THE OPTIMAL DIET

The Optimal Diet (or Optimal Nutrition) s a low carbohydrate diet developed by Polish doctor
Jan Kwasniewski. The diet uses specific proportions between proteins, fats and
carbohydrates (typically a 1: 3 : 0.8 weight ratio), and it emphasizes foods with "high
biological value", such as butter, lard, egg yolks, pork meat and bone stocks.

The diet is claimed to partially or fully cure a variety of diseases, including some of which are
considered "incurable"; diabetes, buerger's disease, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis as
well as gastrointestinal disorders. The diet is most commonly used for its purported weight
loss benefits.

The book's publishers claim that two million people worldwide use the diet. In Poland there
are approximately 30 health clinics and 300 doctors that practice according to the teachings of
Kwasniewski. However, although this diet has been claimed to be very effective by various
doctors and researchers, this has not been documented in any peer-reviewed journal.

Nature of the diet

The Optimal Diet has been used in Poland since the 1970s, but has gained a broader
popularity the last decade with the publication of several books by Dr. Kwasniewski.

Kwasniewski has based his theories of ideal nutrition on animal experiments (feeding
different proportions of proteins, fats and carbohydrates), religious and historical scriptures
(such as the Bible), the diet of traditional people past and present, human biochemistry, the
composition of human milk as well as decades of personal experience as a doctor.

The diet shares some characteristics with other popular low carbohydrate diets, such as the
Atkins diet. But it also implements ideas based on the diet of humans in the stone age, and
several traditional diets. A main difference is that Kwasniewski's diet is higher in fats and
lower in proteins.

Kwasniewski would claim that his diet is more fine tuned and sophisticated than other low
carbohydrate diets, and therefore has a greater potential for success where others fail. Each of
the macronutrients - proteins, fats and carbohydrates - should be consumed in an ideal
quantity and they should be in the ideal balance with each other.

Another characteristic of the diet is its emphasis on food with the highest possible biological
value, with ready-made "spare parts". For example, it is beneficial to eat animal fats instead
of carbohydrates, because two thirds of the carbohydrates most people eat are converted to
fats. Furthermore, animal fats are composed of a range of semi-essential fatty acids and other
components not found in plant fats, therefore it is beneficial to eat animal fats instead of
vegetable fats. Some foods, such as egg yolks and liver, are particularly rich in complex
building blocks the body needs, and are therefore emphasized.

The diet does include only as much carbohydrates the body needs to function optimally,
usually about 50-100 grams daily. Starchy carbohydrates (which are composed of glucose
molecules) are preferred to fruit and milk carbohydrates (which are composed of fructose and
galactose) as it saves the liver extra work.

All the extra effort the body saves in constructing complex building blocks, turn
carbohydrates into fatty acids, or fruit carbohydrates into glucose, allows for energy to be
spent doing tasks such as repairing the body or fighting off disease. Kwasniewski even claims
that the follower of the Optimal Diet will develop a "correct brain function" and become a
member of the human species with yet unknown and unfulfilled potential. This individual
will be less driven by anxiety and insecurity, be more peaceful, have higher moral standards,
but also be much more difficult for government, media and large corporations to control and
deceive.

In his books, Kwasniewski discusses how various proportions between proteins, fats and
carbohydrates impact human health. In his view a mixed diet which is composed of about 35-
40% of energy as carbohydrates, is the worst of all diets because the body works best on
either fats or carbohydrates. He believes that a high carbohydrate/low fat diet, such as the
Japanese diet rich in seafood, rice and vegetables, can work quite all right, if sufficient animal
proteins are provided to burn off all the carbohydrates.

Implementing the diet

Initial phase
When first implementing the diet, it is normal to start with a specific weight ratio of 1:2.5-
3.5:0.8 between proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This works out to about 12% protein, 80%
fat, and 8% carbohydrate in caloric percentages. People with ideal weight are advised to use a
1:3.5:0.8 weight ratio, while those that are overweight should use a 1:2.5:0.8 weight ratio.

The ideal quantity of proteins is typically 1 gram per kg "ideal body weight" (IBW). An
indication of IBW can be found by subtracting 100 to ones height in cm +/-10%. A 170 cm
individual, requires approximately 70+/-7 g proteins. He or she would then need about 175-
245 grams fats and 55 gram carbohydrates.

IBW is based mainly on body shape (skeleton), a slender 170 cm individual could require 63
grams of protein, while a stocky individual could require 77 grams. Only animal proteins are
counted as "proteins".

