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Ancient Olympians
Followed Atkins Diet
 by: Dana Scripca
The Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. However, it seems that ancient people - athletes in particular - followed a strict diet which is similar to that of Atkins.
Strict diet and severe exercise for Ancient Greeks
Long before Dr. Atkins finished his theory about ketosis and established his famous diet, ancient people had undertaken it, without any clue about its inner workings at all. Not only were they eating Atkins-style, but they were also diligent about practicing regular exercise, as Dr Atkins now recommends. Of course, this exercise often came from having to work in the fields, but this was true among the elite classes as well Famous for being a well-educated civilization, Ancient Greeks also spent a lot of time educating their bodies. Gymnastic exercises were held in high regard, and children were trained and directed to follow a daily training program.
Greek Olympians followed a protein-rich diet
This was a regular eating regimen for ancient Greeks, fish being a common food source in that seafaring region. For Olympians, the goal was to develop a lot of muscles and meat was enormously necessary. Of course, not every Greek could afford meat on the table every day. Only upper social strata like the Olympian athletes had access to a quantity of meat that is now available to most in the developed world.
Moreover, according to food historian Francine Segan, an ancient Olympic runner was normally instructed to undertake a meat-only diet. It seems that this high-protein diet was a must to win a competition. The fact that runners ate only meat started a sort of meat diet craze, Segan insists. Another condition to complete athletes' diet was to shun bread right before competition, eating dried figs instead. Segan admitted that she discovered this while searching for information about historical aspects of Mediteranean cuisine.
Their diet was directed according to Pausanias. Those practicing heavy exercise ate large amounts of pork. Also, it seems that beef was later introduced in the ordinary diet of the athletes. Goat meat is mentioned, too, in "A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.”
The ancient preoccupation with health, diet and exercise continues today, though it has trickled down to the ordinary person, not just elite athletes. A low-carbohydrate daily regimen, along with regular exercise are a simple and efficient scheme for losing weight and shaping the body. The ancient people knew it by trying it only. No theories, no calories, no ketosis, no debates were to be had. They didn't need to know how it works. “Mens sana in corpore sana” worked best for them. A sound mind in a sound body.
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