Monday, January 20, 2020

Review of the Daniel Fast

I have been trying to follow the Daniel fast and have been failing, mostly because I keep eating a small amount of meat. The basic idea of the Daniel fast is that you eat fruit and vegetables only. 

Home page:  https://www.daniel-fast.com/ and https://ultimatedanielfast.com/

This is mostly done for spiritual purposes and is meant to be followed for 21 days.

Here are the features:

restricts salt?  no
allows olive or vegetable oil?  yes.  It says "quality oils" so no canola or vegetable oil.  Also no butter or lard.
emphasizes low-fat or no-fat dairy?  no.  No dairy allowed.
allows cheese?  no 
Include lean meat? no
Allow beans? yes, it calls them legumes
Emphasize starch (rice and potatoes)?  yes.  Well, it doesn't emphasize them, but they are allowed.  But no processed potatoes - no french fries or potato chips.
Limit calories to 1200 (or 1500) per day? no, this has no calories counting as long as the plan is followed
Encourage fiber in the form of wheat germ or flax seed? yes.  (well it is not specifically encouraged, but it is allowed.

Limits bread? yes.  Grains are allowed but nothing with yeast.  Flatbread is ok.

Limits fruit? no, no limitation on fruit.
Limits sugar? yes, sugar not allowed nor is honey  
Allows sugar substitutes?  no, no artificial sweeteners allowed.
Restricts coffee?  yes.  It also restricts tea, with water the only beverage allowed.
Were clinical studies performed?  no

This is a variation of a vegan diet because meat and dairy are not allowed.

Criticisms of the Daniel fast.
It is lacking in nutrients. It doesn't include enough protein or fat and could lead to dangerous defiencies.

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