Fat Flush Diet
Our Reviewer Says ...
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“There is no credible scientific evidence proving that ‘flushing’ and ‘detoxing’ the liver results in weight loss.”
At a Glance
By Amy Paturel
The goal of the Fat Flush plan is to cleanse the liver, which according to author Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., is a fat-burning machine. With so many toxins being dumped into the liver through bile, its ability to digest fats becomes seriously impaired, claims Gittleman. The three-phase Fat Flush program requires dieters to "detoxify" their livers by swearing off toxic foods, beverages and medications -- things like alcohol, caffeine and birth control pills. The first phase of the diet bans almost everything but fruits, vegetables and some protein. The next two phases gradually add back diet-friendly carbs like brown rice and, in phase three, dairy products. But the Fat Flush prescriptions extend far beyond calorie counting and food restriction to ongoing self care (think getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, popping supplements and keeping a daily journal).
Checklist
- Cost: Expensive. Ingredients like flaxseed oil, grass-fed meat and complicated supplement cocktails are pricey.
- Meals Provided: No.
- Diet Duration: The first phase is two weeks. Phase two can last from weeks to months, depending on how much weight you want to lose. Phase three is a lifetime commitment.
- Fitness Requirements: Moderate to brisk walking and bouncing on a mini trampoline. Weight training begins in phase three.
- Time Commitment: The daily journaling requirement is time-consuming. Support and information sharing is available online.
- Eating Out: Challenging. Gittleman offers tips for selecting and ordering "fat flush appropriate" dishes at a variety of restaurants. Rubios, Boston Market and other "fresh" fast food giants are listed, too.
- Alcohol: No.
- Vegetarian-Friendly: Not unless you want to subsist on whey protein shakes. Gittleman even limits soy protein because soy is not "complete" (it lacks the amino acid methionine).
- Strict/Flexible Eating Plan: Strict.
More Info
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