detox-related stories
Gwyneth Paltrow Pushes Detox Diet
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
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| Photo: Jason Merritt, Getty Images |
Of course, Gwynnie delivers. This week's newsletter focuses on a three-week "Clean" detox program that she's just completed. "I feel pure and happy and much lighter (I dropped the extra pounds that I had gained during a majorly fun and delicious 'relax and enjoy life phase' about a month ago)," she writes. The newsletter contains an interview with the man behind the program, Dr. Alejandro Junger, in which he explains why Clean is so beneficial.
Here's the thing -- she might have dropped pounds now, but time and time again, doctors have spoken out against cleanses and detoxes. It's not that they're necessarily bad things (although the extreme cleanses can be damaging), but in terms of weight loss, slow and steady is the name of the game.
And why seek advice from celebrities on something like this anyway? Your time will be better spent learning more about nutritious food, hitting the gym and talking to your doctor. Although, if you want to read a celebrity magazine while working up a sweat, we won't tell.
Crazy Diets
By Jennifer Fields and Mary Kearl
Fad diets are so alluring with their promises of fast weight loss and their skinny celebrity followers. The problem is that they're often unhealthy and make outrageous claims that are untrue. Here's a roundup of the some of the most strict and downright ridiculous diets around and the famous names that champion them.
Going Bananas
Eat bananas for breakfast and lose weight? That sounds easy enough. But the Morning Banana Diet -- such a craze in Japan that grocery stores there can't keep the fruit in stock -- involves a little bit more than just eating this favorite breakfast food. On this plan, which is supposed to boost metabolism, you'll eat one or more bananas with room-temperature water for breakfast and have an optional snack at 3 p.m. You can eat anything you want for lunch and dinner. There are no desserts, dinner has to be eaten by 8 p.m. and you have to go to bed by midnight. Does it work? Japanese opera singer Kumiko Mori announced on a TV show that she lost 15 pounds using the Morning Banana Diet. The creator's husband is also said to have lost 37 pounds. We're not sure those two instances count as solid proof of its effectiveness, but this diet certainly rates high on wackiness.
C is for Cookie
We like the sound of any diet that involves eating cookies and promises you'll lose 15 pounds in a month. Sanford Siegal, M.D., is the creator of the Cookie Diet in which followers eat six of his specially formulated cookies along with one meal a day. It's not surprising people lose weight on this diet, considering they're eating a mere 800 calories a day -- a calorie count so low that experts would classify this as a crash diet that is not sustainable. We classify it as just plain crazy.
Dubious Cure
Kevin Trudeau's book, 'The Weight Loss Cure,' made HCG a household name. HCG, a hormone extracted from the urine of pregnant women, is used to treat reproductive problems, but injections of the hormone are also thought to curb appetite. We suspect any weight loss might be the result of the 500-calorie-a-day diet you're supposed to follow on the plan, not necessarily the self- or doctor-adminstered shots. The FDA denies weight loss claims about HCG, but the hard-to-find shots are still widely sought after. Aside from the obvious ick factor, there are some intense side effects including water retention, mood alterations, headaches, and high blood pressure. Men who receive the injections may get positive results on pregnancy tests.
Part-Time Diet
Who wouldn't go for a diet that promises you can eat whatever you want and as much as you want? But the s have more than one third of your daily sodium allowance. 'Alternate-Day Diet' by James B. Johnson, M.D., has a pretty big catch: You can only indulge every other day; on alternate days you'll be eating a mere 200 to 1000 calories total. Switching between overeating and starving sounds like torture, but does it work? A review published in a 2005 issue of the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition' found that non-obese followers of the plan did lose weight on the diet, but they reported high levels of hunger and irritability that would likely prevent this from becoming a long-term plan.
Pain in the Rear
Sure, the Martha's Vineyard Diet calls for mud treatments, but following it is no day at the spa. You'll also be drinking most of your meals and enduring weekly colonics and enemas. Robin Quivers does look great since she tried the detox, but with all those trips to the spa, this diet is heavy on the pocketbook and light on lasting results.
Diet in Vein
Any diet that requires a test of your blood type raises our eyebrows. And depending on the results, you could be stuck shopping for an all-veggie diet or one where the main component is veal. Why? the Blood Type Diet claims certain foods react differently with various blood types. A better idea than eating politically incorrect meat? Cut back on your portions.
