The quality of nutrition has a significant impact on the health and condition of the body. By taking into account individual characteristics in the diet, using a special diet, you can correct certain problems inherent in the body.
Thus, for functional diseases and disorders of the nervous system, experts recommend using the “Table No. 12” therapeutic diet, developed in the 1930s by Manuil Isaakovich Pevzner, the founder of dietetics in the USSR, the author of 15 therapeutic diets.
Modern research in the United States also confirms the important role of human nutrition and lifestyle in the fight against neurological disorders.
In this article we will look at the essence of diet No. 12 according to Pevzner and what are the specific indications for following it.
General rules
Diet No. 12 ( Table No. 12 ) was developed by Pevzner for patients with functional disorders of the nervous system ( neuroses and neurosis-like conditions, vegetative-vascular dystonia , stress syndromes), accompanied by increased excitability. Among these diseases, the most common are neuroses ( neurasthenia , hysteria , psychasthenia ), which are a set of functional disorders caused by psychogenic factors and accompanied by disruption of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the cerebral cortex.
In the vast majority of cases, such disorders are corrected by prescribing medications; however, in some cases, nutritional therapy is prescribed as one of the components of complex treatment of dysfunctions of higher nervous activity.
The diet of Diet No. 12 is moderate in calories and balanced. It is aimed at restoring the normal function of the nervous system by limiting products that excite the central nervous system, since it is overexcitation that underlies the disruption of adaptation processes and the development of neurosis, as well as providing the nervous tissue with the necessary nutrients.
To reduce the load on nerve cells and prevent their depletion, the 12th diet provides for limiting the energy value of the diet to 2300-2400 Kcal, due to a reduced intake of proteins to 80-90 g, fats to 70 g and carbohydrates to 350 g, as well as dietary salt up to 6 g/day.
The diet excludes foods that have a stimulating effect (strong tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, alcohol, seasonings and spices, fried and fatty foods). At the same time, the proportion of products containing large amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron (dairy products, legumes, liver) increases. To normalize the functioning of the nervous system, the diet includes foods high in B vitamins (brewer's yeast, cereals, sunflower seeds, sprouted wheat grains).
It is also recommended to limit foods that enhance fermentation processes in the intestines and cause flatulence (fruits rich in fiber).
Drinking regimen - about 2 liters of free liquid per day. Meals are split 5 times a day with a reduced food load for dinner.
Diet 12 table: menu for the week
| Days | 1 breakfast | 2 breakfast | Dinner | Afternoon snack | Dinner |
| Monday | Liver toast, rice porridge, apricot juice | Kefir with dry cookies | Buckwheat soup with chicken broth, mashed potatoes with boiled liver, unsweetened compote | cottage cheese | Stewed fish in sour cream with vegetable puree, tea with mint and chamomile |
| Tuesday | Egg, corn porridge (milk), chicory | Fruits | Borscht, with beans, buckwheat, steam cutlets, glass of milk | Yogurt, sweet apple | Rice with turkey, vegetable salad, linden broth |
| Wednesday | Warm milk, marshmallows, wheat bread | Banana pudding, juice | Vermicelli soup, veal meatballs, bean puree, prune compote | Apple mousse | Buckwheat, chicken with beans (baked), vegetable juice |
| Thursday | Rice casserole, fruit cocktail | Ginger tea with crackers | Bean soup with grated pumpkin, chicken breast, boiled beet salad | Fruit puree | Veal in sour cream sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, mint and chamomile infusion |
| Friday | Oatmeal porridge with dried apricots, cherry compote | Seaweed salad with squid | Chicken noodle soup, buckwheat porridge, vinaigrette | Green tea, marmalade | Carrot cutlets, meat salad, dried apricot compote |
| Saturday | Barley porridge, chicory with milk without sugar | Fruit puree | cabbage soup, chicken, green salad | Zucchini pudding with cheese | rice with liver, salad, lemon balm tea |
| Sunday | Pumpkin casserole with apple, chicory | juice | Ukha, barley porridge | kefir | Stuffed cabbage rolls with buckwheat, vegetable salad, soothing decoction |
Reduced stress on the gastrointestinal tract helps to calm down after suffering stress, get rid of depression and other neurological disorders. A varied diet helps you cope with nutritional therapy easily. For mild deviations, table No. 12 lasts two weeks; depending on the severity of the disease, a longer period is prescribed in combination with drug therapy.
