.

Porridge has an active lipotropic effect, therefore it is often recommended for obesity of various stages, and its energy value per 100 g is 90 kcal. The only people who should not eat millet porridge often are those people who suffer from systematic constipation, high stomach acidity and thyroid diseases.

Rice

The beneficial properties of rice directly depend on its processing. So, white, processed rice turns out to be the most useless: it contains a lot of starch, a huge number of vitamins and, most importantly, fiber are lost. We recommend consuming black and brown rice, both on a cereal diet and outside the diet, as it retains the maximum amount of beneficial elements; in addition, it is lower in calories: 100 g of boiled rice accounts for 71 kcal.

Brown rice is rich in fiber, which has a gentle effect on the intestines and triggers the process of peristalsis. In addition, the enveloping properties of rice, which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestines, are widely known. The presence of dietary fiber in brown rice helps lower blood sugar levels and helps dissolve cholesterol plaques.

Vitamin E is part of brown rice and is a powerful antioxidant that helps get rid of various chronic diseases. In addition, rice helps cope with skin diseases, kidney dystrophy, arthritis and arthrosis .

However, it is important to cook brown rice properly. To do this, you need to soak it in cold water for 8-10 hours, then boil it for 10 minutes and rinse with cold water. After this, the rice must be poured with cold water and cooked again for 25-30 minutes.

Pearl barley

Pearl barley has so many benefits! But now pearl barley is considered a very tasteless, disgusting porridge. But it turns out tasteless only because it is cooked incorrectly. Before cooking, pearl barley should be soaked for 6-8 hours, and only then cooked. Only then does it turn out soft, crumbly, and its wonderful taste is revealed, and the calorie content of the finished porridge is 109 kcal per 100 g.

Barley is rich in a valuable set of various microelements and fiber. It contains vitamins A , B , E , PP , which are responsible for the beauty of your skin, nails, hair, healthy teeth, bones, vision, supporting the immune system and nervous system at a high level. In addition, pearl barley is recommended, first of all, for those who suffer from various fungal diseases. The component hordecin contained in cereals has a very powerful and broad antibacterial and antifungal effect.

Pearl barley porridge is a must-try dish for people with diabetes or allergies. This is due to the high content of amino acids , which can reduce the reaction of the allergic person’s body to external irritants.

Oatmeal

First of all, do not confuse oatmeal and Hercules - they are not the same thing. Oatmeal is an unprocessed whole grain that needs to be cooked for 30-40 minutes. “Hercules” is cleaned and heat-treated, which is why it cooks in just 3 minutes. But the benefits in it, relative to real oatmeal, are negligible.

Oats contain an overwhelming amount of carbohydrates, so for breakfast it is an ideal option to recharge your energy for the next day, despite the fact that the porridge is low in calories: 100 g contains only 88 kcal. Regular consumption of oatmeal is one of the most powerful ways to jump-start your metabolism, and the fiber that oats are rich in, like a scrub, perfectly cleanses the intestines. In addition, oatmeal is an antioxidant that helps maintain youth and beauty, sometimes better than various creams and masks.

Oatmeal is the most popular occasional breakfast cereal that doesn't require cooking. It is enough to pour kefir, skim milk, yoghurt, fermented baked milk, or just water overnight and leave until the morning. This method will save time for your sleep, and the benefits of such lazy oatmeal are invaluable.

There is only one contraindication for eating oatmeal – gluten . Therefore, before you go on such a diet, check whether you suffer from celiac disease .

Jachka

Barley holds the record for the content of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium in a plant product. This is why barley is much healthier for older people than various medications.

Experts advise those who suffer from excess weight, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and constipation to consume dishes containing barley more often. The recommendations are related to the long-term digestibility and increased fiber content of barley, which helps improve intestinal function. And this is only 76 kcal per 100 g of finished porridge!

Barley and barley decoction are widely used in medicine and are well suited for postoperative recovery, because it has antispasmodic, softening, anti-inflammatory and enveloping effects. Barley porridge is prepared relatively quickly, only 20-25 minutes, and when cooked it increases in volume up to 3-4 times.

Corn grits

Porridge made from crushed corn grains is a very nutritious, but at the same time, low-calorie and easily digestible product. 100 g of ready-made porridge contains only 141 kcal. It is especially recommended, like barley, for older people and for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. This is due to its high content of carotene , which suppresses the process of premature aging and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cataracts . Corn porridge, like no other product, perfectly removes pesticides from the body, which, when accumulated, negatively affect human health.