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Cuckoo for Coconuts
Another contender in the realm of the single-food eating plan is the Coconut Diet. Jennifer Aniston swore by this plan where you load up on coconut oil (Almond Joy doesn't count), which is supposed to boost metabolism and help you lose weight quickly. Most experts agree you should limit coconut in your diet because it's rich in saturated fat which can raise cholesterol, so it's best to avoid this one.
Funny Face
Voluptuous Kate Winslet swears the Facial Analysis Diet helped her drop baby weight. On this wacky plan, a so-called facial analyst proposes a special diet based on food intolerances revealed in the texture of your skin, eyes and hair. But the only reason this diet ever works is because people tend to drink more water, get more sleep and eat more fruits and vegetables while on it.
Tart Diet
Beyoncé revived interest in the Master Cleanse when she used the juice fast to slim down for 'Dream Girls.' Drinking a mix of maple syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper for days is hardly a healthy approach to weight loss. Even Beyoncé said she wouldn't advise anyone follow her diet lead.
KFC's Grilled Chicken, How Much Exercise You Really Need and More - Week in Review - April 20 to April 26
KFC has a new version of finger-licking good ... grilled chicken. Low in fat and calories, it's a better choice than fried when you visit the Colonel.When it comes to fitness, are you a square, a circle or an oval? Check out Jacki's post on fitness personalities and find out.
It's still shivery where I live, but the calendar doesn't lie: Those beach days aren't far away. Start getting that body bikini-ready today.
How much exercise do you really need? Fitz points out that there are 168 hours in a week, surely you can spare six to nine of them for exercise.
Do you feel hungrier after eating than when you started? You might have "fullness resistance." You can fight it, though, by filling up protein, fiber, fruits and veggies.
Are you a gardener? Then it's time to plant your lettuce. And even if you're not, seek out those spring greens at your store or market, because they make a great plateau buster!
Think you're busy? Meet Carissa Tessaro, who manages to work out every day despite a brutal schedule. If she can do it, so can you!
Navigating the grocery store can be tricky if you're new to label reading, but Kristen's got a video that's sure to help you avoid those sneaky foods that sound healthy, but aren't.
Detox diets might be all the rage among celebrity-types, but That's Fit readers are more down-to-Earth. Forty-three percent of you haven't tried a detox diet, but 39 percent of you think they sound interesting.
Donna Pyatt boxed away 50 pounds and eight sizes. Good for you, Donna! Find out what Donna does now to keep the weight off.
Detox - That's Fit Readers Just Say No
- 43 percent haven't tried detox and you don't plan to. Science supports your decision. Though some detox plans can be beneficial, your body does a decent job of removing toxins on its own. And, as reader u262f says "... eating poorly and then doing some short-term cleanse isn't going to be as healthy as regularly making healthy food choices in the first place."
- 39 percent think detox sounds interesting though you haven't tried it yet. If you're going to try a detox diet, read Bethany's first-hand experience with detox before you start. She has some great tips for selecting a healthful detox, such as forgoing the fasting-type plans and choosing one that allows you to eat nutritious foods.
- 12 percent of you have tried detox and loved it.
- 6 percent of you won't be doing detox again, though you have tried it before.
Want to learn more about detox? Check out AOL Health's overview of eight popular detox plans.
Have You Tried Detox?
If you're looking for a quick slim-down, just look to the stars. No, not the ones up in the sky, I mean all the detox-happy celebs out in Tinseltown.
Cleanses are quite popular right now, but they've been around for years. They can lead to some quick (though likely temporary) weight loss and, as Bethany found out, detox diets can leave you feeling quite good (after a few days of feeling kind of lousy, anyway).
Proponents of detox diets will leave you believing that your body is full of nasty toxins that have no other way to come out. But many health experts will tell you that your body does a pretty good job of getting rid of toxins on its own. So I wonder what you think ... do you detox?
