The Fat Resistance Diet

The Fat Resistance Diet is based on the theory that correcting a hormonal imbalance in your body is the key to gaining the svelte physique you want. It focuses on changing your eating habits to keep your hormones in balance, which will in turn help you control your weight. Always consult a doctor before trying a new diet.

History

This diet is developed by Dr. Leo Galland, an internist who has a private practice in New York and is the Foundation for Integrated Medicine director. Galland's theory is that people who are overweight often suffer from a chemical imbalance that is due to leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that has a key role in fat metabolism. According to Galland, correcting your imbalance reduces inflammation in your body and improves your body's ability to regulate metabolism and appetite. According to his premise, inflammation causes leptin to be blocked, and so does obesity. The remedy: eat the correct foods and ditch to incorrect foods.

Function

Galland advises dieters to reduce intake of sugar and unhealthy fats and swap burgers and French fries that promote inflammation in your body for superfoods that reduce inflammation in the body. He says that once you start eating foods like cherries, berries, flaxseeds, garlic, whole grains, fish, almonds and walnuts you will actually stop craving unhealthy foods. He also says you'll actually be able to eat more and lose weight, though correcting the imbalance also will curb your appetite.

Features

While carbohydrates are cut out for the first few stages of this diet, they do get added back in. Fruits and vegetables play a central role in the Fat Resistance Diet, especially those that are rich in phytonutrients like flavonoids and cartenoids such as oranges, blueberries, spinach carrots. Omega-3 rich foods like flaxseed and salmon are key as well. Other seeds and nuts he recommends include almonds and sesame seeds. Galland says herbs and spices are a great way to boost flavor in your diet without raising your caloric intake. Basil, cilantro, turmeric, parsley, cinnamon, ginger, pepper and cardamom are among those he recommends. Plain, nonfat yogurt and egg whites are also on his "superfoods" list. Fiber is important as well, he notes.

Considerations

Leptin deficiency is linked to obesity, according to C.T. Montague, lead author for a study published in the journal "Nature." Montague examined two children who suffer early-onset obesity and found that they both have low levels of the hormone in their bodies. He's the first to take a look at this possible link in humans. Previous studies establishing the link between leptin and obesity were done on mice. Leptin has profound effects on energy expenditure, or calorie burn, and appetite, Montague notes. However, controlled trials on correcting leptin imbalance to combat obesity have been conducted only on animals, notes the Diet Spotlight website. Success in animals does not always translate to success in humans.

Expert Insight

While recipes are provided via the diet website and in the book, committing to this diet also means committing a substantial amount of time to plan and prep your meals and snacks, notes the Diet Choices website. On the up side, the meal plans provide plenty of alternatives for extremely healthy meals that will fit just about everyone's tastes.