Observations by nutritionists, neurologists, and reviews from patients with central nervous system dysfunction convincingly prove that complex treatment including dietary menu No. 12 helps reduce:
- nervousness;
- irritability;
- unreasonable temper.
Therapeutic nutrition also helps to normalize sleep and get rid of headaches. The foundation is a moderately high-calorie diet, limiting foods that excite the nervous system, because it is they that often push to the development of neuroses. Treatment table No. 12 enriches fiber with essential microelements and nutrients.
Often the 12th diet is prescribed after the 10th table, indicated for patients with poor circulation and heart disease. Two treatment regimens, the purpose of which is not to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, are clear examples for the treatment of blood vessels and the restoration of nerve cells.
Authorized Products
The diet allows for cereal soups cooked in low-fat, weak meat/fish, lightly salted, mild broth. As for meat, it is allowed to include in the diet veal, chicken fillet, rabbit, boiled or baked turkey, as well as various offal (liver, beef tongue).
Low-fat fish (pike, perch, cod), seafood and soft-boiled chicken eggs are allowed (no more than 2 pieces/day). A special place is given to dairy products (kefir, yogurt, low-fat sour cream, mild cheese) and cottage cheese, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system due to its high tryptophan .
Only yesterday's or dried bread is allowed; it is recommended to cook porridge with milk diluted 1 to 1. Vegetables included in the diet include potatoes, zucchini, beets, pumpkin, greens, carrots, and tomatoes. Fruits must be chosen that are ripe and not very rich in fiber.
For sweets, it is recommended to consume honey, dried fruits, marmalade, and marshmallows. Fats preferably include vegetable origin (olive, sunflower), as well as butter. The drinks used are rosehip decoction, freshly squeezed juices, jelly, compotes, herbal teas, and chicory drink.
Table of permitted products
| Proteins, g | Fats, g | Carbohydrates, g | Calories, kcal | |
Vegetables and greens | ||||
| eggplant | 1,2 | 0,1 | 4,5 | 24 |
| squash caviar | 1,2 | 7,0 | 7,4 | 97 |
| zucchini | 0,6 | 0,3 | 4,6 | 24 |
| potato | 2,0 | 0,4 | 18,1 | 80 |
| carrot | 1,3 | 0,1 | 6,9 | 32 |
| squash | 0,6 | 0,1 | 4,3 | 19 |
| parsley | 3,7 | 0,4 | 7,6 | 47 |
| tomatoes | 0,6 | 0,2 | 4,2 | 20 |
| dill | 2,5 | 0,5 | 6,3 | 38 |
Fruits | ||||
| apricots | 0,9 | 0,1 | 10,8 | 41 |
| oranges | 0,9 | 0,2 | 8,1 | 36 |
| pears | 0,4 | 0,3 | 10,9 | 42 |
| plums | 0,8 | 0,3 | 9,6 | 42 |