This porridge easily suppresses the processes of putrefaction in the intestines due to its high content of dietary fiber. And, most importantly, in addition to the fact that this porridge is healthy, it is also very tasty. And many children simply adore her!

Rye

The great benefit of rye porridge is its high fiber content, which helps cleanse the body of harmful substances. Thanks to the presence of antioxidants in its composition, rye strengthens the immune system , promotes the removal of cholesterol , and in addition, protects the body from the formation of tumors .

Rye porridge is a wonderful antioxidant, an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic agent. With regular consumption of this porridge, muscle tone increases, metabolism returns to normal, and nervous tension disappears. Rye porridge requires quite a lot of time to prepare - about 50-60 minutes, and the calorie content of 100 g of the finished product is 77 kcal.

Wheat

Wheat porridge is so valuable for humans due to its general strengthening properties. It supports the immune system and helps resist all kinds of irritants. To a greater extent, wheat is recommended for people who engage in heavy physical labor. Wheat porridge dishes are a natural source of energy for the human body, which is an indispensable product both for weight loss and for classic nutrition. Wheat porridge has the maximum benefit at breakfast, providing a boost of energy and satiety for the whole day.

Wheat improves the functioning of the digestive system and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Also, importantly, this porridge helps slow down the aging process, heals the skin, hair, nails, and helps improve brain activity and heart function. It is cooked very simply, it takes 25-30 minutes to prepare, and the calorie content of 100 g of ready-made porridge is 80 kcal.

Thus, it turns out that porridges are a huge storehouse of vitamins and microelements that keep our entire body healthy and toned. One serving of any of these cereals per day is enough, and you will not experience problems with digestion, metabolism, orange peel on your thighs and hair loss.

Now there are many who have already tried to lose weight on cereals and left their positive and enthusiastic reviews that the weight does not return, and the body looks very attractive.

Types of cereal diets

There are many options for the porridge menu. Depending on the amount of cereals consumed, all diets are divided into two groups:

1. Mono-diets - when the diet consists of only one type of cereal, often rice or buckwheat. Thanks to such diets, good weight loss occurs, but the effect is short-lived. Any mono-diet can be followed without harm to health for a maximum of a week. The ideal option is up to 3 days. Afterwards, the body experiences an acute lack of nutrients not contained in the product used.
2. Mixed diets. The basis of such a diet is cereals, but the menu may include a number of other products. Combined diets are allowed to be used for up to two weeks. In this case, weight loss does not occur too quickly, but the advantage is that the body receives all the nutrients it needs. There are practically no contraindications for such diets.

It’s hard to imagine a more practical, inexpensive and convenient diet. The principle of the effectiveness of such nutrition is that excess fat is lost not just by cleansing the body of toxins, but also by completely eliminating salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats from the daily menu . According to statistics, in a course of 7-10 days you can lose 1-3 extra pounds.

Whole grain cereals are considered the most beneficial for weight loss. This is explained by the following factors:

• Whole grains contain a large amount of fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract and prevents the development of intestinal cancer.
• Thanks to the consumption of whole grains, cholesterol levels in the blood are reduced, which is a preventive method of combating the development of cardiovascular disease.
• Whole grains lower cholesterol levels.
• Whole grain foods are nutritious and satisfying, they do not allow calories to be absorbed, which makes them the best basis for all kinds of dietary programs, such as fasting days and diets.

Unrefined grain products are effective in helping you lose weight. These include brown and wild rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley, and millet. There are many advantages to using them:

• cereals act like brushes in the body, stimulating intestinal function, absorbing toxins and removing harmful metabolic products and excess cholesterol;
• Thanks to the complex carbohydrates they contain, which are slowly absorbed by the body, cereals charge it with energy for a long time;
• Unrefined cereals have a low content of grain fats.

In order for dietary restrictions to give the desired result, you must be able to properly prepare the main product. Thus, dietary porridges cooked in water are much healthier for the body than the same cereals cooked in milk. This is explained by the fact that the proteins contained in cereals are less absorbed by the body, compared to milk proteins, which, on the contrary, stimulate this process. You can find out the intricacies of each type of diet, the proportions of water and cereals below.

