60% PROTEIN / 25% FAT / 15% CARBS
The Lion Diet is a true carnivorous diet which contains the highest amounts of protein and fat of all the Diet Types. It is typically recommended therapeutically for people whose Diet Typing results show abnormalities in both the glucose tolerance test and blood pH.
Two different patterns of glucose tolerance results both need the Lion Diet. A “true” Lion will be a fast oxidizer of food and have acidic blood pH. The second pattern, which is quite common in overweight America, also has acidic blood pH, but the glucose tolerance test shows a slow oxidizer with high insulin levels (insulin resistance). This person also needs a Lion Diet to regain insulin sensitivity. Thus, the Lion Diet is very high in protein and fat, with a very small amount of carbohydrates. Eating these foods regularly (every 3-4 hours, even including a snack before bed) helps to prevent blood sugar swings, raise blood pH, and lower insulin levels, thus, trying to normalize the Lion’s abnormal physiology.
General Lion Diet Type guidelines
Below is a pyramid that you can use as a guideline for which foods are most important in following the Lion Diet. As you can see, your meals should consist of mostly protein and fat along with some vegetables! Your body does not metabolize carbohydrates well, hence, you should rarely eat starchy foods like potatoes or whole grain bread, and should only choose the options with the most fiber, such as a high fiber tortilla wrap instead of low fiber brown rice. A good measure of “high fiber” is at least 4 grams of fiber per serving. Full fat dairy can be consumed occasionally through the day. Lastly, you will notice there is no fruit or simple carbohydrates on the Lion Diet. Your Diet Type does not require these foods in order to achieve optimal health.
KEY POINTS
• The Lion Diet is a true carnivorous diet. You need to eat meat as the basis of every meal.
• The ideal meal for you is a piece of meat with some vegetables.
• Lions will only feel worse by consuming too many starchy carbohydrates.
• The Lion Diet does not include fruit or simple carbohydrates.
How to Make Your Lion Diet More Energy Efficient
Ok, so there’s an enormous waiting list for fuel efficient cars, the light bulb has been re-invented to be more energy efficient, but what have you done for your diet to maximize the energy output from the fuel you give it? We are not just talking about eating less, but making sure what you eat is actually giving you energy. Remember, food is the fuel for our bodies, and we want to put in the right fuel to give us the most amount of energy. “To have more energy” is the number one goal of most patients we see here for the Hauser Diet program. For various reasons, their energy just seems depleted. It is an effort to make it through the day, and no matter how “healthy” they feel they eat, they feel tired.
Let’s review the basics of “energy efficiency” on the Lion Diet:
EAT BREAKFAST
Lions typically have a low fasting blood sugar—which means after sleeping, they need to eat something to jumpstart their metabolism. Eat a big breakfast—it will help you take on the day with more gusto.
CUT OUT THE CAFFEINE
Are you on the Lion Diet, yet reaching for coffee and other “quick fix” remedies to give you a boost? Caffeine will only acidify your blood further, depleting more energy. Also, it will worsen blood sugar swings. So, you may enjoy the boost it brings in the beginning, with an hour or two, you will likely be in the same place you were earlier: feeling like you need a nap or another cup of coffee! Stop the vicious cycle—coffee is not the way for a Lion to get good energy.
EAT PLENTY OF PROTEIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY
When we see foods like cereal, popcorn, and raisin toast on a food diary throughout the day, and only one main meat-based meal, the Lion Diet is not being represented. A true Otter meal plan will have meat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks. Yes, it is truly a lot of meat—that is what someone with a Lion physiology needs, not waffles and corn. Protein should be the majority of all meals, plain and simple.
DON’T SKIP VEGETABLES, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A CARNIVORE
Vegetables are where a Lion is getting a significant amount of carbohydrates in their diet. This food group provides necessary fiber for healthy bowels, along with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your body needs to stay on the ball. Think of your vegetables in a variety of color- red, orange, green, yellow. One of our favorites is simply skewering bell peppers and squash, brush with olive oil and rosemary, and grill. Serve with a big piece of grilled meat. Dinner in the summer can’t get simpler, and you’ll feel great!
