While low-carb diets are all the rage today, they can be traced back to one man who is said to have birthed the stripped back way of eating. 

In mid-19th century London, William Banting, a funeral director, noted a significant weight loss of 52 pounds and a reduction of over 13 inches from his waist within a year, after dealing with weight issues for 30 years, by following a low-carb diet.

His diet, however, while low in carbs, included some items that doctors today say to avoid to drop pounds, including alcohol and whipped cream.  

By 1862, at 64 years old, Banting faced obesity, weighing 202 pounds at 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a BMI of 33.6. He decided to eliminate foods like bread, butter, milk, sugar, beer, and potatoes, focusing instead on a diet rich in animal protein, fruits, and non-starchy vegetables.

Impressed by his own results, he published a booklet titled ‘Letter On Corpulence, Addressed To The Public’, sharing his weight loss methods, which became one of the earliest diet manuals.

To see how Banting’s diet holds up in the 21st century, fitness YouTuber William Tennyson decided to give it a go for one day. 

In a YouTube video, Tennyson starts his day off with Banting’s ‘Corrective cordial’ which comprises a quarter of a gallon of blackberry juice, 1lb of sugar, 0.5oz of grated nutmeg, 0.5oz of powdered cinnamon, 0.25oz of all spice, 0.25oz of cloves and one pint of brandy.

One tablespoon of this solution is then diluted in a glass of water. 

Commenting on the concoction, which he says ‘tastes like Christmas’, Tennyson said: ‘I think in the 19th century every single day when you wake up you just you could probably die of 14 different diseases. 

While low-carb diets are all the rage today, they can be traced back to one man who is said to have birthed this stripped back way of eating; William Banting. To see how Banting’s diet holds up in the 21st century, fitness YouTuber William Tennyson (pictured) decided to give it a go

‘So, ideally, you’d want your immune system to just be absolutely 100 percent. I don’t think this [drink] would do it. I think this is just an excuse to have sugar and alcohol in the morning. Dare I say an energy drink is healthier.’

Moving on to breakfast, Tennyson rustles up a feast in line with what Banting would have eaten.

In his diet book, Banting wrote: ‘For breakfast, I take four or five ounces of beef, mutton, kidneys, broiled fish, bacon, or cold meat of any kind except pork; a large cup of tea (without milk or sugar), a little biscuit, or one ounce of dry toast.’

This restriction of pork stemmed from a belief at the time that it contained starch and saccharine matter, which Banting and his medical adviser, William Harvey, believed contributed to the creation of fat and hindered weight loss. 

Tennyson said that it is easy to understand why Banting lost weight with such a ‘sad looking’ breakfast. 

He said the mutton (aged lamb) tastes ‘very earthy’ and ‘like I’m licking a barn door.’ 

However, he noted he was happy to see some protein on his plate to kick off the day. 

Studies consistently show that increasing your protein intake is one of the most effective strategies for promoting satiety and helping with weight loss.

Meanwhile, some carbohydrates such as pastries and pasta, don’t keep you full because they are refined or processed, causing rapid blood sugar spikes and crashes that lead to hunger. 

In the 19th century, what is now called lunch was generally known as dinner, and it was the largest meal of the day, served in the early afternoon. 

In his food diary, Banting said for ‘dinner’ he enjoyed: ‘Five or six ounces of any fish except salmon, any meat except pork, any vegetable except potato, one ounce of dry toast, fruit out of a pudding, any kind of poultry or game, and two or three glasses of good claret, sherry, or Madeira – champagne, port and beer forbidden.’

Banting excluded salmon as it is considered one of the fattiest fish. 

Mirroring this medley, Tennyson made a meal with cod, Brussel sprouts, and a piece of dry toast. 

For dessert, he interpreted ‘fruit out of a pudding’ as a dish made with strawberries and whipped cream and as a drink, he opts for sherry. 

While most modern-day diets generally recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol, Tennyson was surprised to see that alcohol is a running theme with the Banting diet, with up to seven glasses permitted per day. 

The calorie count of wine varies significantly based on its alcohol content and sweetness. 

However, a standard five ounce (150ml) glass of dry table wine typically ranges from 120 to 130 calories, while dessert wines and fortified wines like sherry can have a much higher calorie density. 

Dry sherries are low in sugar and calories, while sweet or cream sherries are much higher. 

As he sipped the sherry, Tennyson mused: ‘Dude has the priorities of a seasoned pirate. Or you want to know what? Maybe this was safer to drink than water.’