On rice porridge

Cereals contain all the minerals and vitamins necessary for the human body, while it contains slow carbohydrates that charge the body with energy for a long time. A diet based on rice porridge is effective due to the fact that the cereal absorbs and then removes metabolic products and all harmful substances. Rice in water is an excellent absorbent that effectively helps in weight loss. The duration of the diet should not exceed 7 days. Here's how to prepare a long-grain rice dish:

• sort the grains, rinse with warm, then cold water (to remove excess starch);
• pour a glass of rice into a bowl, pour two glasses of boiling water;
• cook the porridge for 15-20 minutes with the lid closed over low heat;
• Lightly salt the product, do not add butter or sugar.

On wheat

This two-week diet is considered the most effective among cereals due to its minimal calorie content . In addition, the wheat menu allows you not only to lose extra pounds, but also to cleanse the body as a whole, saturating it with additional substances useful and necessary for normal functioning. In order for a wheat porridge diet to give the desired result, you need to follow simple recommendations:

• During the day, eat unsalted wheat porridge without oil. You can add any vegetables, with the exception of potatoes.
• Before cooking, sort and rinse the product. Cook in boiling water in a ratio of 1:3 for 15-20 minutes.
• Dinner should not be later than 18:00; it is permissible to drink green or herbal tea, low-fat fermented milk products.
• It is important to drink water throughout the day.
• The maximum duration of the course is 14 days.

On buckwheat

This diet is often well tolerated by those losing weight. Its essence is to consume only buckwheat 3-4 times a day for 7 days. It is acceptable to drink low-fat kefir in the amount of 1 l/day. Buckwheat should be unprocessed whole. You need to prepare it like this:

• take two thermoses for second courses with a volume of 0.5-1 liters, pour 0.5 cups of product into each, pour boiling water in a ratio of 1:4;
• do not add salt to the porridge, consume it no earlier than after a couple of hours;
• You can brew buckwheat in the evening and leave it to steep overnight.

It is important to remember that the last meal should not be earlier than 4 hours before bedtime. If you are severely hungry, drink a glass of low-fat kefir. During the day, drink fluid in unlimited quantities, the main thing is that the first glass of water is on an empty stomach, immediately after waking up. Eat the prepared dish in small portions, as much as you like. Drink unsweetened tea, vegetable juice, or plain water between meals.

On millet

This cereal contains many B vitamins and microelements that have a beneficial effect on metabolism, the circulatory system, and improve the condition of nails, teeth, skin and hair. Millet is capable of removing antibiotics and heavy metal salts from the body. For the diet menu, it is better to take yellow cereal, cook it in water in a ratio of 1:3 for 45 minutes without adding salt or oil. During the day, it is recommended to drink green tea, herbal decoction or non-carbonated mineral water. The diet menu, which is recommended to be followed for a maximum of 7 days, looks like this:

• breakfast – millet, low-fat yogurt, 1 banana;
• lunch - porridge, cabbage soup without meat, vegetable salad;
• afternoon snack - fruit or citrus;
• dinner - millet, fermented baked milk, low-fat yogurt or kefir.

On pearl barley

This method of losing weight is very useful for the body - thanks to this cereal, the full functioning of the brain is ensured, the heart muscle is strengthened, and the elasticity of the skin improves . The diet rules are simple:

• barley is eaten 3 times a day for each meal for a maximum of a week;
• cook the porridge for 60 minutes in a ratio of 1:2, while it increases up to 5 times;
• The pearl barley is soaked in the evening and cooked for the whole day in the morning;
• adding sugar, salt, butter is unacceptable;
• For breakfast, some people add dried fruits or 1 apple (green) to the main dish;
• for lunch you can eat a piece of low-fat steamed fish;
• In the afternoon snack, you are allowed to drink a glass of low-fat kefir.

On cereals and vegetables

The diet is a type of mixed porridge method for weight loss. With its help, women lose about 5 extra pounds. The diet of cereals and vegetables is designed for 10 days, but those losing weight should know that:

• the daily menu can be varied with mushrooms and vegetables;
• it is necessary to completely eliminate sugar, baked goods, honey, meat, dairy products, fish;
• main dishes should be boiled, but only in water;
• You can use any cereal; the cooking time of the product depends on the variety.

