Acai Berry And Other Fad Diets
Recently it seems as if most of the spam email I get promotes some kind of an acai berry product. Maybe it’s summer, or maybe it’s the Oprah perceived endorsement.
Acai Berry, a Brazilian fruit, has been recently promoted and marketed as a highly beneficial dietary supplement.
But the Center For Science In The Public Interest (CSPI) recently issued a statement saying that “There’s no evidence whatsoever to suggest that acai berry pills will help shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse colon, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other commonly advertised functions.”
The CSPI also warned that customers who provide acai berry internet sellers with their credit card info may have trouble later on stopping unauthorized charges to their credit cards from these companies.
It’s not just acai berry. Many fad diets promise a quick-fix type solution of a fast and easy weight loss.
This outrageous tweet is a good example:
Fad diets often promote a single “miracle food” or “miracle ingredient.” Many of them eliminate, or severely restrict, one or more of the five food groups and treat foods as either “good” or “bad.” Many fad diets also lack major nutrients such as dietary fiber, carbohydrates or healthy fats, as well as important vitamins and minerals. If you follow them for extended periods, or repeatedly, you may develop serious health problems later in life.
Acai Berry diets are relatively new, but the phenomenon of fad diets is hardly new. Classic examples of fad diets are the grapefruit diet, and the cabbage soup diet.
The Grapefruit Diet claims that there are magical ingredients in grapefruit and that when eaten with protein, it triggers fat burning and causes weight loss. In reality, according to most experts, people lose weight on this diet simply because they severely restrict their caloric intake.
The Cabbage soup diet is a radical weight loss diet designed around heavy consumption of low-calorie cabbage soup for seven days. The goal is to lose 10 pounds in a week, but nutritional experts say it is nearly impossible to lose that much fat within a week, so most of the weight lost on this diet is water weight.
So why do people fall for fad diets and quick-weight-loss scams? Because we don’t like to hear that we need to work hard to achieve real results. “Fast and easy weight loss” sounds so much better then “slow and gradual weight loss.”
Indeed, achieving healthy, long-lasting weight loss is quite boring. You need to eat less (but not so much less that you’re constantly hungry); exercise more (but – for most people – no more than a few hours of moderate exercise each week); fill your plate with colorful fruit and veggies and whole grains, then add a little lean protein and healthy oil such as olive oil; limit intake of saturated fat, sweets, salty snacks and alcohol; drink plenty of water; and get plenty of sleep.
It’s boring, but it’s the only thing that works.
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John W. Zimmer responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 7:19 pm →
I did one of the grapefruit pill diets in the 80′s because when they asked the question, have you ever known anyone that has eaten grapefruit and did not lose weight? At the time (with little critical thinking) I assumed that meant that people that ate grapefruit – lost weight because of something in the fruit. Well for 25 bucks – I could buy the pills and not have to eat the messy grapefruit!… oh well – lesson learned the hard way.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 7:53 pm →
@ John: Interesting! Your story illustrates perfectly how these diets are being marketed.
The Lawyer Mom responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 7:56 pm →
“Because we don’t like to hear that we need to work hard to achieve real results.” — truer words were never spoken. Sigh. Because I WISH there were a miracle pill. Truly I do.
Acai Berry Fad Diets | Acai Berry responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 8:23 pm →
[...] View original here: Acai Berry Fad Diets [...]
Emily@remodelingthislife responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 8:30 pm →
have you seen that lazy man and money has been threatened, issued a cease and desist for posting a negative post about MonaVie?
mind boggling.
like you said, this is just another scam that people want to believe in because it is easier than the way that actually works.
Mike Goad responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pm →
I did the cabbage soup diet, the Adkins diet and more. What really works is exercise and reducing calories ingested. It does take longer and is HARD !!! But it can be done. I did it in the early 90s, but then backslid. I’m trying it again…, just have to keep at it and get back to it when we get back home from this little three week vacation to Colorado.
Carla responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2009 at 10:50 pm →
I think people need to realize that there is not one way of eating that fits everyone. They don’t know the true definition of nutrition or what they are eating. It may take years before you find out what works for you – it did for me and I’m still learning! I think the pushers of the fad diets prey on people who have given up without really putting much time and effort into weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle.
Bonnie Gray | FaithBarista responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 12:11 am →
Well, your last paragraph sums it all up perfectly — the secret to having a great post-baby body (j/k!)
