The Pritikin Diet is a plant-based diet, rich in carbohydrates (approximately 70%), poor in proteins (approximately 15%) and fats (approximately 15%). It includes recommended foods called “go” such as fruit, vegetables, and legumes; “cautionary” foods such as grains and refined sweeteners; foods to avoid (“stop”) such as processed meats and vegetable oils. The US News & World Report included the Pritikin diet among the best of 2024, although it dates back to 1976. Nathan Pritikin, the founder of the Pritikin Longevity Center, wrote “High Carbohydrate Diets” in that year.
Originally an inventor turned millionaire, Pritikin turned to nutritional studies after being diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. His method also includes daily physical activity from 30 to 90 minutes 6 days a week. According to recent data from the Pritikin Longevity Center, on a sample of 4,587 adults, within 3 weeks of starting the program men lost an average of 5 kg and women 3 kg. Pritikin promoted his diet to prevent and treat atherosclerosis, diabetes, gout, hypertension and other diseases. According to other studies, however, such as that of the University of Ferrara, following this diet for prolonged periods involves a protein deficiency characterized by disorders of the nervous system, bones and muscular system.
Nathan Pritikin, born in Chicago in 1915 and died in New York in 1985, was an inventor and an engineer who became a millionaire thanks to his patents. Among his texts, “The Pritikin Diet and Exercise Program” in 1979, written as he began to dedicate himself completely to nutrition studies after being diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. His diet is plant-based, high in carbohydrates and low in fat, combined with regular aerobic exercise in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Focus on the consumption of legumes, whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, with small quantities of lean meat, poultry and fish.
The Pritikin diet consists of three categories of foods: “go” (encouraged), “caution” (with moderation and attention), “stop” (to avoid). According to the scientific newspaper Eurosalus, the Pritikin diet is a predominantly vegetarian regime, very rich in carbohydrates, moderately low in protein, especially animal protein, and extremely low in fat. According to some data released by the Pritikin Longevity Center, those who follow the program no longer need to take medications for blood pressure (83% of cases) and diabetes (74% of cases) and see a reduction in chronic inflammation (45%), triglycerides (33%), and LDL cholesterol (23%).
However, according to a publication from the University of Ferrara, following low-protein diets such as Pritikin for prolonged periods leads to a protein deficiency, characterized by disorders of the nervous system, bones, muscular system, and anemia, often associated with a deficiency of nutrients such as vitamins, in particular riboflavin (B2), cobalamins (B12), calcium, iron, and iodine. The American Medical Association in the 1980s had questioned the effectiveness of the Pritikin method’s ability to prevent disease citing potential nutritional problems due to the lack of animal proteins.