In 1939, Dr. Walter Kempner, an immigrant from Nazi Germany, created a dietary therapy at Duke University. Later called the Rice Diet, this dietary protocol consisted of the following:
White Rice
White Sugar
Fruits and Fruit Juice
Added vitamins
The goal of the diet was to treat those who had either malignant hypertension (severely out of control blood pressure), severe kidney disease, or severe heart disease. In the case of hypertension, the goal was to avoid salt as much as possible. With kidney disease, avoid protein as much as possible, and with heart disease, avoid fat and cholesterol as much as possible. Why not combine all three strategies into one diet? This resulting diet had the lowest possible levels of salt, fat, cholesterol, and protein, leaving almost pure carbohydrates. The sugar was specifically chosen so patients could consume enough calories to sustain life.
Rather than just stopping the progression of these severe diseases, Kempner observed something remarkable: in about 2/3rds of his patients, the diseases were reversed. Reversal of heart disease, reversal of kidney failure, reversal of diabetic retinopathy, and a reversal of hypertension. Not only were these conditions having better results than any other treatment available, other conditions were also shown to be treated: type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and obesity.
Dr. Kempner never intended this diet to be used long term, and he was very concerned about nutritional deficiencies, but given this was administered to those with nothing to lose, possible nutritional deficiencies took a back seat to death.
In 1942, Dr. Kempner, who had a strong German accent, discovered by accident what longer term effects his diet had, when a patient misunderstood his instructions to return in two weeks. Instead, she returned two months later, during which time she stuck to the diet, unsupervised. Her blood pressure was reduced from 190/120 to 124/84, her retinal eye damage was resolved, and her heart had decreased in size (an enlarged heart is sometimes a consequence of heart disease). After Kempner realized the diet isn’t as dangerous as he thought, he expanded its use from only the most severe to those with more minor ailments. This allowed Kempner to keep records on what his diet would do to those with more common problems.
Results:
93% of patients averaged a total cholesterol reduction from 273 to 177 (mg/dL). This result is greater than those provided by modern statins, with no cost, and hardly any risk.
Of 106 massively obese patients, the average weight loss was 141 pounds, with a normal weight obtained by 43 of these 106.
Many of his patients completely reversed their type 2 diabetes.
Side Note: Diabetic Results from Low Fat or Weight Loss?
In 1977, researchers James Anderson and Kyleen Ward were aware of Kempner’s results with respect to diabetes, but they wanted to find out whether it was something about weight loss on the rice diet or the severely low fat nature of the diet that was responsible for the remarkable results. They designed a study that consisted of 20 patients who had type 2 diabetes for at least 20 years. The 20 patients were given a diet very low in fat, high carb diet. The study was very careful to ensure the diet had exactly the number of calories necessary to ensure there was no weight loss.
Results:
Of the 20 subjects, half of them discontinued their diabetic medication completely, while the other 10 reduced their insulin dosage between 7 and 98 percent. Those that stopped their medication completely did so after only 16 days (this was after being type 2 for 20 years!).
Resources:
History of Kempner Diet:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/2013/12/31/walter-kempner-md-founder-of-the-rice-diet/
Kempner Diet Commentary:
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/kempner-rice-diet-whipping-us-into-shape/
Anderson/Kyleen Study