1860s: first low-carb diet

Men's Fitness, Jan, 2003 by Dean Brierly, Mike Carlson, Allan Donnelly, Ben Kallen, Bobby Lee, Mark Thorpe, Tom Weede

ENGLISH casket maker William Banting was prompted to take action when he became too fat to tie his own shoes. Perhaps influencing today's Atkins diet, Banting wrote "Letter on Corpulence," which advocated avoiding starch and sugar. He went on to lose 45 pounds on a diet of lean meat, dry toast, soft boiled eggs and a few drinks a day, but ended up his only customer.