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The Banting Diet Plan

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The Banting diet plan is probably the first known diet that had a written account of it published back in the 1860s. William Banting followed a regimented, low-carb food plan and lost weight, and thus created the Banting diet.

At the time it proved very popular, with lots of individuals purchasing the leaflet he wrote about it. You could say it had even inspired other diets, ones that we’re more familiar with in the modern day and are designed to put the body into a state of ketosis.

In recent years, the Banting diet has been heavily promoted by Professor Tim Noakes, who organised the diet into four phases. These four phases include observation, restoration, transformation and preservation. Each stage has a clear objective and eating guide to follow that includes restricting a wide range of processed and starchy foods like wheat, potatoes, grains, sugars and so on.

The Banting Food List

The diet comprises a list of foods that are categorised into red, orange or green. Red for foods to avoid, green to consume without limit and orange somewhere in the middle. Intermittent fasting, exercise and meditation is also recommended during the transformation stage.

An example of foods which are approved from the green list include:
  • Eggs
  • Meats and offal
  • Seafood
  • Hard and soft cheeses
  • Cream
  • Fats including butter, coconut, ghee and lard
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Vegetables like avocados, pumpkin, artichoke hearts, olives
An example of foods which should be avoided from the red list include:
  • Grains including amaranth, wheat, quinoa and teff
  • Beans
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Fizzy drinks and beer
  • Starchy vegetables
  • Processed foods and fast foods
  • Natural sweeteners like sugar, agave, honey
An example of foods included with the orange list include:
  • Apple
  • Carrot
  • Cashew nuts
  • Chestnut
  • Honey
  • Strawberries
  • Sweet potato
  • Watermelon

As well as being used as a weight loss and lifestyle programme, Bating also claims to provide many other benefits including increased energy levels, less or no cravings, enhanced mental performance, better blood glucose and insulin levels and improved sleeping methods.

It can be said to promote better hunger cues by eating only when you feel hungry and you can adapt it to your own preferences within the guidelines and unlike many diets, there’s no calorie counting or weighing of food, which lots of people find is a bonus. However, Banting can be an incredibly restrictive diet, particularly for vegans and vegetarians.

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