Move over, Paleo. There’s a new kid on the block and it’s called “The Sirtfood Diet.” The diet — detailed in a book published in January by Aidan Goggins and Glen Matten, who both have master’s degrees in nutritional medicine from the University of Surrey in England — has already reached celebrity status, mainly because a few stars have sworn it works. (And, I must agree that Grammy goddess Adele looks great.)
The premise? That a diet rich in foods that contain sirtuins will promote weight loss. According to some research, this specific plant-based protein may mimic the effects of calorie restriction by speeding up metabolism, increasing muscles’ efficiency, switching on fat-burning mechanisms and reducing inflammation. But is that true? Let’s explore a few questions about the diet further:
[See: 7 Reasons to Choose a Plant-Based Diet.]
1. How does the actual diet work?
The diet consists of two phases. During phase one, which is three days, followers limit their calorie intake to 1,000 calories per day. Their daily “meals” include three sirtfood green juices plus one “normal meal” rich in sirtfoods. On days four through seven, dieters increase their calorie intake to 1,500 calories a day. On these days, they drink two juices and eat two meals.
During phase two, which is considered the maintenance stage and lasts 14 days, followers eat three balanced sirtfood-rich meals each day, along with a sirtfood green juice. After that, the recommendation is to eat a balanced diet rich in sirtuin foods along with the green juices.
2. What foods are rich in sirtuins?
The list includes walnuts, strawberries, coffee, kale, celery with leaves, extra virgin olive oil, buckwheat, chili, cocoa (that’s at least 85-percent pure), matcha, green tea, medjool dates, red chicory, red onion, red wine, arugula (aka rocket), soy and turmeric.
3. What is in the green juice?
Kale, parsley, rocket, celery, apple, lemon and matcha.
4. Will you lose weight?
Yes. Well, at the beginning, that is. Almost any time you restrict calories, you will lose weight; 1,000 calories per day is indeed restriction. Some reports say people have lost seven pounds the first week on this diet, but that’s probably water weight and will most likely be gained back. As for 1,500 calories a day, that’s a much safer amount, but — as with any diet plan — calories should vary depending on your age, height and activity level. For example, 1,500 calories a day is way too little for a 6-foot man, but probably a little too much for a 5-foot-2-inch sedentary woman. There are no one-size-fits-all diets.
[See: 15 Best Weight-Loss Diets at a Glance.]
5. Are these foods healthy?
Yes. I would definitely recommend all these sirtuin-rich foods to my clients as choices to include in their overall diets. However, more is not better. Too much oil, cocoa and wine can also equate to too many calories no matter how you want to look at it. And, as much as I love coffee, too much can just leave you anxious and jittery. And, if you like your coffee sweet, you again may face a calorie problem.
6. Is this diet sustainable?
That’s always the question you should ask yourself before starting any diet plan — especially if you want it to be the last diet you ever follow. But it’s hard for me to answer this question in regards to this diet. The green juice seems to be an important component of the plan, so if you don’t like the taste of it, there’s your first problem. And surely, if you don’t like the other foods on the list, forget about it. Personally, I think diets should be more about teaching portion control and how to create healthier versions of the foods you already love, without including a specific list of foods to be eaten daily. Don’t we already have enough pressure in our lives?
[See: The 38 Easiest Diets to Follow: in Pictures.]
7. What’s the bottom line?
I’ve definitely seen far worse diets come on the scene in the past couple of years. From what I can tell about the research on sirtuins, however, it’s been more about human longevity than weight loss. The research is promising, but more research definitely needs to be conducted — especially in humans — before any conclusive recommendations can be made. These foods are not silver bullets, and simply having them on your plate won’t guarantee weight loss. Other lifestyle factors must come into play.
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Is ‘The Sirtfood Diet’ Legit? originally appeared on usnews.com
