Astronaut's diet: how it works, what to eat and contraindications

What does the astronaut's diet consist of and why it is not a valid diet.

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

No bread or pasta, but not even sugars and sweet foods: if you are a lover of "low carb" diets, here it is astronaut diet, low calorie, hyperlipidic and hypoglucidic. Nothing to do with life in space, (also) this sui generis diet allows you to lose weight in a very short time at the expense, however, of proper long-term fitness. But what exactly does the astronaut's diet consist of?

The astronaut's diet is part of the low-carbohydrate diets and the so-called "points" diets, due to the fact that each food is assigned a score. For example, fats and proteins are given very low scores, so they are given preference over carbohydrates.

It is a diet hyperlipidic e low sugar and, thanks to the high amount of protein, it would contribute to rapid weight loss without causing damage to the muscles. The recommended foods are therefore those protein and rich in fats, while bread, pasta, cereals in general, sugars and sweet foods must be banned or drastically reduced.

Also in this case, it is a "lightning diet" that cannot last more than 14 days, can have no effects or even harm your health. For this reason it is good consult a doctor or nutritionist before embarking on a similar nutritional journey alone.

Index

What is the astronaut's diet and how it works

Like the Atkins or Dr. Blackburn diet it is a "law-carb" diet, ie a low in carbohydrates, but, unlike the others, it is not high-protein. Indeed, the astronaut's diet consists almost entirely of protein products, while fiber and carbohydrates are significantly reduced to a minimum.

From a nutritional point of view, it is generally a diet consisting of 45% fat, 25% protein and 30% carbohydrates. Therefore, it is a hyperlipidic and hypoglucidic diet: the recommended foods are therefore those protein and rich in fats, while bread, pasta, cereals in general, sugars and sweet foods are drastically reduced.

This particular type of dietary regimen is based on the theory that fats are not fully assimilated if a sufficient quantity of carbohydrates is taken and to control the quantity of food, a score is assigned to each food and a maximum score must not be exceeded during the day.

High-protein diets, the different types:

Dukan Diet
Zone Diet
Atkins diet
Scarsdale diet
plank diet

Astronaut's diet, what to eat and what to avoid

Generally, they are listed as foods to avoid:

Soft drinks and fruit juices
Alcohol (mainly because it contains sugar)
Salt and sugar
Starchy vegetables (potatoes, beets, parsnips, and carrots)
Rice and pasta
Bread and cereals
Smoked meat products

While, on the other hand, the following are allowed:

Mushrooms
eggs
Fish and chicken
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Broccoli and cabbage
Green Beans
Pumpkin
Salads
Cheese and tofu
Almond, rice or soy milk

A daily menu of the astronaut's diet as an example can be this:

Breakfast: a coffee without sugar and a sandwich of about 60 grams

Lunch: 2 boiled eggs with spinach or a steak with salad and 2 teaspoons of oil. Or cheese (even 250 grams), a hard-boiled egg and carrots with 2 teaspoons of oil. Alternatively, fish and tomatoes

Snack: a cup of green tea

Price: Cooked ham (300 grams) and salad with 2 teaspoons of oil or 2 hamburgers with salad. Or 2 hard-boiled eggs with carrots or a glass of almond milk, fish and 150 grams of tofu

Also, remember to drink a lot of water (up to 2 liters per day).

Diet of the astronaut, contraindications

Light years away from proper nutrition education, the astronaut's diet demonizes too many foods, including cereals, and calculates a percentage of fat (45%) that is too high.

Furthermore, it does not include a maintenance program, so it will not be difficult to lose weight but to maintain a healthy weight. Physical activity is not mentioned but, among other things, the necessary energy would be lacking and the limited intake of carbohydrates would not be reconciled with a regular sport.