The
Flavor Point Diet
(David L. Katz, M.D.)
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In
his new book, The Flavor Point Diet:
The Delicious, Breakthrough Plan
to Turn Off Your Hunger and Lose the Weight For Good
(Rodale Press, 2005, $24.95, hardcover), author David L. Katz, MD, MPH says that
when the brain's appetite center registers full, people will naturally stop
eating. If so, then why do most people tend to overeat? According to
Katz, the typical American diet includes too wide a selection of flavors at each
meal, confusing the brain, and delaying it's sensors from registering "full."
Dr. Katz is co-founder and
director of Yale University's
Prevention Research Center.
He is also a medical
correspondent for ABC News, a
nutrition columnist for Oprah's
O Magazine, and a
syndicated columnist in heath &
nutrition for The New York
Times. Dr. Katz has
been recognized as a leading
authority on nutrition, weight
control and chronic disease
prevention,
He co-authored The Flavor
Point Diet with his wife,
Catherine S. Katz, PhD, a
neuroscientist, a well-known
researcher into sensory specific
satiety. In addition,
her expert culinary talents have
led her to contribute to O
Magazine, Women's Health
& Fitness, Child Magazine
and several books.
The Katz's recommend using
flavor-themed meals.
During Phase 1, the first 4
weeks of the diet, the theme
changes on a daily basis, i.e.,
"Peach Day", "Pineapple Day",
"Raisin Day", etc.
"Pineapple Day", for example,
features a pineapple shake for
breakfast, pineapple-walnut
chicken salad with crackers for
lunch and pineapple shrimp,
bulgur wheat salad and a green
vegetable for dinner, and even
caramelized pineapple rings as
dessert. The theory is
that a food becomes less
desirable and less palatable
when enough of it is eaten.
When a new (different) flavor is
introduced, the brain must
repeat the process before
becoming satisfied again.
Upon entering Phase 2, daily
flavor themes are no longer
required to control appetite,
since new habits have been
developed in choosing and
preparing foods according to
The Flavor Point principles.
Instead one uses a specific
flavor theme for each meal,
allowing the brain to reach
satiety.
The
book is rich with recipes, all built around flavor themes. However, these
recipes require stocking one's pantry's with a multitude of ingredients, many of
which you wouldn't normally purchase (expensive!). Wondering if the
recipes are family friendly? Can you come home from work and just whip up
a Flavor Point meal for your brood? Well, although the authors' bios say
that they're the parents of five children, it's interesting that many of the
recipes require lots of time and effort to prepare. Plus, they can hardly
be considered "kid-friendly" since many feature ingredients that most kids would
typically avoid. Busy Moms (and Dads), beware!
Since the recipes in Katz's diet
plan promote choosing and eating
healthy foods, drinking plenty
of water and moving as much as
possible during the course of
one's day, it would undoubtedly
encourage weight loss.
Research into sensory specific
satiety appears to support the
book's theory, but the
conclusions drawn have not been
broadly accepted as fact.
BestDietForMe.com
analysts agree that this
diet is not a simple one to
follow. Having to rigidly adhere
to its recommended flavor themes,
the time and expense of shopping
for the (wide!) variety of
groceries required and the large
chunk of time required in food
prep may quickly lead to diet
program burnout. Working
people may find it difficult and
undesirable to devote the amount
of time required. Bottom
line -- it may not be an easy
regimen to stick with on a
long-term basis.