The Spartan Diet

The Spartan diet is a lifestyle program stressing unprocessed foods, detoxification, and exercise. It takes its name from the ancient Mediterranean city-state, Sparta, whose people lived by an austere regimen.

Foods

Foods stressed by the Spartan diet include typical Greek and Mediterranean foodstuffs such as olive oil, garlic, whole grains, figs, apples, grapes etc. The emphasis is on whole, unprocessed foods consumed in moderation. The plan does not include meat from any domesticated animal or any non-organic produce.

Calorie Reduction

The diet stresses calorie reduction for health. The creators, health writer Amira Elgan and her husband Mike, suggest that a reduced calorie diet promotes not only weight loss but has other health benefits, such as greater longevity. The diet promotes never eating to fullness and feeling hunger between each meal in general.

Lifestyle

Aside from changes in diet, the Spartan diet program stresses other lifestyle changes. Athleticism is strongly emphasized, along with living a simple lifestyle.

Warnings

It should be noted first of all that while current research does support the existence of some benefits from calorie-restricted diets, this research is far from complete. There are also a number of risks attendant on calorie-restricted diets. Furthermore, the originators of the program put forward a somewhat romanticized version of life as an ancient Spartan and are not licensed health care professionals.