| baked sweet apples | 0,5 | 0,3 | 24,0 | 89 |
Berries | ||||
| rose hip | 1,6 | 0,0 | 14,0 | 51 |
Nuts and dried fruits | ||||
| nuts | 15,0 | 40,0 | 20,0 | 500 |
| dried apricots | 5,2 | 0,3 | 51,0 | 215 |
| sunflower seeds | 20,7 | 52,9 | 3,4 | 578 |
| pumpkin seeds | 24,5 | 45,8 | 4,7 | 556 |
| prunes | 2,3 | 0,7 | 57,5 | 231 |
Cereals and porridges | ||||
| buckwheat porridge from kernels | 3,0 | 3,4 | 14,6 | 101 |
| oatmeal with water | 3,0 | 1,7 | 15,0 | 88 |
| wheat germ | 7,5 | 1,3 | 41,4 | 198 |
| white boiled rice | 2,2 | 0,5 | 24,9 | 116 |
Flour and pasta | ||||
| vareniki | 7,6 | 2,3 | 18,7 | 155 |
| dumplings | 11,9 | 12,4 | 29,0 | 275 |
Bakery products | ||||
| oatmeal bread | 10,1 | 5,4 | 49,0 | 289 |
| bran bread | 7,5 | 1,3 | 45,2 | 227 |
Confectionery | ||||
| jam | 0,3 | 0,2 | 63,0 | 263 |
| jam | 0,3 | 0,1 | 56,0 | 238 |
| marshmallows | 0,8 | 0,0 | 78,5 | 304 |
| paste | 0,5 | 0,0 | 80,8 | 310 |
| apple jam | 0,4 | 0,0 | 40,0 | 190 |
Raw materials and seasonings | ||||
| honey | 0,8 | 0,0 | 81,5 | 329 |
Dairy | ||||
| milk | 3,2 | 3,6 | 4,8 | 64 |
| kefir 2.5% | 2,8 | 2,5 | 3,9 | 50 |
| Ryazhenka 2.5% | 2,9 | 2,5 | 4,2 | 54 |
| curdled milk | 2,9 | 2,5 | 4,1 | 53 |
| acidophilus | 2,8 | 3,2 | 3,8 | 57 |
| yogurt | 4,3 | 2,0 | 6,2 | 60 |
Cheeses and cottage cheese | ||||
| sulguni cheese | 20,0 | 24,0 | 0,0 | 290 |
| cottage cheese 0.6% (low fat) | 18,0 | 0,6 | 1,8 | 88 |
Meat products | ||||
| pork liver | 18,8 | 3,6 | 0,0 | 108 |
| pork kidneys | 13,0 | 3,1 | 0,0 | 80 |
| beef liver | 17,4 | 3,1 | 0,0 | 98 |
| beef brains | 9,5 | 9,5 | 0,0 | 124 |
| mutton | 15,6 | 16,3 | 0,0 | 209 |
| rabbit | 21,0 | 8,0 | 0,0 | 156 |
Bird | ||||
| chicken | 16,0 | 14,0 | 0,0 | 190 |
| turkey | 19,2 | 0,7 | 0,0 | 84 |
Eggs | ||||
| chicken eggs | 12,7 | 10,9 | 0,7 | 157 |
Fish and seafood | ||||
| squid | 21,2 | 2,8 | 2,0 | 122 |
| crucian carp | 17,7 | 1,8 | 0,0 | 87 |
| carp | 16,0 | 5,3 | 0,0 | 112 |
| shrimps | 22,0 | 1,0 | 0,0 | 97 |
| mussels | 9,1 | 1,5 | 0,0 | 50 |
| zander | 19,2 | 0,7 | — | 84 |
| hake | 16,6 | 2,2 | 0,0 | 86 |
| pike | 18,4 | 0,8 | — | 82 |
Oils and fats | ||||
| butter | 0,5 | 82,5 | 0,8 | 748 |
| wheat germ oil | 0,0 | 100,0 | 0,0 | 884 |
| linseed oil | 0,0 | 99,8 | 0,0 | 898 |
| olive oil | 0,0 | 99,8 | 0,0 | 898 |
Non-alcoholic drinks | ||||
| instant chicory | 0,1 | 0,0 | 2,8 | 11 |
| green tea | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | — |
Juices and compotes | ||||
| tomato juice | 1,1 | 0,2 | 3,8 | 21 |
| Apple juice | 0,4 | 0,4 | 9,8 | 42 |
| * data is per 100 g of product | ||||
Several suitable recipes
Below are several recipes that meet your diet requirements.
