What Is The Banting Diet?

What is the Banting Diet?

Strange fact: the Banting diet spawned the first diet book published in the world. William Banting, an undertaker looking to lose weight, embarked on a diet consisting of what we would today recognise as a low-carb diet. After losing weight through this method, he published a pamphlet on how he did so, which became popularised as the Banting diet, and thus the world’s first diet resource. It has since been modernised to accommodate to new and more popular foods now commonly eaten, so those partaking are clear what foods are or aren’t considered ‘correct’. 

What can you eat on the Banting diet?

Foods that are encouraged include: 

• Fruit and cruciferous vegetables
• Meat, fish, and dairy
• Fermented food
• Water and caffeine-free drinks like herbal tea

Food that the diet calls for strict avoidance include:

• Fast food and processed foods
• Sweets and chocolate
• Gluten — bread, barley, orzo, pasta etc
• Grains such as rice, quinoa and oats

Is the Banting diet vegan?

The Banting diet is not vegan or even very vegan friendly, as there is an emphasis on eating meat and dairy products as a means of eating fewer carbohydrates. For those who are plant-based, this cuts out a big proportion of what can be on your plate; the diet states that foods like root vegetables, beans and pulses, which are important in a vegan diet, should be eaten in moderation and as such would not be sustainable for someone who is plant-based. 

Ultimately, eating a range of fruit and vegetables, as well as carbs, is the recommended diet for anyone wanting to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, as well as regular exercise; if you are interested in attempting the Banting diet though, please consult a GP or health professional. 

Got any other health-based questions for us? Let us know in the comments below!