Diet six cereals

This menu is simple and does not require large financial expenditures. The food on the 6 cereal diet is varied - for each of the 6 days there is a new cereal. Thanks to this diet, you can lose up to 7 extra pounds. You should start the morning with 200 ml of warm water; during the day, in addition to the main product, you can eat fruits and vegetables (except bananas and potatoes). To prepare porridge for weight loss correctly, you need to pour boiling water into a glass of washed cereal in the evening in a ratio of 1:2, boil it for 5 minutes, then wrap the dish and leave it warm overnight. It is not recommended to add sugar or butter, just a little salt.

Seven porridges

The principle of such a diet is identical to that described above; in addition, it is allowed to make changes - replace one grain with another. For better results, nutritionists recommend giving an enema or drinking a laxative to cleanse the body before the diet course. The duration of the diet is 1-2 weeks, because here you can cook, for example, monastery porridge: boil one glass of rice, buckwheat and wheat cereals in 1 liter of water for 20 minutes. If desired, the dish can be made with carrots, mushrooms, onions, but without oil.

Types of cereal diets

There are several times more options for diets based on cereals than there are cereals themselves. But all cereal diets can be classified as mono-diets or combined.

Mono-diet

Involves eating only one type of porridge for 3, 7 or 10 days. You can sometimes add some fruits, vegetables, kefir, dried fruits to the porridge. If you like a mono-diet of buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, and so on, we still advise you to soberly assess your capabilities. Very rarely, when such monotonous diets benefit a person, many simply do not complete the diet, breaking down already on the third day.

In this case, the most useful and effective are combination diets, which allow you not only to lose excess weight, but also enrich the body with vitamins.

Combined diet with cereals “7 cereals”

This is the most acceptable and recommended option for a cereal diet. You can eat according to this system for 7 days, or you can extend it up to 10, repeating the first 3 days. All porridges are prepared in water, without sugar, without oil. You can add salt, but in minimal quantities, and not during cooking, but only before you start eating the porridge. It is allowed to combine porridge with vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, and honey. Once every 3 days you can eat 100 g (it is advisable to divide 30 g for the whole day) of lean meat of rabbit, poultry, lean parts of beef, fish - all this should be consumed boiled or baked. Before going to bed, it is ideal to drink a glass of 1% kefir.

The diet menu looks like this:

• Day 1. Wheat porridge.
• Day 2. Millet porridge.
• Day 3. Oatmeal.
• Day 4. Rice porridge (brown rice).
• Day 5. Barley porridge.
• Day 6. Pearl barley porridge.
• Day 7: Combo Day: Eat all these cereals.

Kamut, dzavar, freekeh, sago: what are these cereals and why are they eaten?

The topic of healthy eating introduces viewers of the Russia 1 TV channel not only to new recipes, but also to new products. Today we will talk about the cereals kamut, dzavar, frike, and sago. Professor Vladimir Khavinson and Doctor of Medical Sciences Svetlana Trofimova tell how they will help your health and longevity.

Several years ago, the usual rice and buckwheat were replaced by cereals such as bulrug, quinoa and couscous. But today new culinary items have begun to appear on our tables: kamut, dzavar, freekeh, sago. They seem to us to be new symbols of healthy food in modern gastronomy, although in fact these grains are thousands of years old.

Kamut

This grain is also known as Khorasan wheat. It was named after the region in eastern Iran where this variety began to be grown more than 6,000 years ago. Kamut grains are twice as large as ordinary wheat grains and have a characteristic forked shape, for which in Egypt kamut is called “camel tooth.” Kamut contains the largest amount of calcium, iron and amino acids, which contribute to rapid saturation. At the same time, 100 grams of cereal contains only 330 kcal, so kamut often becomes part of a variety of diets.

“Kamut increases efficiency and concentration. Gives a boost of energy for the whole day. Unlike other millet porridges, the sugar content in kamut is two times lower,” added Professor Svetlana Trofimova.

Dzavar

In 2004, archaeologists discovered an ancient warehouse of wild Dzavar wheat grains in a cave near the Kasakh River in Armenia. This cereal is still called the “treasure of Armenia.”

Recent scientific research has proven that this cereal contains the entire complex of B vitamins, with the exception of B12. Therefore, dzavar improves the functioning of the nervous system and stress resistance. In addition, cereal easily saturates.

Before use, dzavar must be poured with boiling water for one hour.

Fricke

Freekeh grains with an unusual smoked taste have been known since the beginning of the 13th century to this day in the cuisines of Egypt, Iran, Tunisia and Israel.

