Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The Facts on the Cookie Diet

By Keira Adams

In the world of fad diets almost nothing can be more absurd than the cookie diet. This diet is based on the premise that a mixture of amino acids baked into a cookie can control a patient's hunger.

It's been more than 30 years since the cookie diet arrived on the scene. Maybe it's completely new to you. If you have, you're probably still questioning whether this somewhat odd diet plan will really do what it promises.

Fad diets are short term weight loss programs in which people are supposed to lose a lot of weight. They're popular because the weight loss tips that are central to these plans supposedly result in rapid shedding of excess pounds. Fad diets generally include some super food, like the cookie in the cookie diet, with miraculous weight loss properties. They are usually sold by a series of wild claims, much like the old pitch men pitched in the traveling medicine shows.

Sanford Siegel created the cookie diet in 1975 while he was doing research for a nutrition book. To maintain the cookie diet people would eat six cookies a day, plus a regular dinner. All told the daily caloric intake was about 800 calories. The cookie diet exploded to 24 clinics around the world. By the 80's 200 doctors were pushing the cookie diet. The diet was quickly expanded to miracle soups and shakes that also contained the amino acids.

A new version of the cookie diet became popular with Hollywood stars as the Hollywood cookie diet. The diet benefited from the media efforts of all the stars who tried it to lose weight.~Like the original cookie diet this Hollywood version replaced breakfast and lunch with cookies, then allowed a reasonable dinner.These cookies each contain 150 calories and fiber, protein and minerals.

Don't waste time with the cookie diet. Remember that good health comes from a balanced diet and an exercise program.In general this is a much healthier way to lose or maintain weight than relying on some fly by night miracle food, even if it is endorsed by someone you recognize from a movie.

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