This week prepare to be amused and informed by some popular celebrity “wellness” trends.
Eating One Chip or M&M
Jennifer Aniston recently told Instyle Magazine that she eats exactly one chip or one M&M when she’s stressed out. This was NOT taken out of context, in case you were wondering, The editor followed up and clarified that she meant exactly ONE CHIP (you can read the exact quotes in the linked article).
Based on the clapback and amusing memes/articles on Twitter, it seems like she went from America’s Sweetheart that could be dating Ross again to devil incarnate overnight. That’s because this sounds totally crazy, and almost as pointless as just not eating chips or M&Ms. There’s portion control, and there is eating a portion size suitable for an ant. Imagine how stale a bag of chips would get overtime, not to mention what do you do when a chip falls apart – does the piece of chip count as one chip? Plus I like all different kinds of chip flavors, so following this advice would make me some crazy chip lady with all of these different bags of chips strewn over my kitchen eating one chip at a time. So no for me on the chip front.
With regard to the M&Ms, here’s my version of one M&M:
Jokes aside, I need at least 3 or 4 M&Ms in my mouth to get any flavor. One would be like swalloing a chocolate flavored pea. And M&Ms as an occasional snack’s not a bad idea – a handful, approximately 7, is only 100 calories. Plus you can get them in those fun size packs for portion control. So yes to one FUN SIZE pack of M&Ms!
Hot water and lemon
Miranda Kerr, Gisele, and other models swear by this – hot water and lemon on an empty stomach. The theory behind it is that it kick-starts your metabolism and “flushes out toxins.”
Unfortunately, the detoxing claims are largely health hype by science standards. BUT you are getting a ton of vitamin C, potassium, and more water. That being said, if you would rather have it cold or room temp, that will have the same effect!
Celery juice
This is another famous “detox” drink. Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow both swear by this and I do love celery. It’s crunchy and apparently it has a good source of natural fiber; it can be very refreshing in the summertime with this heat! They recommend drinking it first thing in the morning to “detox the system”. Usually a little bit of lemon juice or maybe even a little bit of Cayenne pepper is thrown in. I also added some parsley just a jazz it up.
My verdict : If you enjoy drinking lawn, this is your way to wake up. Celery is high in cellulose, which is a plant-based fiber, and a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It’s even potentially anti-inflammatory and can help you stay hydrated. But don’t stuff your blender with 5 stalks of celery at a time – it is also high in mannitol, which can cause major digestive issues.
For both the detoxing claims of celery juice and lemon juice, don’t let that be the primary reason for imbibing. Your liver already does an amazing job of ‘detoxing’ your body! (the linked article is a reliable source from Johns Hopkins medicine).
Avocado toast
Avocado toast is a trend that has been on the scene especially the last five years and popularized by celebrities like Meghan Markle and Kylie Jenner. Clearly avocados have great health benefits, like a source of healthy fat and fiber. Also, it looks so pretty on Instagram.
Avocado has many health benefits – high fiber, aiding in vitamin absorption, and protection from vision loss. Watch the portion sizes, though, because those can be a saboteur even for healthy foods. If you smear half an avocado on your toast, that’s a bit above the recommended serving of 1/3rd. Plus, there is no protein component.
How can you make this work? Well no one wants to have to save 2/3rds of an avocado. What you can do is cut one in half, scoop out the meat, and make your own “avocado mix.” Add some lemon juice, salt, and pepper, then mash it with a fork and put in an airsealed container. When you make your toast, have about two tablespoons at a time. This should las you three or four days. For protein, an egg is a great topping to avocado toast. This blog post from Feel Good Foodie. has four different options!
Turmeric lattes
Also known as “golden milk,” you can buy these turmeric powder mixers in many grocery stores and online, like this one from Vital Proteins that also has collagen. They are also starting to pop up in coffeeshops as a caffeine – free alternative. The idea is that turmeric is anti-inflammatory and drinking a high concentration can soothe joint pain and generally support well-being.. You can buy a brand like this, or make your own by combining fresh or ground turmeric with coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, black pepper, and freshly grated ginger in warm almond or coconut milk. Just watch for the store-bought versions because some of them pile in the extra sugar for flavor. If you balk at the taste of turmeric or worry about staining your teeth, you can also get the capsule supplements.
Although the research of turmeric as “anti-inflammatory” is inconclusive, doctors generally agree it is good for your health and it can be a good substitute for when you just want a warm drink but don’t want the caffeine kick.
Coconut oil and oil pulling
Miranda Kerr made headlines in an Australian Cosmo interview when she credited coconut oil with her overall model glow. She reportedly ate up to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil a day as mixtures for tea and salad dressings. She also claims to use coconut oil as a hair care sleeping mask.
