Diet News

Mayo Clinic publishes book detailing healthy diet and weight-loss program.

For years people have been trying to associate Mayo Clinic with various fad diets including grapefruit, bacon and eggs, and cabbage soup. But Mayo Clinic has never officially been associated with a dietary program until now.

The real Mayo Clinic diet was released in book form last week after years of research, just in time for New Year's resolutions. We spoke recently with physician Donald Hensrud, the medical editor in chief of "The Mayo Clinic Diet" (Good Books, $25.99) and a weight-management specialist, about the diet.

The Mayo Clinic diet is divided into two phases. "Lose It" is a two-week jump-start phase that emphasizes quick changes in habits, and we believe it is the healthiest way to lose weight quickly. The second phase, "Live It," continues these new habits seamlessly into a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle program.

Another unique feature is based on the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. This pyramid emphasizes foods that are low in calories and, importantly, healthy.

For years, parents of autistic children have promoted restrictive diets as a way to manage behavioral problems, but a new report by an expert panel says there is no evidence to support that claim.


An expert panel says there's no rigorous evidence that digestive problems known as leaky gut or autistic enterocolitis are more common in children with autism, and special diets do not work. However, painful digestive problems like bloating or stomach cramps can trigger problem behavioral problems in children with autism and should be treated medically.


Nearly 1 in 5 of children with autism are on a special diet. Most of them eliminate gluten, which is found in many grains, or casein, a protein in milk.


According to an ABC report, however, autism support groups aren’t buying the panel's findings, and have called for more tests on how to treat the gastrointestinal issues of autistic children.