Trending Celebrity Diets Exposed — From Quirky to Bizarre

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Probe the secrets of the stars and uncover insights into trending celebrity diets that expose how A-listers maintain their stunning physiques. Celebs showcase a shocking collection of dietary paths, from all meat to all plants.

Most celebrities are known for keeping up with society’s beauty standards and, sometimes, even surpassing them. One of these ever-present standards is staying what most of the world considers “fit.” 

However, we all know that part of the job of being a celebrity is looking good, and their diets may look a lot different from ours. So, what do these actors, pop stars, and public figures do to stay in shape?

Exploring the Weird World of Celebrity Diets

Never failing to entertain, celebrities don’t disappoint when it comes to diet plans. Are these odd celebrity diets only a passing trend that lasts as long as a new haircut, or is there more to learn by uncovering their dietary influences for chiseled perfection?

Even when celebs work with well-known trainers and nutritionists, their examples aren’t necessarily yours to follow. Quick results might seem alluring, but there could be a hidden cost.

Trina Krug, MS, CDSP, understands it can be “fun and exciting to see how different nutritional choices affect people, but always research before blindly jumping into the latest diet trend.” This includes consulting your trusted medical professional before making dietary changes.

Meat-Based, Sometimes Raw

The all-meat trend, known as the carnivore diet, involves consuming animal products exclusively and excludes all other food groups. This means no fruits, vegetables, grains or other plant-based foods. It’s a high-protein, high-fat diet that eliminates carbohydrates entirely.

Dr. Shawn Baker established the first World Carnivore Month in January 2018, and people have celebrated it since. As the new year rolls in, folks worldwide commit to a month of carnivore diet recipes, hoping to reset their health. 

Among household names like Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson, TV personality Heidi Montag said on the Unpopular Podcast that she’s never felt better after going carnivore and shared her goal of eating raw organ meat a few times a month. Consuming raw organ meat has become so commonplace for her that she was seen publicly finishing errands while biting into a raw bison heart. While there may be an interest in eating raw, many cooked carnivore diet meals don’t raise such high eyebrows.

Carnivore diets can vary. In general, however, they follow the same principles:

• Zero or near-zero carbohydrate intake
• High protein and high-fat
• Focuses on meat, organ meats, and other animal products

Low-carbs with minimal sugar

A low-carb diet is a way of eating that focuses on cutting down on foods with lots of carbohydrates and avoiding added sugars. Low-carb diets typically emphasize consuming more protein and healthy fats while limiting starchy vegetables and grains. 

Some popular low-carb diets include the Atkins diet, paleo diet, and ketogenic diet, also called keto. Each of these plans has unique guidelines for carb consumption, but all share the common goal of reducing carbs to promote better health.

Instead of white bread and sugary snacks, celebrities like Victoria Beckham eat more vegetables and proteins. Her husband, David Beckham, jovially reported to Vouge, “She only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables; she will rarely deviate from that.” In addition to fish, crustless cheeseburger pie is another example of a suitable low-carb meal.

Celebrity cosmetic nurse Alex Pike shared fried egg and steak with a side of avocado and red apple on her Instagram, calling it dinner. Her website states that she does best avoiding sugars, bread and pasta.

The low-carb diet is pretty straightforward. Most proponents of the diet will follow the same set of rules:

• 10% to 25% carbohydrates
• More protein and healthy fats
• Focuses on low-carb carb sources like vegetables and fruits

What does a low-carb meal plan look like? If you want to learn more about low-carb-friendly ingredients, check out my keto food list with macros.

Intermittent Fasting, Maybe Just One Meal a Day

Instead of eating anytime cravings strike, some stars limit themselves to a specific eating window and practice intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. This approach doesn’t focus on what you eat but when you eat it. 

For example, some celebrities follow the 16:8 method, where they fast for 16 hours each day and consume all their meals within an 8-hour window. Others might adopt the 5:2 method, which involves eating normally for five days a week and restricting calorie intake on the remaining two days.

Actors Chris Hemsworth and David Harbour found success with time-restricted eating when they needed to lose weight for upcoming roles. Hemsworth told Men’s Health this diet “dramatically increased” his energy levels while “eating less calories but not feeling starved.”

Women are testing this approach, too. Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Scarlett Johansson are big names sharing their intermittent fasting experience. Depending on the specific protocol, a fasting period can range from 12 to 18 hours daily. Via CNBC, Aniston told UK Magazine Radio Times that she noticed a “big difference” with a fasting period of 16 hours.

Some celebrities pursue an even tighter schedule by employing a one-meal-a-day diet, abbreviated to OMAD. In this case, dieters fast for 23 hours and eat one large meal daily, as the name suggests. Fans of OMAD include Jack Dorsey and musicians Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin.

People on intermittent fasting have varying approaches to their eating patterns. Here’s what you need to know before trying it out:

• The focus is more on when you eat instead of what you eat
• Start with the easiest type, which is 12:12 (fasting for 12 hours everyday), then work your way up to your desired ratio
• You can also try OMAD, 5:2, and Alternate Day Fasting (ADF)

Emphasis on Sirtuins

The Sirtfood diet has gained immense popularity due to its strong backing from numerous celebrities. Notable personalities such as Pippa Middleton, Lorraine Pascale, the Food Network chef Jodi Kidd and a boxer named David Haye have attributed their physique to following the principles of the Sirtfood diet.

