Despite their genetic blessings most celebrities turn to their own quick-fix diet to get their body red-carpet ready. But do these celebrity detoxes actually work and are they safe?
Naomi Campbell recently confessed that she puts her body through three lemon-and-maple syrup detox sessions a year, each lasting 18 days, the New York Times reported.
The maple syrup diet is not for the faint hearted. It consists of drinking detox drinks made up of a syrup mixed with lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper and not eating much else. It was made famous by Beyoncé Knowles who reportedly lost nine kilos in 10 days while preparing for her role in Dreamgirls.
But are these diets a good idea and what are you in for if you do one?
Dietitians Association of Australia spokesman doctor Trent Watson warns that detox diets are not the ideal way to lose weight.
“These diets are commonly short term, cut out core food groups resulting in nutritional imbalance, and aren’t sustainable. It’s simply not an option to eat nothing but cabbage soup, grapefruit or raw foods for any length of time,” he said.
He recommends reducing your kilojoules by cutting back the amount you eat and increasing the energy you burn up through exercise as a safer method of losing weight.
Although not many of us can survive on a few sticks of celery or syrup water, here are the advantages and disadvantages of detoxing like a celebrity.
Followers such as Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé Knowles and Anne Hathaway use this detox to slim down super fast in 10 to 14 days.
The detox of syrup mixed with lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper and not eating much else was designed by naturopath Stanley Burroughs.
It works by the lemon juice loosening waste, the pepper increases blood flow to the areas to be detoxified, while the maple syrup provides energy.
Pros: You will lose weight.
Cons: Because your body only gets energy from the maple syrup you get virtually no nutrients or minerals. You will feel weak, get headaches, feel dizzy, stressed out and grumpy.
Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan of this three-week detox program and uses it before any red-carpet event. It involves organic, plant-based foods and is based on having two liquid meals a day and a solid one in between.
This includes a smoothie for breakfast, salad for lunch and a soup for dinner. She has said it is “not what you would characterise as pretty. Or easy.”
Pros: You could lose excess stored fluids by lowering your salt intake which helps to reduce bloating. You get to eat real food including fruit and vegetables.
Cons: You need to be aware that you may not consume enough protein and iron which could leave you weak and tired.
This detox was devised for Katie Price who lost 12 kilos in three months after she had her second child. It is a spring clean of the body with a seven-day plan of replacing breakfast and lunch with vegetable and fruit juices, while also having supplements such as wheatgrass powder and spirulina. Dinner is fish or meat with vegetables. This detox dramaticcaly cuts calories on a day-to-day basis.
Pros: It only lasts a week and you get most of the minerals and protein you need.
Cons: You will feel hungry and have little energy to exercise.
If you do a detox, always check with your GP first to make sure it is suitable for you.
Take a look at our Celebrity health and diet secrets picture gallery.
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