Hamptons Diet

The Hamptons Diet is a low carb diet written by the former medical director of the Atkins Center - Dr Fred Pescatore.

Many are seeing this diet as a progression from the (often derided) Atkins Diet. There is also a striking similarity between Hamptons Diet and the South Beach Diet.

It can seem jading to receive yet another diet book, adding to the confusion, but there does seem to be a healthier picture emerging with the Hamptons Diet.

Hamptons Diet - The Oil...

The Hamptons Diet places a lot of emphasis on consuming the right kind of fats - specifically mono-unsaturated fats. Dr Pescatore has picked out Macadamia Nut oil as being the best cooking oil to use (rather than olive oil). He devotes an entire chapter to oils and fats. He is correct here - MacNut oil has a very high smoke point, a pleasant 'buttery' flavor, and is about 80% mono-unsaturated.

Macadamia Nut oil is expensive - but hey - so is most decent food. It's not going to be the answer to our weight loss problems, but it is an excellent oil to use (if you can afford it). Many people are finding this difficult to source.

Low Carb Meets Mediterranean

The Hamptons Diet is all about quality carbs - the less processed the better. Where possible the food should be organic.

There is a controlled weight loss phase, but other than this - there don't seem to be any severe restrictions (even moderate amounts of alcohol are allowed).

The diet bears resemblance to a mediterranean diet (which the author goes into), and makes significant changes to the USDA Food Pyramid.

Hamptons Summary - Is It Good?

As far as popular low carb diets go, the Hamptons Diet seems to have some sensible advice - particularly compared with Atkins. Whole foods, no processed foods, healthy fats. It is unfortunate to see that Atkins (and South Beach Diet) have resulted in a whole industry of processed low carb snack foods.

At last we are waking up to the fact that good health must go hand-in-hand with weight loss.

But to be honest, the book seems to be opportunistic. Sub-titles like "Diet secrets of the rich, famous, and thin" are nonsense, and nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Hamptons arrives right on the coat-tails of the (extremely well marketed) South Beach Diet's success, and right at a time when Atkins is getting a lot of bad press.

Dubious Connections?

• Is there a connection between the author and the sales of Macadamia Nut oil? The new hamptons diet website is registered by a macnut oil company!?
• Why is it that Fred Pescatore endorses one particular supplement company - CNI (makers of Lean Mystique)?

The Last Word

Go read Tom Venuto's Burn The Fat (see our review) to understand the reality of nutrition for fat loss. Or have a look at our Top 5 Diet recommendations.