150 grams of this cereal contains the same amount of vitamin C as one kilogram of green vegetables and fruits. Freekeh dishes strengthen the immune system and are very useful for bacterial and viral infections. Freekeh can be used as a side dish for meat, cold or hot salad, soup and porridge.

Sago

The snow-white grain is extracted from the heartwood of sago palms, which inhabit the tropics from Thailand and Malaya to New Guinea. After harvesting, the palm tree is cut down, the soft insides are removed, crushed, and rubbed through a sieve over a hot iron sheet.

“Sago contains a large amount of microelements, vitamins and nutrients. This cereal is often used as an absorbent,” said Vladimir Khavinson.

Sago helps improve the functional activity of the intestines, which leads to a reduction in the risk of cancer. Sago is a gluten-free grain. Suitable for feeding people with celiac disease or hypersensitivity to gluten.

Even more interesting news is on our Instagram and Telegram channel @smotrim_ru.

Authorized Products

The basis for the carbohydrate diet menu is the consumption of complex carbohydrates, namely, various cereals, which contain a lot of fiber and vitamins: buckwheat, pearl barley, oats, rye, brown rice, and so on. Cereals should be minimally processed, since such cereals retain the maximum amount of benefits, which affects the results of the diet. These foods are low in calories and play the role of a detoxifier for the body, removing waste and toxins, delicately cleansing and healing the body. At the same time, whole grain cereals provide a feeling of long-term satiety. Complex carbohydrates will provide you with the necessary amount of energy and help normalize your weight, avoiding starvation.

In addition, it is allowed to eat unsweetened fruits: kiwi, apples, oranges, grapefruits - they can be added to porridge, or eaten separately, making fruit salads, smoothies, and freshly squeezed juices. You can also sweeten the porridge with dried fruits: prunes, dried apricots, dates, raisins do an excellent job with this task.

Porridge can be eaten with vegetables in any form: a mixture of permitted vegetables can be baked with porridge, stewed to make a sauce, added as a vegetable salad, seasoned with olive oil or grape seed oil.

You can eat animal proteins in the form of lean poultry (chicken, duck, turkey), fish, and egg whites if you need it, and you can’t imagine your daily diet without some amount of meat. Of course, during the diet, we advise you to reduce your meat consumption to 100 g, and you can eat it not every day, but once every 3-4 days. Remember that many cereals are excellent substitutes for animal protein: lentils, chickpeas, buckwheat, rice.

You can salt food, but only before eating it, and not during cooking. Avoid bleached table salt, which does not contain a drop of nutrients. Prefer pink Himalayan salt, which is collected by hand using the evaporation method. This salt contains an incredible amount of useful elements; it has a wonderful effect on the health of the body.

Of course, follow the drinking regime. It is imperative to drink 1.5-2 liters of purified water per day. In order to speed up the process of losing weight, start metabolism and avoid dehydration.

Table of permitted products

Losing weight with cereals

Among those who, trying different methods, are trying to lose weight, there is an opinion that one of the most important conditions for weight loss is an absolute refusal of carbohydrates.
It is worth noting that this judgment is erroneous, because the body will not survive for long without carbohydrates. Another thing is that they can be “good” and “bad”, and which one you will give preference depends only on you. The first are healthy (slow), found in cereals and some other products, the second are harmful (fast), found in sweets and flour products. Slow carbohydrates are indispensable helpers in the fight against inches on the waist, because they help maintain a feeling of fullness after eating for a long time. Cereals contain mainly complex (slow) carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids, macro- and microelements, some fats and vegetable proteins . The energy value and chemical composition of cereals (per 100 g) recommended for the diet can be seen in the table:

What to combine with

To lose weight on porridge, you need to build a daily diet based on rice and barley, millet and wheat, oatmeal and pearl barley, as well as buckwheat cooked in water. It is better to take unpolished brown rice. With a mono-diet, you need to eat only one type of porridge during the day, while the types and order can be changed throughout the week. The taste of dishes is adjusted with seasonings (paprika and salt in small quantities) and herbs (dill, rosemary, basil, parsley).

A prerequisite for both types of diets is compliance with the drinking regime to maintain water balance in the body - the volume of pure water / unsweetened herbal or green tea consumed should be at least 2-2.5 l/day . If you have chosen a gentle diet option, then in this case the list of permitted foods is wider than with a mono-diet. The diet includes:

• vegetables (peppers, asparagus, cabbage, cucumbers);
• sweet fruits (all except bananas);
• skim cheese;
• fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt);
• freshly squeezed juices (from fruits or vegetables).