.. Hubby and I have this ongoing inside joke on the new fad diets coming out, as well as reading the “fitness” mag covers. “They haven’t invented anything new, people! You can’t eat anything you want and not exercise, and still lose weight!” The real secret to having a healthy lifestyle, though, is contentment that comes from withinl. From there is the power to make changes to make healthy choices for one’s whole being. That is why it’s much easier to focus on exterior solutions, like acai berry or whatever it is, rather than working on the inside. BTW, I fell for one of these traps as a twenty something, with the book Fit For Life. I got sick and anemic, starving for lack of protein! Never again, I swore. And I got really educated on healthy foods. I am a total fan and subscribe to Nutrition Action Healthletter and my health has changed since adopting educated choices about food. http://www.cspinet.org/nah/index.htm — If you try it, lemme know what you think. They have ZERO advertisement in their newsletter. So, really honest education about health.
Kelvin Kao responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 12:55 am →
People want quick fixes, yes, but I think that’s only one reason why people get into these fad diets. The other reason, in my opinion, is that they don’t question the validity of the diet. I’ve seen many infomercials that’s packed with “testimonials”, but give really weak explanations when it comes to why the diet works the way it does. Magical extract from some exotic plant? I would like to know what chemical I am actually taking in and find out about it before I put it into my body every day. Sometimes we are too trusting of what the infomercials tell us.
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 1:14 am →
Hi Vered,
I often wonder what the next fad with be. Like you said, permanent weight loss does come down to common sense – everything in moderation. There is no magic pill, but people sure make a lot of money convincing the public the have “it”.
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 1:19 am →
When you put it like that, boring, but effective sure beats fun but ineffective.
Tracy responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 5:29 am →
Hi Vered! I completely agreed. I did the Shangri La Diet as a lark on my blog and it didn’t seem like a long term solution. In fact, it seemed like it made me more hyperaware of food and focused on it all of the time. I spent far more time planning what I would eat, when, how much than I think is healthy.
BTW, loved your post about losing the baby weight.
Evelyn Lim responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 5:44 am →
Other than general detox diets, I don’t go for fad diets. I know that I will never last on any of them. Life is meant to be enjoyed and not be put in a state of unhealthy restraint. There really is no magic to weight loss! Make wise food choices and exercise!
Dot responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 7:49 am →
Amen, Vered.
JanB responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 9:17 am →
I took prescription diet pills (Meridia) for a year, lost 121 pounds! Clapping! Ok, stop clapping.
Here’s the bad part, blew out my gallbladder, Had surgery, crashed my hormonal system – had a miscarriage and again, surgery (D&E), grew a 8 cm ovarian cyst. I have been on hormone replacement for year trying to stabalize.
I have been miserable since and have gained it all back.
Talk about depressing. Nothing works except eating less and moving more, but I can’t seem to do it on my own.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 10:16 am →
@ The Lawyer Mom: Everyone does, but so far, it doesn’t seem to exist.
@ Emily: There’s a lot of money involved in the diet industry. As long as people continue buying, that is.
@ Mike Goad: It is extremely hard, being surrounded by all these food temptations when our bodies really need so little.
@ Carla: I agree, and I think many people don’t even try because it seems so hard to change habits for life.
@ Bonnie Gray: Thanks for the link! Sounds like a useful newsletter.
@ Kelvin Kao: I agree – we are too trusting of the media and of advertisers in general, not just when it comes to the diet industry.
@ Barbara Swafford: People do make a lot of money from selling fad diets.
@ J.D. Meier: And it’s not even “fun.” Many fad diets are pure torture.
@ Tracy: One of the main problems with “diets” is that they make you super-focused on food, all the time.
@ Evelyn Lim: Exactly.
@ Dot: Glad you agree.
@ JanB: I’m so sorry about your horrible experience. Thank you for sharing it here.
Don Mills Diva responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 11:27 am →
Yup – everybody wants a quick fix when in reality it’s all about eating better, eating less and exercising more. Period.
I actually admire actresses and models (Elizabeth Hurley for eg.) who have the guts to admit that they stay skinny by going hungry – it’s not healthy but at least it’s honest. If you’re overweight you’re gonna hafta suffer a little to lose it, if you want to be model-skinny you’re probably gonna have to be miserable to get there.
When I assess it that way, honestly, I can honestly say that a figure much thinner than I have now just isn’t worth it to me…
BTW – thanks for the link above.
Jannie Funster responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm →
Yep, the boring old way is the best long-term way to go.
