The quest for the perfect body has always been a driving force in Hollywood, leading to the rise and fall of numerous diet trends. Among these, the "Hollywood Diet Plan," encompassing both Intermittent Fasting and the Grapefruit Diet, has captured attention for its promises of rapid weight loss and celebrity endorsements. But do these diets live up to the hype, or are they just another fleeting fad?
Intermittent Fasting: A Modern Take on an Ancient Practice
Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity in Hollywood, with celebrities like Beyonce, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hardy, Miranda Kerr, and Justin Theroux reportedly incorporating it into their lifestyles. IF involves cycling between periods of eating and voluntary fasting on a regular schedule. There are many forms of intermittent fasting, and is customizable to one’s lifestyle, to some extent. As the name suggests, there is always some “fasting” involved, as in extended periods consuming nothing containing calories - water, tea and even coffee without any sugar or milk are allowed anytime.
The Appeal of Intermittent Fasting
The appeal of IF extends beyond mere weight loss. Joy Stephenson-Laws, founder of L.A.’s Proactive Health Labs (pH), points to the diet's potential for longevity, referencing the Buddha, who lived to around 80 years of age at a time when the average life expectancy was 35. Indeed, she says, the reason many Hollywood types have adopted intermittent fasting isn’t only to look good in a bikini or superhero ensemble, but to live longer.
How Intermittent Fasting Works
According to Stephenson-Laws, intermittent fasting triggers several biological processes. Insulin levels significantly drop, which triggers the fat-burning phase of fasting. The human growth hormone kicks into overdrive and skyrockets to as much as five times its normal presence” - a hugely attractive prospect for those in Hollywood, since it’s linked to aging and muscle gain. Cellular repair might be one of the most astonishing occurrences to happen during intermittent fasting,” Stephenson-Laws adds. “Your body induces the cellular repair process and begins to actually remove waste material from cells. Nutritionist Kelly LeVeque agrees it can have major biological benefits, such as an over 300 percent increase in growth hormone and a significant insulin drop that facilitates fat burning and lean muscle gain (leading to fat loss around the midsection, mental clarity and an increased metabolism), according to studies.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
Despite its potential benefits, intermittent fasting is not without its drawbacks. LeVeque expresses concerns about the mental stability with IMF dieting and its propensity to create eating disorders, food anxiety and binge eating. She advises clients to wait a few hours after waking up in the morning to have her Fab Four Smoothie, then enjoying a nice lunch and early dinner. Eating during the daylight hours is more beneficial for insulin sensitivity and body composition than eating at night anyway,” LeVeque says. So while it seems simple, Stephenson-Laws advises this isn’t for everyone, and women especially should be cautious of how their bodies react, since significant fluctuations in hormone levels can cause missed periods, moodiness and even early onset menopause. Those who already have a diet poor in vitamins and protein could lose muscle mass and suffer vitamin deficiency with intermittent fasting.
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The Grapefruit Diet: A Century-Old Fad
One thing is undisputed about the grapefruit diet: It certainly has staying power.The fad diet debuted in the 1930s amidst claims that its namesake fruit contains fat-burning enzymes that melt off pounds. Nearly a century later, it continues to draw attention and followers. Also known as the “Hollywood Diet” and the 18-Day diet, the Grapefruit Diet is a short-term fad diet that has existed in the United States since at least the 1930s. The eating plan puts a big emphasis on a certain softball-sized citrus fruit. Grapefruit lands a high-profile role in every meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The short-term diet’s main selling point is that it can help you lose 10 pounds during a 10- to 12-day detox.
The Grapefruit Diet: What It Entails
Most versions of the diet include half a grapefruit with each meal of the day. The plans often allow you to sub in grapefruit juice if you’re feeling adventurous or don’t want to deal with a saw-toothed spoon. After that, the primary focus of the diet is cutting waaaaay back on calories. The diet also tends to frown upon sugars and carbohydrates.A sample meal on the grapefruit diet might include:Half a grapefruit or 8 ounces 100% grapefruit juice without adding sugar.Salad or a red or green vegetable cooked in butter or spices.Meat or fish cooked in any manner.One cup of coffee or tea without cream or sugar.
The Claimed Benefits and Scientific Evidence
The diet is based on the claim that grapefruit has a fat-burning enzyme or similar property. Supporters of the diet believe you can lose as much as 10 pounds in 12 days. Despite anecdotal evidence, there’s no research that supports claims of this fat-burning enzyme. While grapefruit offers many wonderful qualities, being a miracle fat burner isn’t one of them. The fruit, however, does deserve consideration for your weight loss toolbox. A 2006 study showed that it “would appear reasonable” to include grapefruit in a diet designed to shed pounds. A 2011 study came to much the same conclusion. Here’s why: Grapefruit is roughly 88% water, so eating it with meals tends to make you feel full faster. That, in turn, makes you eat less. As for the grapefruit diet’s quick weight loss claims, that’s more a byproduct of severely slashing calories. You lose weight on the plan because you’re not eating as much,” says Sullivan. “It’s that simple.
The Dark Side of the Grapefruit Diet
In the midst of the 18-Day Diet’s popularity, tragedy struck. Famous actress Marietta Millner was reported dead in Vienna as the result of a bout of tuberculosis following a voluntary starvation diet that had been deemed necessary to get her beneath the weight ceiling established by her studio contract. While Millner’s death may not have been specifically linked to the 18-Day Diet, it did open the door to criticism. “The 18-Day Diet is the worst fad this country has ever known,” snorted Dr. J.J. Carter to the Los Angeles Evening Post. “People who follow the diet are dying. In response to reports that mostly young women were passing out - and even dying - after following the 18-Day Diet, Morris Fishbein, editor of The Journal of the American Medical Association, condemned the 18-Day Diet as “hooey” cloaked in Hollywood fantasy.
Potential Dangers and Drug Interactions
A word of caution for anyone considering the grapefruit diet: It’s definitely not a good idea if you’re on certain medications, including statins that help regulate your cholesterol. Grapefruit contains a chemical compound that interferes with your body’s ability to process some medications. Food and Drug Administration requires warnings on some medications related to their use with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice tends to interfere with the action of these drugs because it contains a class of chemicals called furanocoumarins. Studies show that furanocoumarins may increase the blood levels of over 85 medications .
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