The list of foods that are strictly prohibited during the diet is frighteningly long only at first glance. In fact, you need to give up foods that interfere with the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and weight loss:

• bakery products;
• cheeses;
• dumplings, dumplings;
• seeds, nuts;
• sausages, poultry and animal meat, fish;
• vegetable and cooking fats/products based on them (mayonnaise, margarine);
• pasta;
• any sweets: waffles, sweets, gingerbreads, sugar, jam;
• pickles, canned foods, smoked meats;
• starchy vegetables: horseradish root, squash, rutabaga, potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, corn, celery, legumes, parsley root;
• alcohol, carbonated drinks, juices;
• fast food;
• products that stimulate the appetite: spices, sauces, seasonings.

Advantages and disadvantages

In general, a porridge diet is beneficial for every person, provided that he strictly follows certain rules and eats the product with pleasure. First of all, cereals are a source of B vitamins, which improve the condition of hair, nails, and skin. The beneficial properties of cereals, not taking into account their nutritional value, are determined by their high fiber content, due to which the body is generally cleansed, cholesterol levels are reduced, and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized . The results after completing the diet course are visible on the face and figure. The advantages of the diet include:

• stable loss of extra pounds;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and waste;
• regulation of metabolism;
• lack of hunger throughout the day;
• normalization of intestinal function;
• improving the condition of the skin, cleansing blood vessels.

There are not many disadvantages to a cereal-based diet. The only thing is that cereals quickly get boring. It is very difficult for an organism that is accustomed to eating such “delicacies” as smoked meats, fried potatoes, and salads seasoned with fatty sauces to give up the usual menu. The first days, even a mixed diet may seem meager, but the result you get is worth it.

Contraindications

The benefits of a diet based on cereals are obvious, but not everyone is allowed to eat exclusively rice or buckwheat, even for several days. Mixed diets have virtually no contraindications. Mono-diets are strictly prohibited:

• during pregnancy and lactation;
• people with acute or chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
• those with gluten intolerance;
• for diabetes mellitus;
• during the period of acute respiratory viral infection or the presence of infectious diseases;
• with anemia;
• children under the age of majority.

Fully or partially limited products

When on a cereal diet, it is important to exclude “fast” carbohydrates from your diet, which do not saturate the body, do not force it to work and are gradually converted into fat. This is white bread, which is the enemy of all diets. Replace with whole grain or whole grain bread: you’ll hardly notice the difference in taste, but the benefits are obvious. “Fast” carbohydrates are, of course, sweets: cookies, cakes, chocolates, buns. It would seem like just one candy with tea, but how many times a day do you drink tea? By the way, many nutritionists advise that if you give up sweets, you should also give up tea. It is better to drink water instead, because eating sweets and rolls with water is no longer so tasty. Also, there is no need to eat semi-finished products and all kinds of sausages, sausages, smoked meats, pickles - everything that can be stored for a long time. There's a lot of salt and harmful additives, so why take the risk?

And, lastly, during the diet, give up alcohol, which provokes you to eat something extra and break the diet.

Table of prohibited products

Recipes for a diet based on cereals

Of course, a cereal diet will be boring if you only eat porridge with water without spices. Therefore, dietary cereal soups are an excellent way to dilute your diet. In addition, there are a great many recipes for such soups, as well as cereals that can be added to them. Therefore, every day you can delight yourself with such light soups.

Scottish oatmeal soup

You will need:

• 1 liter of vegetable broth;
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil;
• 1 medium carrot;
• 1 onion;
• 0.5 white cabbage;
• 4 tomatoes;
• 100 g oatmeal;
• 1 teaspoon dried cumin;
• 0.5 teaspoon sugar;
• 0.5 teaspoon salt;
• Bay leaf;
• a bunch of greenery.

Cut the carrots into strips, the onion into thin rings and simmer for 10 minutes. Then add thinly sliced ​​cabbage and simmer for another 10 minutes. Boil vegetable broth, add stewed vegetables, chopped tomatoes, spices and oatmeal. Simmer the soup over low heat for 20 minutes. Serve oatmeal soup sprinkled with chopped herbs.