Sometimes when we overeat we are really stuffing another part that needs attention, such as lack of a fun hobby or some other productive pursuit to be passionate about.
And yes, thanks for the August link love. I am thinking of ideas for “What Not To Do At A Piano Lesson.” Kelly’s teacher is game, so we’ll see what we can come up with.
And want you to know those old links I had to you will soon be changed to Blogger For Hire, rather than Mommy Blogger, as per your evolution.
Dr. J responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm →
I was just saying the other day to a friend, “Wow, wouldn’t it be great if some of these (fill in the blank miracle thing) actually worked!” I believe the quote is, it never gets easy, but the rewards make it worth it for (fill in what you want
MomGrind responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 5:06 pm →
@ Don Mills Diva: I agree that we should all find our balance. Trying to become model-thin, for most women (some really are that thin naturally), does involve a certain level of deprivation and starvation, and is extremely unhealthy.
@ Jannie Funster: re the link change, that is SO SO nice of you. I really appreciate it!
@ Dr. J: Yup, if they actually worked, that would have been VERY nice.
Marelisa responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2009 at 8:59 pm →
Hi Vered: I read an article awhile back written by a man who spent a few weeks “lurking” in a forum for people who wanted to lose weight. The comments posted by people in the forum were along the following lines:
- “Has anyone else heard that if you drink cold water you lose weight a lot faster because your body has to warm up the water (thereby burning calories)?”
- “I went to the gym twice last week and didn’t lose a single pound.”
- “Oh, that diet doesn’t work, I tried it for three weeks, lost four pounds, and then gained them right back as soon as I stopped the diet.”
You just want to ask these people: What are you thinking? There is no magic pill you can take, or exotic fruit you can eat, that will magically make you lose weight. You need to eat well and exercise, that’s the only way to reach a healthy weight.
RC - Rambling Along... responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am →
With as quickly as the diet fads change (eat only veggies. wait, eat only meat. wait, now you need to eat only foods with less than ?? calories or ?? grams of fat.), I’m still waiting for the cookie diet. Yes, cookies all the time. It has to happen, right?
(And as for the acai berry, the only thing I do like about it, is the fact that it is another food high in antioxidants. Is it a miracle food? No. But it appears to be a good addition to a well-rounded diet.)
Robin responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 am →
What are you doing opening your spam email? – ha. Good advice, Vered – not boring at all. The thing that gets my goat is that, barring the occasional hormone problem, overweight people are overweight because they eat when they are not hungry (I can testify to this myself). If we can manage to feed ourselves if and when and how our body is asking, then we will be in healthy shape. But many weight-loss treatments focus on stopping hunger – the over-eater wasn’t hungry in the first place!
VeRonda responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 am →
You know, I’m not sure why those who send out the spams think it’ll work. For me, it irritates me more than anything and then I just want to get rid of it, you know? I just think people need to do whats good for them to be fit and to feel good.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 am →
@ Marelisa: “You just want to ask these people: What are you thinking?” Exactly.
@ RC: I’m pretty sure there IS a “cookie diet” on the market already – try googling it and you’ll see.
@ Robin: “many weight-loss treatments focus on stopping hunger – the over-eater wasn’t hungry in the first place!” Very true.
@ VeRonda: That’s a very good question about spam. I guess it works with a very low percentage of the receivers (as in, they open the email and click on the links), which makes it worth it to the spammers?
Katie West/The Levity Coach responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm →
Vered….maybe it is all the whole genie in the bottle story we grew up with.
The genie shows up, offers three wishes, and BAM! Presto…Instant Gratification.
Having to work for anything is kinda down hill from there. I feel that this mentality spills over to personal development, get rich quick schemes, and diet stuff.
What will happen when we….gasp….realize life is a lot of work and in fact, struggle and challenge are all a part of the journey?
Maybe we’d finally hurdle past our desire for delusions and get on with achieving our goals.
Cool post, Vered.
Katie
adkins diet responds:
Posted: September 14th, 2009 at 2:20 pm →
adkins diet…
Your topic Acai Berry Fad Diets was interesting when I found it on Monday searching for adkins diet…
Alice responds:
Posted: October 27th, 2009 at 6:24 am →
This is so strange! I’m brazilian and here in Brazil açaí is often eaten by athletes after going to gym, because it has LOTS of calories.
It’s a fruit very commom in the north of the country and people who live there eat it to reinforce their diet. I just can’t imagine using that to lose weight!