by From the Atlantic diet to the meat-only trend, it feels like every week there’s a new viral eating plan. The latest to emerge is the Human Being Diet, a three-month program created by nutritionist Petronella Ravenshear, renowned for its transformative powers—from boosting energy to improving digestion and weight loss. But what does it really mean, and is it safe?
The Human Diet, Explained
Who Created the Human Diet?
There’s a lot of talk about the Human Diet (known to devotees as HBD) right now, but Ravenshear originally created the guidelines over six years ago. As a nutritionist, she spent years advising clients on how to eat well, but when she found herself struggling to gain weight in her 50s, she devised a personal plan focused on metabolic balance. This was a subject that she studied in detail back in 2008, after Dr. To introduce her to the late Wolf Funfack, an expert in the subject.
Ravenshear began recommending her own program to clients, and word quickly spread about its effectiveness, with people reporting an average loss of five to 14 pounds in 16 days. Her Chelsea clinic grew in popularity, with long waiting lists meaning she had to turn people away – so in 2018, she published her first book on the subject, The Human Dietwhich aims to give people the tools to try the plan from home.
During the lockdown, Ravenshear began sharing information about her program online through Instagram, and soon developed a large following. Now she has over 50,000 followers, along with a loyal community of disciples, who share recipes and tips via the hashtag #thehumanbeingdiet (which has garnered over 14k posts).
What Is The Human Diet?
There are several aspects to HBD, but the ultimate aim is to ‘restore your body’s long-term balance’. It’s about cutting out ultra-processed foods, instead focusing on whole foods – especially vegetables and quality protein.
While this all sounds quite possible, the HBD is not a simple launch. The three-month program is divided into four main stages, the first of which is particularly challenging, with Ravenshear himself describing it as ‘quite brutal’.
Called The Reset, the first step of a radical detox involves restricting your calorie intake to around 700 to 900 calories per day. For the first two days, you eat only vegetables to reset the gut, no oil, dairy, protein or alcohol allowed. Then for the next 14 days (phase two), you can reintroduce pulses, fruit, nuts and some proteins, such as chicken, salmon, ground beef or tofu. The aim is to eat three meals a day, with a five hour fast in between. Intense exercise is prohibited during this period (things like walking, yoga and Pilates are allowed), as the aim is to help your parasympathetic nervous system – plus you’re not eating enough to encourage intense exercise .
Phase three is designed to last 10 weeks. During this period you can reintroduce oil, along with a ‘treat meal’ once a week, which may include sugar, dairy, alcohol or gluten. However, there are other rules to follow, such as eating breakfast within an hour of waking up, and keeping your calorie intake to around 1,200 calories per day. Followers are advised to stay in this phase until they are satisfied with their weight loss, or for a maximum of 10 weeks.
Stage four is described as the ‘forever stage’, with the hope that ‘healthy habits’ are now ingrained in your life – Ravenshear says ‘it’s a case of [keeping] the principles that work for you’. She was the book outlines the entire program in detail.
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What are the Benefits?
Ravenshear argues that the Human Diet is not a fad, but rather designed to create long-lasting positive eating habits. ‘The majority of HBD followers are interested in healthy weight loss,’ she says. ‘But the weight loss occurs as a side effect of reduced inflammation, and rebalanced hormones and blood sugar. That is why the beneficial effects are so broad. They include improved energy, better sleep, glowing skin, improved digestion, and pain resolution.’
It is worth noting that while there is plenty of anecdotal evidence for the benefits, there are no dedicated scientific studies on the effects of HBD. However, there is a lot of research on the importance of prioritizing whole foods and reducing UPF intake.
Is it Safe?
Phase one of the Human Diet is designed to be done only once or twice a year, and is not recommended for people under 18 or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In general, dietitians also advise against such diets for people who have experienced eating disorders in the past – and, in fact, some people believe that disordered eating habits may stem from HBD. Ultimately, the HBD is a very restrictive diet, and it’s always best to talk to a dietitian or nutritionist before starting a drastic new eating program.
