Hollywood - the city of dreams, and the center of all new trends and fads. We all look to Hollywood stars and celebrities to keep track of what’s hot and what’s not; diets included. How many times have you picked up a magazine to find out exactly what Jennifer Anniston is eating to stay in such great shape.
So, in this article, we decided to make things easy for you and breakdown 3 popular diets that are taking Hollywood by storm, while also highlighting which diets are actually safe and nutritionist approved, and which diets you should avoid.
Sirtfood Diet
The Sirtfood Diet was created by UK nutritionists Aidan Goggins and Glen Matten. It’s a recent spin on the famous Mediterranean Diet, which has been studied extensively for its health benefits, including the prevention of heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes. However, unlike the Mediterranean Diet, the Sirtfood Diet is much more strict when it comes to types of food you can eat. It’s focused on foods that activate sirtuins, which are proteins in the body that are linked to metabolic functions, cellular health, and aging. Some of the celebrities rumored to follow this diet include Adele, Pippa Middleton, Jodie Kidd, Lorraine Pascale, and Sir Ben Ainslie.
What’s my take on it? Well, first of all it’s important for me to note that the research this diet is based on is light, and certainly not definitive in proving its correlation with metabolism and inflammation.
The Sirtfood diet recommends restricting carbohydrates to less than 50 grams per day, which is lower than the standard ketogenic diet. While this is a low-carb diet, it does not have the high fat content that most ketogenic diets have. The reasoning behind the strict limiting of carbs and calories is to help the body begin to drop weight dramatically. The Sirtfood diet promotes up to 7 pounds of weight loss over 7 days.
Rather than eating fats to lose weight, the Sirtfood diet emphasizes eating lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (like olive oil and nuts). While this diet is great to kickstart significant weight loss, I do not recommend staying on it long term. The calorie restrictions in this diet do promise dramatic weight loss in the first several weeks. However, that weight loss is not aligned with the National Institute of Health’s guidelines for safe weight loss, which is 1-2 pounds per week.
Intermittent fasting
What do Jessica Biel, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, and Gerard Butler all have in common? They're all committed to intermittent fasting. While this may sound a little extreme, it's becoming more popular among celebrities and health experts alike.
In simple terms, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and abstaining from food over a defined period. Though it’s not a diet in the traditional sense, it does involve a good regimen that ensures your body is fueled by the correct nutrients, at the correct time.
And although many Americans use intermittent fasting as a way to lose weight, more and more research is emerging that shows this diet benefits more than just your waistline. It fuels your metabolism, encourages your body to burn fat, boosts your memory, improves heart health, improves tissue health, and increases your physical endurance.
Is it safe? Yes. As long as you’re not starving yourself, and still fueling your body with adequate nutrition during periods of eating, this diet can be completely safe. Of course, we always recommend consulting a physician before starting a new diet!
Raw Food / Raw Vegan Diet
The Raw Vegan Diet has been around for a number of years. It boasts many celebrity followers including Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, and Kate Moss.
This diet is based on the belief that cooking food kills digestible nutrients. Proponents eat fruits, vegetables, and nuts without any cooking at all. The diet also includes foods that are soaked or sprouted to make them easier for the body to absorb nutrients.
Raw vegans also drink a lot of water to help flush out toxins. The diet encourages exercise and meditation as part of the lifestyle change that's designed to improve overall health.
The benefits to a raw food diet can include improving your heart health, helping you drop weight, and lowering your risk of diabetes. However, there are some risks to this particular diet, so be sure to talk with your physician before starting!
There are also likely to be nutritional deficiencies that require stringent nutritional planning, or the incorporation of supplements into your diet. Without protein in your diet, your muscles and bones become weaker, your teeth are more susceptible to decay, and women may even experience fertility issues.
If you’re considering the Raw Food Diet, you must plan appropriately. It's important to ensure you’re consuming enough calories throughout the day and are not lacking in vital nutrients.
I also need to mention that I hesitate to promote the raw food diet for any significant length of time. This is because your body is likely to miss many important vitamins and minerals. If you’re committed to eating the Raw Food Diet, then discuss implementing a multivitamin into your diet with your doctor.
2x4 is a wellness brand created by doctors and wellness advocates. We seek to empower those who are curious about better nutrition and provide tools to multiply wellness.