Dr. Stanley Bernstein is a Canadian physician who specializes in medically-supervised weight loss programs. Dr Bernstein’s weight loss practice began in 1974 and has now grown to over 50 clinics in Canada alone. Dr. Bernstein’s program is only clinic-based and there are currently clinics in Canada and the USA.

What is the Bernstein Diet?

The Bernstein Diet aims to lose 4-5 pounds per week and involves 3 visits to the clinic each week during the program.

The Bernstein diet program is a combination of low calorie diet (regular grocery

store foods), behavior modification, education and vitamin and mineral supplements. The daily calorie intake could be anywhere between 800 — 1350 calories per day - it is a case-by-case situation.

The diet claims that only fat tissue is reduced during this rapid weight loss phase, and all other tissue (muscle, electrolytes, fluid) is retained. One of the major aspect of the diet is the vitamin and mineral supplementation - this is achieved by vitamin injections.

Dr. Bernstein Diet has different phases on the diet - a weight loss phase, a maintenance phase and also the “tune-up” diet for small amounts of weight loss.

Foods on the Bernstein Diet

Here is a sample of the kind of foods found on the Doctor Bernstein Diet.

Protein

veal cutlet
chicken livers
small steak
chicken breasts
shrimp
tuna
white fish

Fruit and Vegetables

celery
mushrooms
tomatoes
lettuce
bean sprouts
cabbage

tomato sauce
apples
lemons
oranges
green, orange, red and yellow peppers

Bread Substitutes

triscuits
melba toast

Spices and Seasonings
bay leaves
dried herbs
caraway seeds

soya sauce

Beverages and Miscellaneous
liquid Sweetener
Hermasetas/Equal
Jello Light
herbal tea

decaffeinated coffee
club soda

The Bernstein diet also has a number of other foods allowed.