Ann Louise Gittleman, an alternative medicine advocate who holds a Ph.D. in holistic nutrition, designed the Fat Flush diet to help people lose weight. Gittleman claims that the typical modern lifestyle causes the liver to become toxic, reducing the body's fat-burning abilities. The Fat Flush supposedly detoxifies your liver and initiates fat-burning processes that promote weight loss. Because no scientific evidence supports these claims, you should discuss the Fat Flush diet with a physician before starting the weight loss plan.
Strict Diet Plan
The Fat Flush diet requires you to follow a strict diet plan that forbids a variety of foods. Many people find this diet approach problematic, because the food list is so restrictive. For example, Phase one consists of 8 oz. of lean protein, one egg, two servings of fruit and unlimited low-carbohydrate vegetables each day. Dieters must drink a water, cranberry juice and psyllium husk mixture and take gamma linolenic acid each day. Eliminating all margarine, alcohol, fats, oil, sugar, bread, grains, high-carbohydrate vegetables and dairy products can be difficult for some people.
Incompatible with Vegetarian Diet
The Fat Flush plan emphasizes the importance of eating lean protein from chicken, veal, lamb, beef, turkey or fish each day. This emphasis on animal proteins makes it difficult for vegetarians or vegans to follow the diet. Tofu is considered an acceptable animal protein substitute on the Fat Flush plan. However, beans, whole-grain products and other common vegetarian protein sources are forbidden. In general, the Fat Flush plan may be difficult for vegetarians or vegans.
Nutrient Deficiencies
The Fat Flush plan eliminates entire groups of foods, including grains and dairy products, during the first phase. Restricting dietary intake of entire food groups may lead to nutrient deficiencies. For example, dairy products provide your body with calcium, riboflavin and magnesium. Whole grains increase your fiber intake and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Caloric Intake
The first phase of the Fat Flush plan restricts your daily caloric intake from 1,100 to 1,200. In Phase two, dieters slightly increase their daily intake from 1,200 to 1,500 calories. Although calorie restriction is an important part of weight loss, the Fat Flush diet may not provide enough calories for some. Consuming such a low number of calories also makes it difficult to perform vigorous physical activity during the diet. Women may miss menstrual periods due to the severe calorie restriction.
Scientific Evidence
Although Gittleman claims that the Fat Flush plan increases your metabolism, burns fat and detoxifies the liver, little scientific evidence exists to support these claims. According to Donald Hensrud, a physician at the Mayo Clinic, scientists have not found evidence to suggest that liver toxins affect weight. Furthermore, the efficacy of gamma linoleic acid as a fat-burning supplement has not been tested in humans. Talk to your doctor about the Fat Flush diet to determine whether it is an appropriate weight loss plan for you.
Member Comments