Top celebrity diets you should ditch
Although we all know the key to dropping the pounds is to eat less and exercise more, many of us will succumb to the temptation of diets which promise instant results. Yes, we’re more likely to keep the weight off if we take a slow-and-steady approach,…
Although we all know the key to dropping the pounds is to eat less and exercise more, many of us will succumb to the temptation of diets which promise instant results. Yes, we’re more likely to keep the weight off if we take a slow-and-steady approach, but sometimes we want an instant fix – especially if it’s worked for our favourite star. This is something the British Dietetic Association (BDA) understands, which is why it’s published a list of celebrity diets which should be avoided.
1. The no-sugar diet
Unsurprisingly, this involves cutting out all types of sugar from your food, plus some carbohydrates. To be clear: too much sugar is definitely a bad thing for your health. However, the body does need some in order to function and it is this contradiction which is at the root of why this eating plan makes the list. Plus there is sugar in things like fruit and vegetables, and it’s obviously not a good idea to ditch those.
2. The kale and chewing gum diet
This plan sees people eating only the green leafy vegetable and chewing gum in a bid to lose weight, with some stars embarking on it when they need to shed a few pounds for a film role. Clearly it is hugely restrictive, with the BDA warning it is unbalanced and could actually cause harm, due to the fact a singular food source can’t give the body everything it needs. Balance is best.
3. The bulletproof diet
One Direction star Harry Styles has spoken of using this plan to stay slim, with the drink consisting of a double espresso with spoonfuls of butter and coconut oil added. Followers have one of these a day, and they boast around 400 calories a cup. The diet has been branded “un-bull-ieveable” by the BDA, which warns the drink may include calories but it has little nutritional value.
4. The Super Elixir
Supermodel Elle Macpherson has spoken about this powder supplement, which is pricey at £96 for a month’s supply and is supposed to change body tissue from acid to alkali. “Expensive,” was the organisation’s ruling. “The benefits that this costly powder claims to provide can easily be obtained from fruit and vegetables and a balanced diet, without the hefty price tag.”
5. Trim Secrets
This pill is taken in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet of 1,500 a day, 1.5 litres of water every 24 hours, exercise and no stress. It’s supposed to cut hunger pangs and improve metabolism, but the BPA explains anyone eating that amount should drop weight anyway.
“When people need medical advice, they go to their GP and when people have a toothache, they go to their dentist, but some people will believe almost anything and anyone when it comes to nutrition, food and diet,” Consultant dietician Sian Porter, spokesperson for the BDA, said.
“The bottom line is, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If you have to pay out for a DVD or book or product that will unlock the secrets of losing weight, this can be a good indicator that the only pounds you will be losing will be out of your wallet.”
