What Is The Perricone Weight Loss Diet?

“The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet” was written by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a board-certified dermatologist and New York Times best-selling author. Dr. Perricone promises to deliver visible results in weight-loss, wrinkle reduction and overall aging. The diet combats what Perricone refers to as the inflammation-fat connection through the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, lifestyle and numerous anti-inflammatory supplements.

Inflammation

Dr. Perricone’s diet is based on the connection of obesity and disease to inflammation. He states that chronic, invisible inflammation within our cells is the cause of body fat, cravings, excessive appetite, diabetes and the inability to lose excess body weight. In June 2010, the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University of Washington, published a study supporting the theory that hypothalamic inflammation can predispose us to diet-induced obesity. Perricone also links inflammation to wrinkling, aging and disease processes.

Omega-3 Miracle

Omega-3s are considered essential fatty acids because the body cannot produce them. Dr. Perricone encourages the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids for their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to sensitize our cells to insulin. He also suggests that these fatty acids turn on certain fat burning genes. Best sources for omega-3s include fish and fish-oil supplements. The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in County Cork, Ireland, reported in “Nutrition Reviews” in May 2010 that consumption of fatty fish or fish-oil supplements results in the reduction of chronic diseases involving inflammatory processes.

Food Groups

The diet employs 10 food supergroups in its formula for permanent weight-loss. Supergroup 1 includes fatty, cold-water fish. The number one choice due to its high level of omega-3s is wild Alaskan salmon. Supergroup 2 features apples, pears and grapefruit. Supergroup 3 focuses on fats from fruits including avocado, olives and coconuts. Supergroup 4 contains spices like cinnamon and turmeric. Supergroup 5 is hot foods like chili peppers. Supergroup 6 includes seeds such as flax, sesame and almonds. Group 7 is beans. Group 8 is yogurt. Group 9 is whole-grain oats. Group 10 is cruciferous vegetables. Perricone considers all of these foods to have proven benefits for your health.

Supplements

Supplements figure heavily in the Perricone diet. He does not believe all necessary nutrients can be consumed in a healthy diet. He recommends 12 supplements as essential to his program: omega-3 fish oil, alpha lipoic acid, astaxanthin, carnitine, acetyl-l-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid, coenzyme Q10, chromium, gamma linolenic acid, glutamine, maitake mushroom and dimethylaminoethanol. Perricone encourages dieters to use his line of supplements. They range from $35 for a 30-day supply to over $200 for combinations, as of 2010.

Reviews

The Perricone diet receives both good and skeptical reviews. "The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet” was adapted from a previous book, “The Perricone Prescription.” Quackwatch.org accuses Perricone of including questionable, unverifiable and erroneous statements in “The Perricone Prescription” and considers the plan speculative and fanciful. In an Amazon customer review, Dr. Margaret Andrew-Smith, specializing in obesity treatment for over 14 years, states that the plan is not a scientific, medicine-based solution for obesity. She is disappointed about the need for expensive foods and supplements and suggests that you keep looking for a reliable diet. Other Amazon consumer reviewers find the plan helpful for losing weight, with 52 of 96 reviews scoring it with five stars.