Ancient Olympians Followed Atkins Diet
by Dana
Scripca
zone3
Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. Though it seems that ancient
people - athletes particularly - followed a strict diet which is likewise
Atkins basic.
Strict diet and severe exercises for Ancient
Greeks
Long before dr Atkins finished his theory about ketosis and
established his famous diet, ancient people had undertaken it, without any
clue at all. Not only they were eating Atkins-style, but also they were
strongly practicing regular exercise, as dr Atkins now recommends. Ancient
Greeks spent a lot of time educating their bodies. Gymnastic exercises
were very appreciated, children were trained and directed to follow a
daily training program. After years of strict diet and heavy gymnastics,
Greeks finally admitted that "too much and too strict" is not good for
health, because this regimen exhausted the human constitution.
Greek
Olympians followed meat-only diet
In fact, we talk about Greek
people who ate fruits, vegetables, a lot of fish, breads. This was a
regular eating regimen for ordinary Greeks, with the amendment that fish
was the most common meat eaten in that seafaring region. Quite interesting
is the fact that Greek olympians had a bit different eating regimen, a
meat-heavy regimen, like the low-carb Atkins's (not so refined, of course,
no phases at all). The goal was to develop a lot of muscles and meat was
enormously necessary. But not any Greek could daily afford meat on the
table. Only upper social strata from Greece could afford it. The olympians
also ate more rich-protein legumes which their bodies needed to keep a
boost of energy.
Moreover, according to food historian Francine
Segan, an ancient Olympic runner was put to undertake a meat-only diet. It
seems that this tough exclusive diet was a must to win a competition. That
works for runners. The fact that runners ate only meat started a sort of
meat diet craze, pointed out the historian. Another condition to complete
athletes' diet was to expel bread right before competition, eating dried
figs instead. Francine Segan admitted that he discovered that while he was
searching information about famous Mediteranean cuisine.
Their diet
was directed according to Pausanias. Those practicing heavy exercise ate
pork and a particular kind of bread. Also, it seems that beef was later
introduced in the ordinary diet of the athletes. Goat meat is mentioned,
too, in "A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities". Meat consumption
was highly encouraged, as on the Atkins diet plan. Fats, too, since pork,
is a fat meat.
Ancient preoccupation with health, diet and exercise
is praiseworthy. A low-carbohydrate daily regimen, along with regular
exercise are a simple and efficient scheme for losing weight and shaping
the body. The ancient people knew it by trying it only. No theories, no
calories, no ketosis, no debates around. Maybe they didn't need to know
how it works. "Mens sana in corpore sana" worked best for them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dana Scripca writes for http://www.dratkinsdieplan.info/ where you
can find more information about the Atkins Diet. Please feel
free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use
this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to
let me know where it appeared: mailto:danascri@gmail.com
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