SAY GOODBYE TO SIMPLE CARBS
For Lions, this includes fruit. Sorry, this is the wrong fuel for your engine! Opt for vegetables instead of fruit, or limit fruit to one per day. The effects of fruits and vegetables in your diet are not the same, and we do not put them in the same category. Fruit has too much sugar for you Lions. In addition to fruit, dropping the “energy” bars and snacks that contain a lot of white flour and sugar need to be dropped. Opting for a piece of natural beef jerky or a hard boiled egg as a snack will be a better choice for a Lion.
Lastly, one of the key tests for any Diet Type that we do here in our office is a blood test for Food Sensitivities. This is often done as a part of Hauser Diet Typing, because eating foods that you may not even realize your body is sensitive to will only deplete your energy stores further. So, while all Lions should take action on the above diet recommendations, an individual should find out what specific foods are going to make his or her body more efficient and, in essence, healthier.
Should Lions Eliminate Carbs Completely?
A lot of people lose weight by following a low carbohydrate, high protein diet such as the Atkins Diet. Many people have nearly completely eliminated carbohydrates from their diets. We find that the Lions are the most restricted in carbohydrates out of the five Hauser Diet Types, but you should not get rid off all of the carbohydrates because your brain and body must have some carbohydrates every day in order to function optimally. Lions should consume complex carbohydrates only. Include foods such as whole grain rice, legumes, and oats, but only in small amounts.
Can Lions Eat Dessert?
According to the general principles of the Hauser Diet, all of the five Hauser Diets should try to avoid simple sugars and sweets. However, the Lion, of all of the diets, really needs to eliminate sweets and sweet foods from his/her diet. Lions are just not able to metabolize carbs well and eating them will make the Lion feel terrible. Lions also need to avoid fruit because to the Lion’s physiology, fruit acts just like sugar. So Lion desserts are definitely “outside the box.” Some suggestions would be a peanut butter and soy milk smoothie or a cup of cottage cheese with some cinnamon sprinkled on top. It might take some conditioning to be in the mood for these alternative desserts when you have a sweet tooth, but after a while, you’ll begin to enjoy the different tastes and the way being on the Hauser Diet makes you feel.
Can Lions snack after dinner?
Hauser Lions are fast oxidizers of food, and typically have low fasting blood sugar levels. This means when you do not eat for a few hours, your blood sugar can get too low. The longer your blood sugar remains low, the lower your energy, which may result in a difficult time functioning. You wake up in the morning with low blood sugar after you have been fasting since your last meal while you were asleep.
For your best energy, Lions need a little snack after dinner that is low in carbohydrates and higher in protein, such as a piece of lunchmeat rolled up with mustard, or plain Greek yogurt. Avoid foods such as sweets, fruit sprinkled with sugar, or a bowl of cereal, as these are carbohydrate heavy which will only perpetuate the sugar swings.
Can Lions Drink Sport Drinks?
Are you an avid exerciser or athlete relying on sports drinks, such as Gatorade and PowerAde to replenish you during and after workouts? You might be counteracting the good you’re doing by working out. Sports drinks do replenish much needed electrolytes that can be lost during an intense workout, intense being the key word here. But the main ingredient in these drinks is sugar, making these drinks simple carbohydrates. Lions know very well that sugar can be there enemy. This doesn’t mean that you can’t ever grab a sports drink if you’re feeling dehydrated, but limit yourself. There are actually only a few circumstances where a sports drink is needed by anyone.
When your workout is 60 minutes or longer, and of a moderate to high intensity level, you will need to replenish not only fluid loss, but electrolyte loss. However, if you just went for a 30 minute walk or jog, water will do just fine to re-hydrate you. There is no need to add in extra sugar after the average workout. So be smart about your hydration and don’t take in what you don’t need!
The other circumstance that warrants a sports drink for hydration is when you are working out in hot or humid weather. The hotter it is the more fluids and electrolytes you will lose, so even if you go out for just a 30 minute stroll you may need more than just water to re-hydrate. Keeping a sports drink with you, maybe even some salt tablets for a more intense workout, is a good and safe idea.