It may be stressful to adjust from a high carbohydrate diet to a high fat diet, particularly for a
diseased and aged individual. But Kwasniewski does not recommend the transition be done
gradually. It usually takes about 2 weeks for the body to adjust to the diet. However, the time
required for complete adaption, may be between 2 months and 2 years.

In cases of overweight, it is sometimes necessary to use even less fats and carbohydrates - a
1:1.5-2.0:0.5 weight ratio between proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the first 3-4 weeks, to
encourage the body to start fat burning.

Long term phase

As an individual gets adapted to the diet and his health improves, it is recommended to
reduce the intake of proteins and fats. The body now runs much more efficiently and requires
less work for repairs and disease fighting. According to Kwasniewski, the energy requirement
on the Optimal Diet is about 25-40% less than on the average diet.

The ratio on the long term phase is typically 0.8:2.0-2.5:0.8, although this varies with the
individual.

In some cases, such as diabetes or liver diseases, proteins need to be reduced down to about
0.5 g/kg IBW. This is possible when using proteins sources such as egg yolks and organ
meats exclusively.

The need for carbohydrates varies significantly from one individual to another. Some
individuals with certain diseases should keep carbohydrates at 0.5 g /kg IBW for the rest of
their lives, while others may require 1.2 g/kg IBW to function optimally. A state of ketosis is
not recommended. Therefore it is advisable to increase carbohydrates to the point where no
ketone bodies are present in the urine (this can be checked with a ketostix, which is available
from drug stores).

Kwasniewski says up to 100 gram carbohydrates daily are okay. However, if more than 50
grams are used, it is very important to use mainly starchy carbohydrates, such as potatoes and
grains.

Note that it is very important to see the diet as a whole. Using only the suggested ratios
without simultaneously adopting the proper food choices - e.g. animal proteins, mainly
starchy carbohydrates and animal fats - may have deleterious long term effects. Foods of
vegetable origin have a much lower bioavailabiliy and requires a lot of extra proteins,
minerals and vitamins to be transformed into the building blocks the body needs.

Dietary choices and meals

Daily, the diet can typically include about 20-40 grams organ meats (liver, kidney, brain etc),
50-150 grams muscle meats, 4-8 egg yolks and 2-4 egg whites. Fatty cheeses, cream and
marrow, provides some additional proteins. It is recommended to use pork meat instead of
fish, chicken, lamb, beef or game, as pork is the animal closest to humans biochemically. To
achieve an ideal balance between omega-3 and omega-6, it is important to choose animal
foods from free range animals on their natural diet.

Recommended fats include butter, cream, lard and marrow. Other animal fats such as duck
fat, goose fat or beef tallow are also considered good fats. Nuts, particularly hazelnuts, and
oils from palm, palm kernel, olive and coconut can be included in small quantities.

For carbohydrates, potatoes and vegetables are recommended. They can be supplied with
small quantities of grains, berries and fruits. Kwasniewski claims that more than 300 grams of
vegetables daily are unnecessary.

Salt should be strictly reduced on this diet.

Meals
Most people start off with three meals per day at breakfast, lunch and dinner. But after some
time on the diet, they usually skip the lunch and eat only breakfast and dinner. Because the
diet is low in fiber and carbohydrates and high in fats, it is possible to eat large quantities of
calories at one meal. As fat is more slowly absorbed than carbohydrates and does not
influence blood sugar levels, the feeling of hunger is significantly reduced, even after many
hours without food. In fact, some people eat only one meal per day on this diet.

The proportions between proteins, fats and carbohydrates may differ from one meal to
another, but it is recommended that the proper proportions be consumed within a 24-hour
period.

Some people prefer to eat the majority of their carbohydrates for dinner, while others prefer
to eat their carbohydrates alone as an evening snack (e.g. a bowl of soup with potatoes).

Sample menu
It is common to eat an egg yolk rich omelette fried in lard for breakfast, often accompanied
with a low carbohydrate bread (made out of egg whites and hazelnuts, or eggs, flour and
butter). Sausages, pattis (containing liver and other organ meats), bacon, a piece of butter plus
some vegetables may be added. For dinner, a soup made out of bones and marrow, can be
served as the first course, while the main course may consist of meat, a gravy rich in fats, plus
potatoes and vegetables. Kwasniewski recommend about 100 grams meat per day, and one
serving of organ meats per week. When suffering from certain diseases, two or three servings
of organ meats are sometimes advised.

Below is a breakdown of the typical average consumption of various foods on The Optimal
Diet. Kwasniewski does not give any detailed recommendations for the exact quantity of
various food items. However, when following the recipes given in his books, the daily
consumption may be similar to what is listed below.

