CSIRO diet under fire

A leading nutritionist and the CSIRO have clashed over a best-selling diet book, which advocates eating more meat than the government recommends.

An acclaimed high-meat diet that thousands of Australians have adopted is fast losing weight. Doctors and nutritionists have questioned advice given in the CSIRO's "Total Wellbeing Diet Book".

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Nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton was concerned the diet's main thrust was meat protein.

"Some meat is fine, but there is concern that a very high meat diet is co-related with a higher risk for some cancers," Dr Stanton said.

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The meat and livestock industry was involved in sponsoring the book, which Dr Stanton said recommended 300g of meat or other animal foods per day. She said the researchers did not look at increasing protein with legumes, nuts and seeds, which government guidelines recommend.

Hairdresser Bianca Williams said she lost 3kg with the CSIRO diet and 4.5cm from her waist. Dr Stanton's claims did not worry her.

"I definitely would go on the diet again," Ms Williams said. "I'm thinking about it now, just to get rid of those extra kilos, ready for summer."

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Co-author of the CSIRO diet Dr Peter Clifton said there was no cause for concern.

"I don't have any problem increasing the amount of meat above the dietary guidelines," Dr Clifton said.

Rather than the diet's recommended 300g of meat per day, Dr Rosemary Stanton suggested 100g was ample.

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Her advice for anyone contemplating the diet was as follows: "More vegetables, more fruit, more plant-based food and only small amounts of meat, and make sure it's lean."