Hake in Moscow style
A simple and tasty dish suitable for lunch or dinner. What you will need:
- hake – 500 grams;
- potatoes – 1 kg;
- tomatoes – 500 grams;
- cheese – 200 grams;
- green onions - several pods.
It is prepared as follows:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. N
- and on a baking sheet greased with vegetable or butter, the potatoes cut into slices are placed.
- Hake fillet cut into small pieces is laid out on top.
- Place on top in layers: tomatoes (in rings), potatoes, grated cheese. It is important to cut the potatoes thin enough so that the cooking time roughly coincides with the time the fish is ready.
- The cooking process in the oven takes 30-45 minutes.
If desired, the dish can be seasoned with green onions.
Veal stewed with vegetables
What you will need:
- veal – 500 grams;
- zucchini – 200 grams;
- eggplants – 200 grams;
- tomatoes – 1-2 small tomatoes;
- celery (root) – 1-2 pieces;
- bell pepper – 1-2 pieces.
The recipe is just as simple:
- Line a baking sheet with foil and preheat the oven to 200-220°C.
- Cut all the ingredients into small cubes, lightly grease with oil, add salt and pepper, and mix together.
- Cover the baking sheet with foil (tightly), use a toothpick to make several holes for better air circulation.
- Prepares in 60-80 minutes.
Serve garnished with fresh herbs (kenza and parsley work best).
Fully or partially limited products
Products with a stimulating effect are completely excluded from the diet - coffee, chocolate tea, tonic drinks, various energy drinks, and any drinks containing alcohol. The inclusion in the diet of foods that complicate digestion and enhance fermentation processes in the intestines is limited - pickled vegetables, fresh bread, “old” fermented milk products, herring, mature cheeses, salted fish roe, smoked and semi-finished products, ham, sausages. From vegetables, cabbage and cabbage juice, radishes, radishes, daikon, onions, garlic, sorrel, and cucumbers are completely excluded.
The diet is limited to bread and cereals with bran. “Stimulating” sweet foods are prohibited - cream cakes, pastries, cocoa. It is not recommended to include legumes and mushrooms in the diet, as well as soups with strong fatty meat/fish broth, fatty meats (pork, duck, goose), fatty fish, whole milk, fatty sour cream, fresh bread, fried and hard-boiled eggs, pastry products, pearl barley and millet cereals, berries with coarse fiber, canned food, pickles, hot sauces (adjika, horseradish, pepper, mustard), spices.
Table of prohibited products
| Proteins, g | Fats, g | Carbohydrates, g | Calories, kcal | |
Vegetables and greens | ||||
| beans | 6,0 | 0,1 | 8,5 | 57 |
| peas | 6,0 | 0,0 | 9,0 | 60 |
| daikon | 1,2 | 0,0 | 4,1 | 21 |
| cabbage | 1,8 | 0,1 | 4,7 | 27 |
| bulb onions | 1,4 | 0,0 | 10,4 | 41 |
| chickpeas | 19,0 | 6,0 | 61,0 | 364 |
| cucumbers | 0,8 | 0,1 | 2,8 | 15 |
| radish | 1,2 | 0,1 | 3,4 | 19 |
| soybeans | 34,9 | 17,3 | 17,3 | 381 |
| beans | 7,8 | 0,5 | 21,5 | 123 |
| horseradish | 3,2 | 0,4 | 10,5 | 56 |
| garlic | 6,5 | 0,5 | 29,9 | 143 |