Sample for the initial phase for a 175 cm individual with an ideal body weight of 70 kg:

6-8 egg yolks, 4 egg whites, 30 g organ meats, 100 g meat, 15 g cheese, 100 g full fat cream,
50 g butter, 50 g lard, 30 g bone marrow, 15 g hazelnuts, 150 g potatoes, 1-2 slices of
bread/25 g flour, 150 g low carbohydrate vegetables and 2 cups bone stock.

Proteins 70 g, fats 210 g, carbohydrates 55 g. Ratio = 1:3.0:0.8. Energy = approx 2400 kcal.

Sample for the long term phase for a 175 cm individual with an ideal body weight of 70 kg:

4 egg yolks, 2 egg whites, 25 g organ meats, 100 g meat, 15 g cheese, 100 ml full fat cream,
30 g butter, 30 g lard, 15 g bone marrow, 15 g hazelnuts, 150 g potatoes, 1-2 slices of bread/
25 g flour, 150 g low carbohydrate vegetables and 1 cup bone stock.

Proteins 55 g, fats 140 g, carbohydrates 55 g. Ratio: 0.8:2.0:0.8. Energy = approx 1700 kcal.

Disease treatment
Kwasniewski believes that The Optimal Diet is the best possible dietary model for the human
being and therefore simply following the diet will by itself offer the best possible chance for
the body to heal any disease. The philosophy of The Optimal Diet is to give the body the right
nutrients and in the right proportions, and then let the body distribute them as necessary. The
exact need for proteins, fats and carbohydrates, may differ somewhat from one disease to
another, however.

Diabetics on insulin, for example, need to follow a specific preliminary protocol when
implementing the diet. They may also need to permanently keep carbohydrate consumption
lower than others following the Optimal Diet. People with liver problems need to reduce
proteins significantly.

Sometimes special foods that provide "spare parts" connected with a diseased organ, are
recommended. People with multiple sclerosis may be recommended to eat brains several
times per week, while those with osteoporosis need larger quantities of bone stocks.

Religious and philosophical aspects

In some of Dr. Kwasniewskis books, certain religious and philosophical ideas are presented.

In the book Homo Optimus, for example, Kwasniewski suggests that adherents of the
Optimal Diet, will be superior to other humans and have "correct brain function". They will
have higher moral capabilities, be peaceful, never get divorced and so forth.

People on unhealthy carbohydrate rich diets, however, tend to literally have more sheep-like
personalities due to a dominance of the parasymphathetic nervous system. They will be
driven by anxiety and insecurity. Dr. Kwasniewski believes these people are more easily
controlled and deceived by the government, media and large corporations. He uses several
examples from the Bible to back up his ideas.

He also offers speculative ideas of how to change and construct an ideal model of society in
line with some of the principles of the Optimal Diet.

Criticism and discussion

As with other low carbohydrate diets, this diet has been criticized. It is based on assumptions
that are widely disputed by mainstream medicine.

There are several anecdotal reports of the efficacy of the diet, for example, Dr. Przemyslaw
Pala has written that:

Over the period of 5 years I have analyzed more than 6000 cases of patients who adopted the
ON. Not a single one of them showed a negative effect in their health, but most had a
significant improvement or a complete recovery from their disease including those, which up
to now are considered incurable. For diabetes type1 of a reasonably short duration, abatement
of symptoms occurs in a matter of a few days, or up to 2-3 weeks in 100% of cases. For a
complicated, long-duration diabetes type1 and type 2, the cure rate is close to 90%, and in the
remaining 10% of cases significant improvement is achieved between 3 weeks and 3 months
for most patients. Asthma in children is normally cured only within 7 days, and in adults
within 2 weeks. Rapid improvements are observed in patients with Buergers disease or
atherosclerosis of lower limbs, with some showing up to 500% increase in the distance of
lameness within 2 weeks of starting ON. The most rapid improvements are achieved in
digestive tract ailments; there have been many cases of recovery or a significant
improvement in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Kwasniewski has also undertaken studies showing the efficacy of the diet together with
electromedicine, at a health clinic in Poland.

However, no studies or reports have yet been published in any peer reviewed journal, so these
reports have a very limited value.

On the other hand, the diet has been severely criticized by several professors and doctors in
Poland.

Books
Kwasniewski has published nine books in Polish. Some of these books have been translated
into German and Russian, and two books, Homo Optimus (2000) and Optimal Nutrition
(1999), have been translated into English.