Dr. Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. However, it seems that ancient athletes followed a strict diet, the principles of which were very much like the Dr Atkins basic diet plan.
Ancient Dr. Atkins Diet : Strict Diet and Severe Exercises for Ancient Greeks
Long before Dr. Atkins finished his theory about ketosis and established his famous diet, ancient Greeks had undertaken it, without any clue at all. Not only they were eating Atkins-style, but also they were strongly practising regular exercise, as Dr. Atkins now recommends. Ancient Greeks spent a lot of time educating their bodies. Gymnastic exercises were very appreciated and children were trained and directed to follow a daily training program. After years of strict diet and heavy gymnastics, Greeks finally admitted that “too much and too strict” was not good for health, because this regimen exhausted the human constitution.
Dr. Atkins Diet : Greek Olympians Followed Meat-Only Diet
Greeks ate bread, fruits, vegetables and a lot of fish. This was a regular eating regimen for ordinary Greeks, and protein from fish was the most available in that seafaring region.
Quite interesting is the fact that Greek Oympians had a bit different eating regimen. It was a meat-heavy regimen, like the Dr. Atkins low-carb diet (not so refined, of course, no phases at all). The goal was to develop a lot of muscles and meat was enormously necessary.
But not any Greek could afford to eat meat on a daily basis. Only the upper social strata from Greece could afford it. The Olympians also ate more protein-rich legumes which their bodies needed to keep energy levels elevated.
Moreover, according to food historian Francine Segan, an ancient olympic runner was put to undertake a meat-only diet. It seems that this tough exclusive diet was a must to win a competition. That worked for runners. The fact that runners ate only meat started a sort of meat diet craze, pointed out the historian.
Another condition to complete athletes’ diet was to expel bread right before competition, eating dried figs instead. Francine Segan admitted that he discovered that while she was researching information about the Mediterranean cuisine.
Their diet was directed according to Pausanias. Those practicing heavy exercise ate pork and a particular kind of bread. Also, it seems that beef was later introduced in the ordinary diet of the athletes. Goat meat is mentioned in “A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities”. Meat consumption was highly encouraged, as on the Atkins diet plan. Fats too, since pork is a fatty meat.
Ancient preoccupation with health, diet and exercise is praiseworthy. A low-carbohydrate daily regimen, along with regular exercise are a simple and efficient scheme for losing weight and shaping the body. The ancient people knew it by practice. No theories, no calories, no ketosis, no debates around. Maybe they didn’t need to know how it works. “Mens sana in corpore sana” worked best for them.
Ancient Olympians Followed Dr. Atkins Diet
