The Daniel Diet
The Daniel diet is also known as the Daniel fast and is one of the more unusual diets out there. This one has religious connotations.
It is based on the story of Daniel – he of the lion’s den – in the Bible.
Daniel and his three friends were captured and held prisoner.
While incarcerated they rejected the food given to them by the King of Babylon, believing that the food was originally offered to the gods and eating it would mean defiling themselves in the eyes of their God - the God of Israel.
After 10 days they turned out to be healthier than the other prisoners who ate the defiled food and were given high positions in the King’s court.
And so the Daniel diet made it to the modern world many many centuries later.
The fast is extended for 10 days and is based on the vegan way of eating – consisting of vegetables and fruit.
Other food include nuts and seeds, brown rice, oats and barley. Legumes such as dried beans, peas and lentils are a part of this diet as well.
Drinks include 100% pure fruit juice and water.
Foods to exclude are meat, white rice, white flour, fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, refined sugar or sugar substitutes, margarine, shortening, fats, foods with preservatives or additives, etc.
This fast/diet becomes very popular during Lent for Christians of the Catholic and Anglican churches.
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