Edwin M Basye's Blog - The ecclectic eccentric journaling of one man

The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas N. Graham is a well-written easy-to-understand explanation of Dr. Graham's 80/10/10 or 811 Diet. Included are recipes and diet plans. This is NOT a "go on a diet" program, but a permanent lifestyle adjustment.

In a nutshell, Dr. Graham proposes that we eat 80% or more carbohydrates by calorie while consuming 10% or less protein and 10% or less fat. He also suggests getting carbohydrates from sweet fruit, not grains. Therefore, it is a diet heavily dominated by sweet fruit, supplemented with greens and a few nuts and seeds. He also recommends "mono-meals", eating a single type of food at each meal.

While convincing, with many scientific references, I find it personally difficult to follow his diet for the following reasons:

1. Fruit is quite expensive compared to grains and meat by calorie. Because fruit is not as calorie-dense as other common staple foods, the grocery bill can get out of hand, unless you grow it all yourself, which has its own sometimes insurmountable problems of its own.
2. No matter how much fruit I eat, I nearly always feel unsatisfied afterwards. It's possible this may shift if on the diet long enough.
3. While there are many claims for higher levels of energy on a raw food diet, I have yet to experience this benefit. My energy levels seem to fluctuate quite a bit regardless of diet or sleeping habits.

In spite of the above personal reservations, I have greatly increased my fruit and raw greens consumption, and I feel I am healthier for it. You don't have to do it 100% to get major benefits.

Another factor is exercise: his focus is athletic performance and I think this diet works best for people who get a lot of exercise.

I am personally acquainted with Dr. Graham and have spent some time with him observing him and participating in his exercise workouts. He is the most fit man I've personally met, and that says a lot for his methods.