What Is the Dr. Sebi Alkaline Diet, and Is It Beneficial?
- Dietitian.Lauren Hmede
- Aug 7, 2019
- 4 min read
Inroduction:
The Dr. Sebi diet, also called the Dr. Sebi alkaline diet, is a plant-based diet developed by the late Dr. Sebi.
It’s claimed to rejuvenate your cells by eliminating toxic waste through alkalizing your blood.
The diet relies on eating a short list of approved foods along with many supplements.
This article reviews the benefits and downsides of the Dr. Sebi diet and whether scientific evidence backs up its health claims.
What is the Dr. Sebi diet?
The Dr. Sebi diet emphasizes consuming foods and supplements that supposedly decrease disease-causing mucus by achieving an alkaline state in your body.
How to follow the Dr. Sebi diet
The rules of the Dr. Sebi diet are very strict and outlined on his website.
According to Dr. Sebi’s nutritional guide, you must follow these key rules:
Rule 1. You must only eat foods listed in the nutritional guide
Rule 2. Drink 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water every day.
Rule 3. Take Dr. Sebi’s supplements an hour before medications.
Rule 4. No animal products are permitted.
Rule 5. No alcohol is allowed.
Rule 6. Avoid wheat products and only consume the “natural-growing grains” listed in the guide.
Rule 7. Avoid using a microwave to prevent killing your food.
Rule 8. Avoid canned or seedless fruits.
There are no specific nutrient guidelines. However, this diet is low in protein, as it prohibits beans, lentils, and animal and soy products. Protein is an important nutrient needed for strong muscles, skin, and joints.
Additionally, you’re expected to purchase Dr. Sebi’s cell food products, which are supplements that promise to cleanse your body and nourish your cells.
It’s recommended to buy the “all-inclusive” package, which contains 20 different products that are claimed to cleanse and restore your entire body at the fastest rate possible.
Besides this, no specific supplement recommendations are provided. Instead, you’re expected to order any supplement that matches your health concerns.
For example, the “Bio Ferro” capsules claim to treat liver issues, cleanse your blood, boost immunity, promote weight loss, aid digestive issues and increase overall well-being.
Furthermore, the supplements don’t contain a complete list of nutrients or their quantities, making it difficult to know whether they will meet your daily needs
Can it help you lose weight?
The Dr. Sebi diet is not designed for weight loss but is very low in calories and limits processed food. Therefore, you may lose some weight if you follow this diet.
Potential benefits of the Dr. Sebi diet
The Dr. Sebi diet emphasizes eating nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats, which may decrease your risk of heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.
Downsides of the Dr. Sebi diet
Keep in mind that there are several drawbacks to this diet.
The Dr. Sebi diet may promote weight loss but is very restrictive and low in many essential nutrients, such as protein, omega-3, iron, calcium, and vitamins D and B12. It also ignores your body’s natural ability to regulate blood pH levels.
Foods to eat
Dr. Sebi’s nutrition guide details specific foods allowed on the diet, including:
Fruits: apples, cantaloupe, currants, dates, figs, elderberries, papayas, berries, peaches, soft jelly coconuts, pears, plums, seeded key limes, mangoes, prickly pears, seeded melons, Latin or West Indies soursop tamarind
Vegetables: avocado, bell peppers, cactus flower, chickpeas, cucumber, dandelion greens, kale, lettuce (except iceberg), mushrooms (except shiitake), okra, olives, sea vegetables, squash, tomatoes (only cherry and plum), zucchini
Grains: fonio, amaranth, Khorasan wheat (kamut), rye, wild rice, spelt, teff, quinoa
Nuts and Seeds: Brazil nuts, hemp seeds, raw sesame seeds, raw tahini butter, walnuts
Oils: avocado oil, coconut oil (uncooked), grapeseed oil, hempseed oil, olive oil (uncooked), sesame oil
Herbal teas: elderberry, chamomile. fennel, tila, burdock, ginger, raspberry
Spices: oregano, basil, cloves, bay leaf, dill, sweet basil, achiote, cayenne, habanero, tarragon, onion powder, sage, pure sea salt, thyme, powdered granulated seaweed, pure agave syrup, date sugar
In addition to tea, you are allowed to drink water.
Plus, you may eat permitted grains in the form of pasta, cereal, bread, or flour. However, any food leavened with yeast or baking powder is banned.
Foods to avoid
Any foods that are not included in the Dr. Sebi nutrition guide are not permitted, such as:
Canned fruit or vegetables
Seedless fruit
Eggs
Dairy
Fish
Red meat
Poultry
Soy products
Processed food, including take-out or restaurant food
Fortified foods
Wheat
Sugar (besides date sugar and agave syrup)
Alcohol
Yeast or foods risen with yeastfoods made with baking powder
Furthermore, many vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and seeds are banned on the diet.
Only foods listed in the guide may be eaten.
Sample menu
Here is a three-day sample menu on the Dr. Sebi diet.
Day 1
Breakfast: 2 banana-spelt pancakes with agave syrup
Snack: 1 cup (240 ml) of green juice smoothie made with cucumbers, kale, apples, and ginger
Lunch: kale salad with tomatoes, onions, avocado, dandelion greens, and chickpeas with olive oil and basil dressing
Snack: herbal tea with fruit
Dinner: vegetable and wild-rice stir-fry
Day 2
Breakfast: shake made with water, hemp seeds, bananas, and strawberries
Snack: blueberry muffins made with blueberries, pure coconut milk, agave syrup, sea salt, oil, and teff and spelt flour
Lunch: homemade pizza using a spelt-flour crust, Brazil-nut cheese, and your choice of vegetables
Snack: tahini butter on rye bread with sliced red peppers on the side
Dinner: chickpea burger with tomato, onion, and kale on spelt-flour flatbread
Day 3
Breakfast: cooked quinoa with agave syrup, peaches, and pure coconut milk
Snack: chamomile tea, seeded grapes, and sesame seeds
Lunch: spelt-pasta salad with chopped vegetables and an olive oil and key lime dressing
Snack: a smoothie made with mango, banana, and pure coconut milk
Dinner: hearty vegetable soup using mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, onions, kale, spices, water, and powdered seaweed
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