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According to a study conducted at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 86 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by the year 2030. Numerous diet plans have been proposed to combat the growing obesity problem in the United States. One such diet plan is the 7 day Mayo Clinic Diet.

History

Numerous versions of a "Mayo Clinic diet" have circulated around the Internet over the past few years. This has created confusion, as many people believe that the "Mayo Clinic diet" is associated with the not-for-profit medical practice known as the Mayo Clinic. This is not, however, the case. The Mayo Clinic has never endorsed or described a particular diet. Rather, the Mayo Clinic has discussed approaches to healthy eating and lifestyle changes that can result in healthy weight loss. This is discussed below.

7 Day Mayo Clinic Diet

According to Every Diet, an online database that lists various diets, the 7 day Mayo Clinic Diet requires that you adhere to the following schedule. On Monday, eat as much fruit and fruit juices as possible, except bananas. On Tuesday, eat all the vegetables desired. On Wednesday, eat both fruit and vegetables. On Thursday, eat 5 bananas and drink 5 glasses of whole milk. On Friday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each) with unlimited green vegetables. On Saturday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each). On Sunday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each) with unlimited green vegetables. It's worth repeating that the Mayo Clinic has gone out of its way to state that it does not endorse this diet. Moreover, it is strongly recommended that you consult a doctor or dietitian before beginning a diet such as this one.

The Actual Mayo Clinic Dietary Recommendations

The Mayo Clinic has created a Healthy Weight Pyramid that it recommends you use to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic points out that there should be no severe restrictions or extreme hunger involved in a diet. Moreover, the Mayo Clinic recommends that any diet should be coupled with exercise. The Mayo Clinic notes that by following the Healthy Weight Pyramid and remaining physically active every day, you can safely lose weight at a pace of 1 to 2 pounds per week.