Another practice that both she and Gwenyth Paltrow popularized involved “oil pulling” for the teeth. This is nothing more complicated than swishing a small amount of coconut oil in the morning but for a longer period than normal mouthwash. I have been trying this for a few days now, and I will admit it does make me feel more awake, especially when I swish while taking an ice cold shower (how I wake up every morning).
Before you start inhaling coconut oil, consider doctors’ reactions. While “homeopathic doctors” may support and even enable this behavior, doctors with actual board certified degrees caution that it has high amounts of saturated fat – even more so than butter. As well as, all coconut oils are not created equally; some have very harsh chemicals and are also very harsh on the environment. While some saturated fat is not detrimental to the diet, too much has a documented negative effect on LDL cholesterol. That amount of coconut oil is over 2.5 times the amount of saturated fat recommended in a normal diet. This makes a borderline blood pressure/borderline high cholesterol or pre-existing and/or genetic factors towards heart a straight situation!!
Back to Miranda Kerr – it turns out that the overly enthusiastic new report in Australian Cosmo that went viral was a case of bad journalism. She consumed four TEASPOONS, not four TABLESPOONS. Four teaspoons is barely over a tablespoon. This is in line with doctors’ general recommendation to use this oil sparingly.
At the end of the day, some people can eat total garbage and still have supermodel genes. In a recent interview, Cindy Crawfoard revealed that Kate Moss had her rakelike frame on a cheeseburger and cigarette diet.
Apple cider vinegar
That shot of apple cider vinegar can help burn fat and lower appetite. There is actually some evidence that ACV as it’s called can help lower blood sugar and control weight gain. On the other hand, there is also evidence that too much vinegar in the diet, especially the concentrated kind that you would find in supplements, can rob the body of essential minerals, compromising blood flow to the organs, and even fertility. It can also cause complications with acid reflux and be very damaging to your throat and esophageal burns; my editor, Neda, knows this the hard way from taking shots to help subside the effects of chronic sinusitis. The sinusitis was somewhat forgotten about because of the sting of the newfound burns.
My take: a moderate amount of apple cider vinaigrette as a salad dressing is probably ok, but highly concentrated amounts would be akin to downing a liter of pickle juice – why would you do that to your body?.
Ashwaganda gummies
Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that grows in Asia and Africa. It is commonly used for stress as an “adaptogen” (another wellness industry buzzword). Ashwaganda besides being hard to spell is trending especially the gummies sold by Goli, which has Jennifer Lopez as its spokesperson. Besides making J-Lo even richer, they are supposed to reduce and help you sleep.They come and gummy’s like those made by Allie and Coralie but you can also get the herbal tablets.
Based on reviews I have read on various websites, there is value in doing some due diligence before trying this product. In fact, the reviews scared me off completely from ordering it! . People complained of rashes, breakouts, swelling, having intensely bad nightmares and contraindications with medications for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. It is known to interact with those who have to take immunosuppressants, benzodiazepines, central nervous system depressants, and those are prescribed thyroid hormone regulation medications. Interactions of these kinds, especially- can be frightening and can land one in the ER. And there are studies tying both ashwagandha and green tea extract to acute liver failure.
With herbal supplements, it’s your body, but keep in mind that herbal supplements are not regulated by the food and drug administration and may be contraindicated for certain meds. Consult a doctor before going on any type of herbal supp!
Master cleanses
This is an oldie but I still see it pop up as an option around New Year’s. Master cleanses started from Stanley Burroughs’ 1976 book, “The Master Cleanser” and has pushed heavily by the new age community and especially, Beyonce who utilized the cleanse to prepare herself for her 2006 movie, “Dream Girls” The cleanse consists of a lemonade-like beverage, salt-water drink, and herbal laxative tea. The lemonade drink, consists of lemon, spring water, grade A maple syrup. The cleanse claims to, “give it ten days and you’ll drop pounds, “detox” your organs, make you feel energetic, vital, happy, and healthy and junk foods will be a thing of the past for you.” Burroughs claims that some of the side effects will include lethargy, hunger, irritability, and intense cravings are the body’s way of the detoxification process.
While technically, yes, you will lose weight- this is a completely unsustainable way to lose weight and ‘reset your organs.’ There is no scientific evidence that this cleanse works and doctors have come against it and make the plausible point that the liver already ‘cleanses’ the body quite well and that because you have taken your body into a state of starvation, it is inevitable for you to gain the weight back.
I have not tried Master Cleanse specifically, but did a 6-day juicing program a few years ago. It was miserable. Most people I know who have tried something like this have lived to regret it. As many doctors point out, your body is completely capable of detoxing itself.
What is more reasonable is to enhance your body’s own detoxification system by limiting alcohol, getting enough sleep and drinking plenty of water! Poor water, it’s so boring that all of these bells and whistles have taken its place, but if you want to get bougie with your water, you can read my guide to fancy water here.
More
Celebrity diet trends – the good,the fad and the crazy (Healthcare Blog)
