F-Plan Diet

The F-Plan Diet was devised by Audrey Eyton and published in 1982 and has been one of Britain's best selling diet books since. The F-Plan diet is a high fibre diet that is low in fat and high in carbohydrates. The basic principles of the F-Plan diet are firstly that fibre is low itself is low in calories, fills you up so that you feel satisfied and takes time to digest so you feel full for longer. Secondly insoluble fibre passes through the digestive system untouched and therefore has no fat or calories and cleans the digestive tract so you can eat as much as you want.

The F-Plan diet bans the consumption of low fibre foods such as refined flours, breads, white rice, peeled fruits or cakes and biscuits. High fat foods such as cream or whole milk are banned. Fruit juices are also banned, as fruit must be eaten whole. The Permitted foods are all high fibre foods such as bran, brown rice and wholemeal breads and low fat foods.

F-Plan Diet : Reasons for

• Lack of dietary fibre has been linked to diseases such as bowel cancer, constipation, varicose veins and haemorroids
• By eating fibre instead of fats or sugars the body will ingest less calories. Which should result in weight loss

F-Plan Diet : Reasons against

• The diet is difficult for vegetarians to follow and almost impossible for vegans as skimmed milk is part of lots of meals
• The F-Plan diet doesn't include any exercise
  Should not be taken by anybody with wheat or gluten intolerances
• Lots of fibre can deplete certain vitamins and it lowers the rate at which others are absorbed.

F-Plan Diet : Verdict

The modern diet does not include enough fibre and it is important in the fight against certain diseases. Unfortunately the F-Plan diet recommends too much which can lead to diarrhea and bloating. A good target is to eat the amount that results in normal bowel movements.

Sample Menu
Each day you have a fibre filler that is a muesli type cereal taken with skimmed milk

Breakfast
Fibre filler, with ½ a cup of skimmed milk

Lunch
1 orange
2 slices of high bran bread
1 medium tomato
2oz of hard cheese (i.e. Cheddar)
2 olives

Dinner
1 packet of frozen cod in butter or cheese sauce
4oz fresh peas
4oz carrots
1 apple or pear