Although the former President has just been released after twenty days of incarceration, behind bars he has been subject to a drastic regime.
Nicolas Sarkozy would have only consumed one type of food
According to the newspaper The PointCarla Bruni’s companion
refused, throughout his prison stay, to taste to the dishes served in the canteen. On the other hand, he ate almost exclusively… yogurt.
Indeed, if Nicolas Sarkozy does not know “cook an egg” according to those close to him, he was especially afraid of being poisoned by other detainees. To protect himself, the former head of state therefore “canteened”. In other words: he bought food in stock, mainly yogurts, but also tuna in oil – thus allowing him to avoid the canteen and kitchen.
A choice that does not surprise our dietician-nutritionist, Eva Vacheau:
“In the prison context, food choices often have a very psychological dimension. Indeed, many prisoners preferentially turn to individually packaged foods, because they are perceived as safe and less likely to have been adulterated. Yogurts, for example, give this impression of security and control. This behavior is therefore not illogical”, she emphasizes.
However, is eating only this food really a good idea? Is this calcium and protein intake sufficient to stay in shape? No, believes Eva Vacheau.
“From a nutritional point of view, this monodiet is absolutely not sustainable over time,”
she emphasizes.
Yogurt diet: beware of deficiencies!
In the short term, yogurts provide a little protein, calcium and energy thanks to the carbohydrates they contain.
“But not all yogurts are equal!“, says the expert. Some, like skyr, Greek yogurt or petit suisses, provide between 8 and 15 g of protein, while classic yogurts only provide 3 to 4 g. If the yogurts consumed are low in protein, “a deficiency can therefore quickly set in”she warns.
In the longer term, deficiencies become inevitable. “Lack of protein leads to loss of muscle mass, slowed metabolism, severe fatigue and poor synthesis of neurotransmitters. Thyroid function may also be affected, as it depends on amino acids supplied by proteins.notes the specialist again.
The absence of fiber – since there is none in yogurts – also causes a slowdown in transit and digestive discomfort.
“This absence of omega-3 (particularly of the EPA and DHA type present in small fatty fish) can influence mood, increase inflammation and impair certain cognitive functions,” warns Eva Vacheau.
In addition, when you only eat yogurt, your vitamin C intake is non-existent – even though it is necessary for good immunity.
Same thing for minerals (iron, zinc, magnesium, etc.), which are essential for the proper functioning of the body. “All this will therefore affect fatigue, cramps, inflammation and immunity”, underlines the dietitian.
Finally, there are no B vitamins (which participate in energy production) and very little potassium – which can lead to electrolyte imbalances.
“He had to lose a lot of weight and muscle mass“
In terms of calories, Nicolas Sarkozy should consume around twenty yogurts per day to cover his energy needs… which is of course not realistic. “So he had to lose a lot of weight and muscle mass“, she warns.
“Finally, on a psychological level, food in prison is one of the few “autonomous” pleasures. Eating exclusively yogurt is therefore not very rewarding and can aggravate the prisoner’s distress,” remarks Eva Vacheau.
In summary: yogurt is a very good food when it is part of a balanced diet, but it should in no case constitute the sole basis of the diet, even less in the long term!