If you've done a detox diet, what did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Katie Holmes' Detox Diet Keeps Her From the Oscars
We've been keeping our eye on Katie Holmes for a while now -- she was looking a little thin early in the year, when we heard a rumor that she was planning a Scientology detox diet after her Broadway show ended. And then, last month, she was explaining away her weight loss, blaming her seriously skinny frame on her heavy work load.Well, it's not just work that's slimming her down -- it appears that Katie has been following a rigorous detox diet plan to rid her body of toxins (supposedly as a lead-up to having a second child), and it seems it's just a little too much for her. She and husband Tom Cruise were noticeably absent from last week's Academy Awards, and the "Daily Mail" is reporting that it's because the diet has left Katie simply "too tired" to handle it.
I've always felt strongly that a diet shouldn't leave you unable to do your daily tasks. And yes, I know, the Oscars are a bit more taxing than, say, an evening out with friends, but think about it -- how extreme would a diet have to be to keep you away from the biggest red carpet event of the year? Because I can't imagine how tired I would have to be to miss out on that.
So many celebrities rely on really unhealthy diets to drop weight, and it leads me to wonder: Do they really think these extreme diets are worth it? And do you?
Is Katie Holmes Trying to Lose Weight? With A Scientology Detox?
I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's furiously trying to shed the couple of extra egg nog pounds that ended up padding my hips over the holiday season. Heck, even super-slim Katie Holmes is trying to shed some pounds. She was recently spotted in NYC with a diet drink called Celsius, which promises to burn extra calories with its 'thermogenic blend'. I'm guessing the petite starlet is burning tons of calories already with her crazy schedule, which includes performing on Broadway six nights a week, playing mommy to Suri and spending an estimated $14 million on a bunch of crazy shopping sprees in the big apple.
That's not all -- once production of All My Sons wraps, the taller half of TomKat is supposedly going on an intense Scientology detox. "The Clear Body, Clear Mind plan utilises a regime of exercise, sauna sweat-out, vitamins and minerals to cleanse bodies of toxins," says a source. "Katie is tired from balancing motherhood with her six-nights-a-week show and wants to get back into shape. The plan involves doses of the vitamin niacin to purify the body."
Spending day in the sauna sounds like my kind of detox! Pity about the exercise bit.
Is Your Detox a Waste of Money?
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products, Nutrition & Supplements
This week marked the beginning of, I imagine, thousands of detox diets across North America. It's only natural, really, that after weeks of indulging in more sugar, fat, alcohol and laziness than we do all year that we're looking for ways to cleanse our bodies of our holiday sins and start 2009 off right. But before you rush to the drug store to pick up a detox kit to the tune of $30 or more, keep in mind that leading scientists have declared many so-called detoxes to be a waste of money. You can save your hard-earned cash with a do-it-yourself detox. It won't be easy -- most experts believe that detoxing requires you to cut out sugar, salt, refined carbs, wheat, dairy, alcohol and caffeine, not to mention drinking lots of water and eating plenty of fruits and veggies -- but doing it yourself is healthier and more economical.
Click here for some more DIY-detoxing tips.
Gwyneth Paltrow Wants You to Suffer With Her
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
In her most recent GOOP newsletter, Gwyneth Paltrow talks detox. And ... it's a little bit scary. She talks about doing the Master Cleanse last year, which she describes as "hallucinogenic (in a bad way)" and says she wants to do a different sort of cleanse or detox to drop the holiday pounds.She talked to her doctor, who actually said the Master Cleanse "can be dangerous because the liver is not supported by the nutrients it needs." He explained to her that it's possible to detox while eating as long as you're not eating the wrong stuff.
Gwyneth created a menu plan for a "seven-day elimination diet," saying "I will be suffering along with you to kickstart my year a bit lighter." So, does that mean being rich and famous doesn't make a nasty detox any easier? Who knew?
Oprah - "How Could This Happen Again?"
Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
After watching her weight zig-zag through a range of about 100 pounds over the years, Oprah Winfrey has done it again. Apparently, she's regained the weight she once worked so hard to lose and is stuck at 200 pounds, in a very uncomfortable position.
Oprah reveals that she had envisioned a beautiful dress to wear to President-Elect Obama's inauguration but is now worried she won't be able to fit into it.
"How could this happen again?" she wonders. After losing weight following very public liquid diets, marathons and detox diets, we're all left to wonder: Will Oprah ever keep the weight off for good? Oprah is clearly wondering the same thing.