Indian red lentil soup

You will need:

• 2 liters of chicken broth;
• 200 g red lentils;
• 2 tablespoons curry;
• 4 cloves of garlic;
• 3 carnation stars;
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander;
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin;
• 3 pieces of onions;
• chili pepper;
• black pepper;
• salt to taste;
• a bunch of greenery.

Add spices, chopped 2 cloves of garlic and 1 onion to boiling chicken broth, cook for 30 minutes over low heat. Fry the other part of the garlic, onion and chili pepper. Mix the roast with the broth, add red lentils and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. At the end of cooking, add salt to taste, and season with herbs before serving.

Vegetable soup with brown rice

You will need:

• 2 liters of vegetable broth;
• 100 g brown rice;
• 300 g cauliflower;
• 1 onion;
• 1 carrot;
• 2 teaspoons curry;
• salt to taste;
• a bunch of greenery.

Wash and separate the cauliflower, cut the onion into half rings, and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Fry the vegetables in the pan in which you will cook the soup until golden brown. Next, add a little vegetable broth and simmer the vegetables for a few minutes, adding chopped herbs, salt and curry. Pour in all the vegetable broth and let the soup boil. Then add brown rice and cook the soup until the grains are cooked.

Cleansing porridge

After reading medical reference books and fashion magazines, I learned that cleansing the body - and this occurs if you take only one product for several days, in this case porridge - helps to alleviate, and even cure, allergies.

For those who don’t know: the porridge diet is one of the ways to comfortably cleanse the body. The porridge has the effect of a brush that scrapes waste and toxins from the walls of internal organs and takes them with it.

To do this, for 10 days you should not eat anything except porridge:

• rice
• buckwheat
• millet
• wheat

You can vary it, but if you adore buckwheat, eat it for your health at least for ten days. Before cooking, rinse the cereal thoroughly and cook porridge only:

• on the water
• without salt
• no spices or oil.

It is important that the porridge is as dry as possible and not soggy - then the effect of the brush will only increase.

The porridge diet does not mean hunger; you can eat as much and whenever you want. At the slightest feeling of hunger, immediately put a spoonful of porridge in your mouth - this way you maintain the continuity of the cleaning process. Therefore, when going to work, for a walk with your child, even to a concert or disco, have a can of porridge with you. You cannot go hungry even for a short time on a porridge diet. You should drink as little as possible, only water, preferably mineral water, and only half an hour before meals or 30 minutes after.

This is a difficult test for your body, and you need to prepare for it ahead of time. First of all, prepare yourself psychologically. In addition to physical discomfort - weakness, headache - a feeling of self-pity, depression, even depression may appear. This is fine.

The body, clogged with toxins, is simply lost from unexpected lightness and reacts inadequately to the intense cleansing process. In order not to be led by emotions, often repeat to yourself that every cell of your body is cleansed, the normal functioning of the organs is restored and soon you will become healthy and beautiful.

In order to adapt more comfortably, I decided to start a porridge diet on the weekend - and I almost got it right. The fact is that intensive cleansing begins on the 2-4th day of cash therapy, and here be prepared for feeling unwell as the first reaction. On the first day, I didn’t feel any special changes in my body; I devoured buckwheat with appetite, which I hadn’t eaten for a long time. But on the second day a real depressive state set in - I felt like the most unhappy and lonely person in the world.

The headache did not stop from the very morning, and by the evening I did not know where to go from the dizziness. The further it went, the worse it got, everything fell out of hand and saboteur thoughts about stopping the experiment attacked more and more often. The morning did not bring any new sensations - only the headache began to hurt a little less.

After eating dry rice, I went to the editorial office, grabbing a can of “lunch.” But in the service, you know, you won’t be bored.

The porridge diet is not hunger, you can eat as much and whenever you want

Day four gave me a feeling of lightness, and most importantly - no headaches! The second five days of cash therapy went easily, the dark thoughts quietly disappeared along with a couple of kilograms - of course, every morning I eagerly got on the scale. In a word, on the tenth day the porridge no longer seemed:

• dry
• and tasteless

and on the first day of normal life, my favorite coffee for some reason did not bring the same pleasure.

I repeated the experiment a couple of months later, and then again, and this is the result:

• clean skin
• healthy complexion

the few kilograms that I couldn’t lose before are no longer depressing, and my body has cleansed itself so much that I stopped loving coffee!