For breakfast, Tennyson dined on mutton, a biscuit and tea without milk and sugar

William Banting, who was an funeral director living in London during the mid-19th century, claimed to have lost 52 pounds by adhering to a low-carb diet. Astounded by the results, he printed his weight loss secrets in a booklet titled Letter On Corpulence

After his midday meal, Tennyson went for a ‘gentle walk’ before returning home for  ‘tea’ which comprised ‘two or three ounces of fruit, a rusk (a light, dry biscuit) or two, and a cup of tea without milk or sugar.’

The Banting diet was mainly concerned with food intake, with meals every three to four hours, and there is little focus on working out. 

Considering he ate less calories than he usually would, Tennyson said he was surprised how satisfied felt. 

For his final meal of the day, ‘supper,’  Tennyson opts for chicken in line with Banting’s meal plan (‘three or four ounces of meat or fish’) and this is paired with a ‘glass or two’ of sherry.

The YouTuber said he likes the light protein before bed but the alcohol leaves him feeling a little light headed, as it did so earlier in the day. 

Before bed, Banting recommended a ‘tumbler of grog (gin, whiskey, or brandy, without sugar) or a glass or two of claret or sherry.’

Tennyson opted to have a glass of gin, which made him feel even more woozy. He said: ‘[Banting] may have lost waist size, but man, that liver. So he says that this [alcohol] attributes to the perfect night’s sleep. I mean, yeah, probably because I’m going to be unconscious.’

Alcohol creates an illusion of restful sleep by initially acting as a sedative, but it disrupts the natural sleep cycle, leading to less REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and more light sleep, causing fragmented rest and frequent awakenings. 

At the end of the day and alcohol aside, the YouTuber said he can see why the Banting diet can be effective when it comes to shedding weight as it is very low carb and it is less than the recommended calorie intake. 

He explained: ‘Other than the alcohol, I will say it’s actually kind of debatable that this diet is better than a lot of current diets.

‘[This is] because there’s just a lot of single ingredient foods. No additives, no chemicals, just the food for what it is, which we need more of in today’s day and age. 

Tennyson makes a lunch with cod, Brussel sprouts, and a piece of dry toast. For dessert, he interprets ‘fruit out of a pudding’ as a dish made with strawberries and whipped cream and as a drink, he opts for sherry

‘So, while there’s a lot of things that we should stay away from today, there’s a lot of things that we should probably bring back and adopt.’

Tennyson used a food tracking app while on the Banting diet and in one day, it came out to 1,714 calories, 115g of protein, 31g of fat, and 68g of carbs.

For men, the recommended calorie intake per day is 2,500 calories and when it comes to macronutrients, the USDA recommends consuming 10 percent to 35 percent of calories from protein, 45 percent to 65 percent from carbohydrates, and 20 percent to 35 percent from fat.

Tennyson said that the Banting diet is so low in carbs, ‘most people are going to lose some weight.’

New York-based nutritionist Laura Cipullo told DailyMail.com that the Banting diet is a precursor to today’s keto diet, which involves consuming a very low amount of carbohydrates and replacing them with fat to help your body burn fat for energy.

She says: ‘The Banting or keto diet macronutrient distribution typically ranges from approximately 55 percent to 60 percent fat, 30 percent to 35 percent protein, and five percent to 10 percent carbohydrates. 

‘While you will dehydrate and lose all water related to glycogen stores immediately, you will then start to utilize fat and protein for energy. The goal is to use fat as the primary source.

‘One should exercise when attempting a low-carb diet to preserve muscle mass and hypertrophy.’

However, personal trainer and fitness expert Natalya Alexeyenko says she is not a fan of such restrictive approaches to dieting. 

This is because from her observations, she believes strict approaches usually bring ‘only temporary results, and eventually, most people end up rebounding’. 

Revealing her preferred approach, she says: ‘What works much better long-term is having a clear understanding of how to manage your calories, protein, fats, and carbs according to your current goals without feeling like you have to cut things out completely.

‘Carbs in particular, play an important role in building and maintaining muscle. With diets that cut them too low, someone might see the number on the scale go down, but in reality they’re often losing muscle instead of fat leading to that “skinny fat” look or simply not having a toned body.’

Looking at the future of dieting, the personal trainer thinks there will be ‘less focus on rigid plans and more emphasis on personalized nutrition plans built around someone’s lifestyle, preferences, and health needs, instead of strict rules that are hard to follow long-term’.