[3] The Pritikin diet emphasizes the consumption of legumes, whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables and non-fat dairy products with small amounts of lean meat, fowl and fish.

The "go" foods that are encouraged are fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, non-fat dairy products, fish and lean protein such as white skinless poultry and tofu.

[10][12][14][15][16] Some of Pritikin's dietary recommendations are in line with mainstream nutritional advice such as emphasizing vegetable consumption and restricting alcohol but his claims about his Program reversing atherosclerosis are not supported by clinical evidence.

[18] The American Medical Association have questioned the effectiveness of the diet for the diseases it is supposed to prevent and have warned that the lower calcium and iron intake may make it unsuitable for pregnant women.

[12] In 1985, Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition suggested that the Pritikin Program may provide inadequate sources of calcium, copper and zinc.

[21][22] Pritikin was diagnosed with leukemia in 1958, and it had been in remission until early 1980s when he began to suffer severe pain and complications from the disease and associated treatments.

[1][2] Per a letter to the editor, at autopsy it is claimed that there was a near absence of atherosclerosis (only some fatty streaks), and that the heart's pumping function was completely uncompromised.