In case of failure

Fortunately, a diet based on cereals is very easy to tolerate, there is no lack of vitamins, and there is no hunger. But even with such a gentle diet there are breakdowns. To insure yourself from a breakdown initially, do not treat such a diet as short-term torture, because this particular technique is an excellent start to a proper, healthy and balanced diet.

To make it easier to get into a positive mood, follow a few rules:

• Take a break. To avoid thinking about food and how delicious the chocolate bar is in the nearest store, start reading. Or do some exercise. Want to start running? Right now! Finally, go through your closet or clean out. Any type of activity will help avoid a breakdown.
• Avoid alcohol during the diet.
• If you are afraid to fail, plan for a failure. Of course, you don’t need to plan day 3 of your diet as a day of permissiveness and eat everything in your path. Allow yourself a small portion of your favorite unhealthy product every 5-7 days, and then there will be much less stress and reasons to lash out.

And if a breakdown does occur, do not despair and do not consider yourself a hopeless person in losing weight. Everything can be fixed, the main thing is to pull yourself together in time. Lost your mind before bed? The next day, eat more vegetables with porridge, exclude meat that day, go for a run. Also, it will be useful in this case to extend the diet for 1-2 days.

Quitting the diet

In general, leaving such a diet is not difficult or problematic, since the diet includes many permitted foods. That is, you shouldn’t, after finishing it, start gorging on chips and buns. The right thing to do would be to never overeat such harmful foods again.

Upon completion of the diet, experts advise carefully considering further actions: create a menu for the next 5-7 days, buy all the necessary products so as not to go to the store again. A correctly compiled healthy menu will turn out to be something similar to a dietary one, and for good reason, because porridge is the basis of all healthy nutrition programs. You look, and for almost 3 weeks you have been eating right: healthy cereals, fruits, vegetables, lean meat, proper bread. Thus, a habit will be developed and there will no longer be a need to eat “harmful” foods. And after a couple of months you will be surprised at your results and the beauty of your body, skin and hair. Believe me, the transformation will be noticeable to the naked eye!

Rules for quitting the porridge diet for weight loss

After completing any diet course, it is recommended to exit it gradually - you should not immediately rush to your favorite food. Any diet based on cereals is no exception. The menu of the next day after the end of the nutritional experiment will remain virtually unchanged; it will be necessary to replace only one meal with healthy foods. After two days, you can add a little more variety - add two protein dishes. After a couple more days, you are allowed to formulate a diet to your taste, but taking into account the rules of proper and healthy nutrition.

It is highly undesirable to immediately introduce fatty, fried, spicy or too salty dishes into the menu immediately after the course . It would be ideal if you could give them up altogether. After eating porridge, the above products are prohibited, because they create a load on the digestive system, which can lead to disruption of its functioning, heaviness in the stomach, heartburn, sludge buildup, and this leads to weight gain again. The optimal output products are:

• dairy products;
• lean meat (all except pork);
• fruits: citruses, apples, dried fruits;
• eggs;
• vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, beets;
• drinks: compote, freshly squeezed juice, fruit drink.

Pros and cons of a cereal diet

Reviews about the cereal diet

• “... Great diet! I’m talking about mixing cereals, different ones every day, and not about crazy mono-diets on buckwheat and barley, after which vital organs fail. I lost weight using the “7 porridge” system for 2 weeks, repeating the menu. Additionally, I ate fruits, vegetables, and meat sometimes. I lost remarkable weight from 75 kg to 69 kg without hunger, weakness and anger. In addition to this, I also worked out in the gym several times a week, and had enough strength. So, I advise the diet not even as a diet for 2 weeks, but as a long-term nutrition plan. Of course, in this case, you will need to introduce more meat”;
• “... I’ve already lost weight twice on cereals. More precisely, I had a diet based on cereals and vegetables, since I don’t really like fruits, and I can easily do without meat. Therefore, 60% of the daily diet consisted of various cereals, and 40% of all kinds of vegetable salads. So, from the second time I simply switched to a similar diet: I eat cereals 2-3 times a day, vegetables 3 times a day, fermented milk products such as cottage cheese, kefir, cheeses, sometimes I eat meat once every few days. I feel great. For the first time, I lost 6 kg in 10 days from the diet (it was 69 kg), and now I weigh 58 kg. The body looks great, I like this healthy and natural diet.”