| lentils | 24,0 | 1,5 | 42,7 | 284 |
| sorrel | 1,5 | 0,3 | 2,9 | 19 |
Mushrooms | ||||
| mushrooms | 3,5 | 2,0 | 2,5 | 30 |
Cereals and porridges | ||||
| pearl barley porridge | 3,1 | 0,4 | 22,2 | 109 |
| barley porridge | 11,5 | 2,0 | 65,8 | 310 |
Flour and pasta | ||||
| pasta | 10,4 | 1,1 | 69,7 | 337 |
Confectionery | ||||
| cake | 3,8 | 22,6 | 47,0 | 397 |
Cakes | ||||
| cake | 4,4 | 23,4 | 45,2 | 407 |
Chocolate | ||||
| chocolate | 5,4 | 35,3 | 56,5 | 544 |
Raw materials and seasonings | ||||
| seasonings | 7,0 | 1,9 | 26,0 | 149 |
| mustard | 5,7 | 6,4 | 22,0 | 162 |
| brewer's yeast | 12,7 | 2,7 | 0,0 | 75 |
| mayonnaise | 2,4 | 67,0 | 3,9 | 627 |
Meat products | ||||
| fatty pork | 11,4 | 49,3 | 0,0 | 489 |
| salo | 2,4 | 89,0 | 0,0 | 797 |
| beef | 18,9 | 19,4 | 0,0 | 187 |
| bacon | 23,0 | 45,0 | 0,0 | 500 |
| ham | 22,6 | 20,9 | 0,0 | 279 |
| pork stew | 13,0 | 35,0 | 0,0 | 367 |
Sausages | ||||
| smoked sausage | 28,2 | 27,5 | 0,0 | 360 |
| dry-cured sausage | 24,1 | 38,3 | 1,0 | 455 |
Bird | ||||
| duck | 16,5 | 61,2 | 0,0 | 346 |
| goose | 16,1 | 33,3 | 0,0 | 364 |
Fish and seafood | ||||
| fried fish | 19,5 | 11,7 | 6,2 | 206 |
| pink salmon | 20,5 | 6,5 | 0,0 | 142 |
| Red caviar | 32,0 | 15,0 | 0,0 | 263 |
| salmon | 19,8 | 6,3 | 0,0 | 142 |
| herring | 16,3 | 10,7 | — | 161 |
| salmon | 21,6 | 6,0 | — | 140 |
| mackerel | 18,0 | 13,2 | 0,0 | 191 |
| tuna | 23,0 | 1,0 | — | 101 |
| acne | 14,5 | 30,5 | — | 332 |
Oils and fats | ||||
| animal fat | 0,0 | 99,7 | 0,0 | 897 |
| cooking fat | 0,0 | 99,7 | 0,0 | 897 |
Alcoholic drinks | ||||
| white dessert wine 16% | 0,5 | 0,0 | 16,0 | 153 |
| red dessert wine | 0,5 | 0,0 | 20,0 | 172 |
| vodka | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,1 | 235 |
| gin and tonic | 0,0 | 0,0 | 6,7 | 78 |
| cognac | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,1 | 239 |
| liquor | 0,3 | 1,1 | 17,2 | 242 |
| beer | 0,3 | 0,0 | 4,6 | 42 |
Non-alcoholic drinks | ||||
| bread kvass | 0,2 | 0,0 | 5,2 | 27 |
| cola | 0,0 | 0,0 | 10,4 | 42 |
| coffee | 0,2 | 0,0 | 0,3 | 2 |
| coffee drink | 6,0 | 4,8 | 71,2 | 337 |
| Pepsi | 0,0 | 0,0 | 8,7 | 38 |
| tonic | 0,0 | 0,0 | 8,3 | 34 |
| Fanta | 0,0 | 0,0 | 11,7 | 48 |
| black tea | 20,0 | 5,1 | 6,9 | 152 |
| * data is per 100 g of product | ||||
Reviews and results
There are not many reviews from patients, but mostly positive.
“... After the annual report and trips to the tax office, my mental state worsened. I lash out at my subordinates, I can’t concentrate, so I constantly drink cups of very strong tea or coffee. I don’t sleep well, I can’t fall asleep, I fall asleep tired. The mood is constantly bad. Drinking alcohol does not relieve stress. I had to see a neurologist. They prescribed medications and advised to exclude all pathogens from the diet - tea, coffee, chocolate, alcohol. I started doing exercises, taking water treatments, and taking walks in the park in the evenings. After two months, the condition returned to normal, but I was already accustomed to the new way of life and decided to switch to it in the future.”
