The Banting Diet
William Banting, a Victorian-era undertaker, struggled with severe obesity by the age of 65. Standing just 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 202 pounds, he had tried everything from vigorous exercise to low-fat diets, all to no avail. His turning point came unexpectedly during a visit to William Harvey, an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Banting was losing his hearing—a condition Harvey attributed to his excessive weight. Harvey recommended a radical solution for the time: a low-carbohydrate diet.
The results were dramatic. Banting shed the weight and documented his success in a pamphlet that would become a cornerstone of dietary reform. His regimen bears striking resemblance to modern low-carb approaches like the Atkins diet, with one notable twist: Banting’s version included generous servings of alcohol. He prescribed himself two to three glasses of wine at lunch, another two at supper, and capped the day with a tumbler of whiskey, grog, or gin.
Modern interpretations of Banting’s method, such as that by YouTuber Tennyson, tend to balk at the alcohol intake—a sentiment echoed by contemporary dieticians. Still, Banting’s legacy endures as one of the earliest advocates for carbohydrate restriction, albeit with a spirited Victorian flourish
Chorus
Don't eat bread or potatoes that will never do
Keep to meat, fish, fruit and veg; they're all good for you
Along with claret or dry wine with whisky grog and gin
It's the Banting diet - guaranteed to make you slim
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William Banting was an undertaker a man of great renown
He buried the rich and famous all over London town
But his happiness was tempered by his increasing weight
He got heavier day by day by piling food upon his plate
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He found his sight was failing and he was going deaf
Climbing stairs was difficult as he struggled for breath
William Harvey a physician heard of Banting's plight
Gave him a diet which he said would surely see him right
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The diet was successful as he lost 50 lbs
His eyesight was much improved, and his hearing was now sound
William Banting wrote a pamphlet to spread the word around
Many thanked him for his good advice as they too shed the pounds
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I tried the Banting diet eating any meat but pork
Any fish avoiding salmon, I kept that off my fork
After a week I lost five pounds following the Banting way
And then I checked the calendar and found I'd lost two days