What Should Lion’s Eat When Dining Out?
ITALIAN
Five Lion Tips for Eating Italian:
| 1. | Choose meat and veggie-based meals such as Chicken Cacciatore, Veal Marsala, or Beef marinated in wine sauce. |
| 2. | Choose interesting vegetable dishes like eggplant, asparagus, or broccoli made Italian style! |
| 3. | No pasta or bread! Have a salad instead—greens or even Caprese salad—one of our favorites is slices of fresh tomatoes and mozzarella drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil. |
| 4. | Pass on the red wine, and choose water instead. |
| 5. | No Deserts! |
Sample Italian Lion Meal: Chicken Vesuvio with mushrooms and asparagus or Veal Piccata and a fresh green salad.
ASIAN
Whether Thai, Chinese, or Japanese food – this category is always a favorite!
| 1. | Choose meat and veggie-based meals such as Beef and Broccoli, Chicken and Vegetable stir fry, Mongolian beef, Chicken Curry, or similar dishes. |
| 2. | Try seared fresh sashimi or spare ribs as an appetizer. |
| 3. | Avoid rice and noodle dishes and sides. Say no to chop suey and pad thai type dishes! These are not Otter-friendly! |
| 4. | Choose one of the many refreshing herbal teas (hot or cold). No sake for Otters! |
| 5. | Read your fortune, but don’t eat the fortune cookies! Or the almond cookies! |
Sample Asian Lion Meal: Kung Pao Chicken, stir fried vegetables, with Hibiscus iced tea.
MEXICAN
Mexican can be such a fun treat! Who doesn’t love Mexican food? YUM!
| 1. | Choose meat and veggie-based meals such as Chicken with Mole sauce, Carne Asada, or sea bass, or choose sizzling fajitas, minus the tortillas—chicken, beef, or shrimp—either way, they’re a great source of protein and veggies! |
| 2. | There are plenty of great meals without the carbs of tortilla shells or tacos. |
| 3. | Instead of tortilla chips, get marinated veggies or guacamole instead. |
| 4. | Try a big taco salad topped with meat, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. Just don’t eat the taco bowl! |
| 5. | Skip the margaritas and go for iced tea or water with lime. Lions will crash with sugar-laden drink mixes and alcohol! |
Sample Mexican Lion Meal: Beef fajita with grilled onions and peppers, pico de gallo sauce, sour cream, and guacamole.
AMERICAN
There’s plenty of meat on the American menu!
| 1. | Choose meat-based meals such as steak, chicken, pork, or fish. |
| 2. | Want a burger? Go for it, but forget the bun and top with bacon, avocado, and tomato. |
| 3. | Love sandwiches? Try wrapping fresh sandwich meats in lettuce to give you something to hold. No bread for you! |
| 4. | Nix the fries, chips, onion rings, and bread baskets. Try salad, baked beans, or veggie based sides. Tell the waiter “no bread” or you’ll be too tempted. |
| 5. | Love that brew? Sorry Lions! Beer is not an Lion-friendly beverage, even the “low-carb choices.” Lions need to stick to water or unsweetened iced tea. |
Sample American Otter Meal: Pork loin with sautéed vegetables, and a half baked sweet potato with butter.
You can see, following your Hauser Lion Diet can be delicious, easy, and fun! As a Lion, remember – it’s all about the meat and veggies! Just take a minute to analyze your food choices. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is! If you need some help getting on the right road for eating on the road – give us a call!
Can I Drink Coffee & Caffeinated Beverages On The Lion Diet?
CAN I DRINK COFFEE?
Is coffee part of your morning ritual? Is it the caffeine or the comfort factor? This fact may make a Lion roar, but Lions must eliminate coffee from their diets! We know, we know. This is a tough one! For many Lions, caffeine is not going to help you get through your day as much as you might think it does. It will actually cause you to crash and burn. Now you don’t want that, do you?