Jo Wood's crash diet - yogurt and tea
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When Jo Wood, the recently estranged wife of Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood, felt her clothes weren't fitting as loosely as usual, she did what any normal woman would do -- she quickly booked herself an extended stay at an exclusive spa in Switzerland, where she lives on tea and sheep's yogurt for the better part of a week. Oh, wait a minute. That's not what a normal woman would do -- that's the kind of thing the rich and eccentric do. Wood, 53, says, "I looked at myself when I was 65 kg (143 lbs) and I was just so depressed. I thought, 'Oh come on Jo, you're just eating all the time, all this chocolate!' So I went to the Maya clinic in Switzerland and I just lived off tea. Tea and sheep's yoghurt, for five whole days!"
Well, it's healthier than Colin Farrell's quick weight-loss diet ... but that's not saying a lot. Still, she looks pretty good. What do you think?
Would you pay $30,000 for a yoga class taught by a supermodel?
Cameron Alborzian is one of the most successful male models in the fashion industry -- not only has he graced the cover of Vogue, he was chosen to play the love object in Madonna's Express Yourself video by Madge herself.And now, you can order him on the Internet ... as your yoga instructor. Since his escape from the fashion industry, he's taken on a new name -- Yogi Cameron -- and he's available for hire, all for the bargain rate of about $30,000. According to this article from The Daily Mail, yogi Cameron will come to your house to help you detox, teach you yoga and guide you in meditation. He'll also counsel you on what he thinks you should be eating -- small meals of seasonal, fresh food -- and should be avoiding -- alcohol, sugar and even make-up.
Intriguing? You betcha. A little out of my price range right now, though.
Turkey day detox for the day after Thanksgiving
The whole point of Turkey Day is to eat a gigantic feast. Well, there's also the whole family and gratefulness part. But still ... the food. There's a lot of it, and it's delicious.If you do overindulge, don't sweat it too much. Just use some of these turkey day detox tips to get yourself back on track. And be thankful for one more thing, that Thanksgiving comes but once a year.
Detox symptoms or sickness - how to tell?
Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
Anyone who's tried any sort of a cleanse or detox is probably well aware that detox symptoms feel a lot like actual sickness symptoms. You will very possibly experience diarrhea, gas, headache, lightheadedness, and irritability when entering a cleanse and unless you know what you're getting yourself into, it can be hard to tell whether or not something is actually wrong.Raw foodist Nomi Shannon did an interview with Renegade Roundtable, touching specifically on this problem. She talked about the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, where people can go for a "raw retreat." Shannon mentioned that, on the fifth day of each cycle of visitors, everyone would be angry, hating their roommates and feeling irritable.
This is why she recommends following a program, either attending something like what the Hippocrates Health Institute offers or using a good book that describes the different phases of your cleanse and gives you a bit of guidance. If your body isn't accustomed to tons of raw fruits and veggies, you're going to feel different for a few days if that's all you're eating. But, of course, if you're really not feeling well, you should certainly contact your doctor. There's no point in taking chances!
5 ways to detox, naturally
Motivation, Alternative & Green Health
Not only are we constantly barraged by noise and air pollution, we're regularly filling our bodies with garbage: chemicals, additives, even poisons. So it's never been so important to cleanse both our minds and our bodies of the toxins we can't seem to escape in our day-to-day life.
But detoxing doesn't have to mean forking out a small fortune at an uppity spa. Divine Caroline offers a number of ways you can give your body a break, naturally:
- Drink lots of water. It flushes the system.
- Sweat, either in a sauna or steam room, or through exercise.
- Meditate or pray regularly, and take deep, cleansing breaths when you do.
- Eliminate electronics from your bedroom.
- Cleanse your body with natural herbs like dandelion and ginger root.
There are plenty more tips where these came from -- head over to Divine Caroline for more detox data.
Detox diet causes brain damage in woman
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
There are plenty of wacky 'fad diets' out there. The grapefruit and lemonade diets come to mind. But while fad diets are often bizarre, they're generally regarded as safe, right? Wrong -- fad diets can be downright dangerous, as this story proves.
A British woman, Dawn Page, was recently awarded £800,000 (about $1,600,000 USD) after a detox diet left her epileptic and brain damaged. 'The Amazing Hydration Diet' has participants drinking copious amounts of water and reducing their salt intake in order to cleanse their system and reduce water retention. But within days of starting the diet, Page started vomiting uncontrollably and was rushed to hospital.
