Vertical
The Vertical Diet, developed by Stan Efferding, targets athletic performance and recovery. It emphasizes easily digestible foods like red meat and white rice, limiting food variety to enhance nutrient absorption and reduce gastrointestinal distress. This approach, distinctive from other high-protein or bodybuilding diets, also incorporates micronutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
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The Vertical Diet
The Vertical Diet, developed by professional bodybuilder Stan Efferding, is specifically designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. It focuses on consuming easily digestible foods that can promote nutrient absorption and limit gastrointestinal distress.
Adherents believe that by focusing on a core set of highly bioavailable foods, primarily red meat and white rice, they can meet their high-caloric needs more efficiently. This narrow food selection, they believe, minimizes the chance of digestive issues that could hinder performance or nutrient absorption.
The diet also incorporates a range of micronutrient-rich foods, often called "the horizontal diet," including various fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Adherents believe these foods can help meet their nutrient needs without contributing to unnecessary digestive distress.
Unlike the High-Protein or Bodybuilding Diets, the Vertical Diet emphasizes not only the quantity but also the source and digestibility of macronutrients. It's also distinct from diets like Paleo or Clean Eating, which emphasize whole foods but don't focus specifically on limiting food variety to manage digestive health and optimize nutrient absorption.