Dr. Nicholas Perricone, inventor of the Perricone Prescription, calls his diet an anti-inflammatory program. According to Dr. Perricone, inflammation is the bad guy, causing everything from heart disease to sagging skin. He says many foods cause inflammation, and he’s got a long list of foods to avoid, including bread, beef, alcohol and coffee. The key to the Perricone Prescription is cutting out processed foods and limiting red meat while increasing antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and salmon — lots of salmon. Follow this diet according to Dr. Perricone, you will not only lose weight, but you will reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, improve your mood, and you’ll have beautiful skin. Supplements and skin creams are also part of the Perricone Prescription, but only the diet portion will be dealt with here.

Diet Fundamentals:

• Eat three meals a day.
• Eat two snacks a day.
• Eat protein with every meal and snack.
• Eat food high in antioxidants.
• Eat wild Alaskan salmon several times a week.
• Eat foods low in glycemic carbs (whole grains, high fiber).
• Eat yogurt and kefir daily.
• Add good fats like avocado, nuts and olive oil.
• Incorporate cardio exercise five days a week.
• Drink lots of water.

 

Sample Menu:

Breakfast
• Egg whites
• 1 ounce shredded parmesan
• 1 cup cantaloupe

Morning Snack
• 6 ounces plain yogurt or kefir
• Handful of blueberries or almonds

Lunch
• Caesar salad with chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons salad dressing on the side
• Apple

Afternoon Snack
• Handful of almonds or berries

Dinner
• 4-6 ounces grilled salmon
• 1 cup asparagus
• 1/2 cup lentils
• Green salad

Pros and Cons:

The Pros
Dr. Perricone’s emphasis on antioxidant-rich foods is a unique and healthy approach to eating. The wild salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. These have numerous health benefits, especially for your heart and brain. Overall, this is a comprehensive program. Follow his diet and lifestyle recommendations, and you will lose weight, improve your health, and probably end up with better-looking skin to boot. The generous amounts of lean protein and low-glycemic carbohydrates will help minimize hunger and stabilize blood sugar.

The Cons
This program is strict, which makes it harder to follow. The complete exclusion of bread and most grains, beef, alcohol (including wine) and caffeine will make this diet more challenging. The supplements are very expensive and probably not necessary for most people. You'd better like salmon, too, because you’ll be eating a lot of it. If you don’t like salmon, you’re up the creek. Many of the recommended products may be difficult to find year round, if at all, like acai and kefir.

Bottom Line
Overall, this is a very healthy approach to eating, which will probably have you looking and feeling a lot better. I think this diet is too tough, however, for the long term. Still, many of the principles are a good foundation for a balanced, long-term eating plan. Plus, it could kick start your weight loss. You must really be committed to this way of life and have both the time to shop and the money to spend to be successful both short and long term. One of the best things about this diet is that the appeal of radiant skin might get more people excited about eating those fruits and vegetables.