Astounding Results in Westchester
by Eliza Mutino
I have some great results to share! Last May I started a strict 100 mile diet in Westchester just outside of New York City. I had a wonderful time and lots of help from extensive organizing by the farmers markets - one of which was right on my high school campus!
After four months on the diet I had blood tests and compared them to those taken the day before I went on the diet. The results were astounding! I lost 17.3 lbs (which was still in a healthy range!) and had a 40 point drop in cholesterol (from an already low 149). I discussed these results with nutritionists and we attributed the loss of weight to the fact that the foods I ate on the 100 mile diet were less processed, therefore had less bulk, thus my appetite was satisfied with fewer calories.
The diet cost an average of around $42 a week, eating a very diverse, non-vegetarian diet. With the current front page story of Time magazine, and since we already know it’s feasible and enjoyable, I am inspired to redo the project with more than 1 test subject and give a well researched answer to the question “is it healthy?”. I am currently organizing to get a local diet started in my area, and analyze everything from costs, to changes in eating habits, to health effects which will include mercury levels.