The emphasis on consuming foods rich in sirtuins is a defining feature of the Sirtfood diet. The theory claims that these proteins stimulate specific metabolic processes, potentially resulting in weight loss. For instance, foods like green tea, salmon and blueberries are emphasized due to their perceived ability to activate fat-burning pathways in the body.

The Sirtfood diet is one of the least health trends taking Hollywood by storm. Here’s what’s on the menu with this type of diet:

• Arugula (rocket)
• Blueberries
• Buckwheat
• Capers
• Coffee
• Dark chocolate (85% cocoa)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Kale
• Lovage
• Matcha green tea
• Medjool dates
• Onions
• Parsley
• Red chicory
• Red wine
• Soy
• Strawberries
• Turmeric
• Walnuts

Plant-Based With Little to No Animal Foods

Plant-based diets include a range of approaches that all arrange plant foods as the most significant portion of the diet while minimizing or eliminating animal foods. The plant-based umbrella includes flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, raw vegan and more variations. 

Actress Natalie Portman, a long-term vegetarian and now vegan, tells the Hollywood Reporter she sees her dietary choices as an expression of her environmental and moral values. Joaquin Phoenix, Venus Williams and Pamela Anderson are other well-known advocates of plant-based eating.

Anne Mauney, MPH, RD, dietitian and blogger at fANNEtastic food, cautions against jumping on trendy bandwagons because “celebrities are not nutrition experts,” and as well intended as they may be, “they may not always promote nutritional guidance that is sound or sustainable long term.” Instead, she encourages working with a registered dietitian to develop a personalized and realistic nutrition plan that suits your specific lifestyle and needs.

Plant-based diets are the complete opposite of carnivore diets. Generally, here’s what a plant-based diet looks like:

• Eliminates most, if not all animal foods, including meat, dairy, and eggs
• Some people eat fish, eggs, and dairy, but still keep the majority of their eating plant-based
• Most people on a plant-based diet will find other protein-rich plant-based sources to replace animal products, such as tofu, lentils, quinoa, etc.

Cyclical and Periodic Cleanses

Whether cyclical or periodic, cleanses involve intermittent periods of strict dietary restrictions and detoxification practices, followed by periods of regular eating. These diets can take different forms, such as juice cleanses, superfood powders, or detox diets and aim to promote overall health, cleanse the body of toxins and sometimes aid in weight loss.

Many celebrities, like Nicole Richie, Jessica Alba and Blake Lively, promote their success with this juice cleansing. Beyoncé put the spotlight on the Master Cleanse, or lemonade diet when she famously told Oprah she lost 20 pounds from it for an upcoming role. Here are some popular cleansing methods:

• Juice cleanse
• Apple cider cleanse
• Water cleanse
• Sugar detox
• Fasting 

Eliminating All Toxins

Staying away from toxins is nothing new, but the macrobiotic diet takes it to a whole new level. According to Cancer Research UK, the macrobiotic diet aims to avoid foods with toxins. This means focusing on organic whole grains, locally grown and organic fruits and vegetables, and soups with vegetables, seaweed, legumes, chickpeas, lentils, and miso. Some people may eat small amounts of nuts, seeds, pickled vegetables, and organic meat and fish.

At the same time, people on a macrobiotic diet should avoid processed foods, foods with artificial ingredients, and vitamin and mineral supplements. The belief is to keep food intake as pure as possible.

The macrobiotic diet cannot cure cancer, but people with cancer may use it to complement their therapy. Some patients believe that following this type of diet can make them feel more positive and healthy during their treatment.

The macrobiotic diet was created by Japanese philosopher George Oshawa in the 1920s. However, most people came to know it thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. In an interview with V Magazine, Paltrow revealed that she was on the macrobiotic diet for three to four years before getting pregnant. After her cravings were gone, she continued the diet.

Pop star Madonna also follows the macrobiotic diet most days, filling her meals with veggies, sea vegetables, nuts, beans, ginger tea, and coconut water. She also cites various workouts like yoga and Pilates as her secret to staying fit in her 60s. 

If you want to try a macrobiotic diet, ask your doctor first. Here’s what it can look like:

• Focusing on organic and whole foods
• Avoiding microwaves and cooking using electricity
• Using ceramic, glass, and stainless steel to store food
• Purifying your water
• Preparing food in a relaxed environment

Crash Dieting Is Still, Unfortunately, Popular

Crash diets are still notoriously popular among celebrities, whether publicized or not. One such example is Kim Kardashian’s controversial 16-pound weight loss in preparation for the 2022 Met Gala. 

The CDC recommends a one to two-pound weight loss per week to keep things safe and healthy, but Kim lost all those 16 pounds in just three weeks. That means she lost an average of five pounds per week, which prompted health experts to warn against dangerous weight loss strategies.

In Conclusion

Celebrity diets open alluring doors to hopeful weight loss, improved mental clarity and better health. However, it’s crucial for anyone considering these diets to exercise caution and approach them with an informed perspective.

Stars may swear their diet is the reason they are shedding pounds and managing hectic work schedules while staying in shape, but their results won’t hold for everyone. Individuals should consult with a doctor or nutritionist to ensure their choices are safe and appropriate for individual health needs.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.