Your Diet Typing test results show that sugar is not the best thing for you. Caffeine can affect the blood in the same manner that carbohydrates/sugar does – it acidifies the blood and aggravates hypoglycemic symptoms. You are someone who can feel fatigued from caffeine because of its effect on blood pH and blood sugar levels.
IS ALL COFFEE CREATED EQUAL?
Nope! Of course, we feel that the best coffee to purchase is coffee that has been organically grown, without pesticides and chemicals. But since you Lions are not drinking it, that is kind of a moot point – unless you are serving it to your Monkey friends!
DECAF COFFEE?
Well, what about Decaf? Nope! We don’t recommend it. Most decaf coffee is even more laden with chemicals that have even been linked to autoimmune disorders. If you do drink decaf coffee, we recommend you drink Swiss Water decaf. You can read more about this issue in the Hauser Diet book. However, for Lions, it is best just to eliminate it from your diet.
WHAT ABOUT CAFFEINATED SODAS AND TEAS?
Our opinion on drinking sodas and sugared teas is that they just provide extra unneeded calories. Most of us do not need that! Lions, as we discussed above, do not tolerate sugar well, and consequently should not consume sugary sodas or teas.
CAN’T I JUST DRINK “DIET” SODA?
Nope! Again, if you are trying to eat as healthy as you can and put into your body what it can use best for energy, diet drinks are not included! Although this is a controversial opinion, we feel that artificial sweeteners should not be consumed on a regular basis. You can read more about this in Chapter 8 of the Hauser Diet book called “Shop Smart”.
As with any food or beverage, don’t overdo it. If you are addicted to coffee, you drink too much of it. If you must have a Diet Coke in the afternoon, you’re addicted to it.
WHAT ABOUT SPORTS DRINKS?
Are you an avid exerciser or athlete? Or do you just occasionally go to the gym or take a walk around the block? If you are relying on sports drinks, such as Gatorade and PowerAde to replenish you during and after workouts, you might be counteracting the good you’re doing by working out. Sports drinks do replenish much needed electrolytes that can be lost during an intense workout, intense being the key word here. But the main ingredient in these drinks is sugar. Just 8 ounces of a typical sports drink contains 14 grams of sugar. Lions need to avoid sugar because you do not feel your best drinking it. If you are just barely breaking a sweat, you really do not need a sports drink. Stick to plain water. For the endurance athlete who needs some replenishment, dilute your sports drinks ½ and ½ with water. Or better yet, take some electrolyte tablets with water and get your calories from proteins and fats such as nuts, meat, eggs, protein bars and the like.
IS JUICE OKAY FOR LIONS?
Fruit juice is basically sugar – even though it is more natural. If you are looking to lose a few pounds, drinking a large volume of fruit juice every day can really pack on the pounds. Vegetable juices are lower in calories and are allowed on the Lion Diet, but we still recommend that you eat more fresh vegetables vs. juice. Again, sugar will acidify the blood pH and worsen symptoms of low blood sugar typically experienced by the Lion Diet Type.
Is Oatmeal Good for Lions?
Lions tend to be fast oxidizers; this means that they metabolize food, especially carbohydrates, at a very fast rate. A Lion who eats a bowl of oatmeal will metabolize it so quickly that it will likely get stored as fat. What does your body do with stored fat? It produces cholesterol! So a food that is supposed to lower cholesterol can actually have the opposite effect. The same goes for diabetes – a bowl of oatmeal is very high in complex carbohydrates and can cause an unhealthy blood sugar spike for fast oxidizers. Lions need protein – like meat.
And don’t neglect the homemade organic oatmeal – adding hot water to a packet of flavored oatmeal is not a good source of nutrition. The sugar and additives in these packets counteract all of the health benefits that pure oatmeal has to offer.
So if Lions want oatmeal, they are going to have to think outside the box: instead a large bowl topped with brown sugar and fruit, decrease the portion to ½ cup and add some nuts, sausage, bacon, full fat cheese, etc to boost the protein and fat content. And remember that “superfood” may not be super for your physiology.
