Diet fads

It seems we can’t resist a diet fad.  A recent survey has shown that by the age of 45 the average British woman will have tried 61 diets – that’s two a year from the age of 16! And our obsession for quick fixes means that we’re always looking for a healthy snack or drink that will make us look younger and slimmer without having to put in all that much effort.

So what’s healthy and what’s not?  The ELLE beauty team are suckers for a frozen yoghurt or fresh smoothie, and we have new and quirky diet fads landing on our desks nearly every day.  We decided it's time to learn the truth about our favourite snacks, asking nutrition expert Amelia Freer and USA Pro Personal Trainer Lucy Wydham-Read to share their insider knowledge and give the thumbs up or down on the latest and most common fads…

Click here to visit Amelia Freer's website...
To find out more about Lucy Wydham-Read click here...

Naturally isotonic, it contains potassium, sodium and calcium. Great for rehydration instead of water, and ideal for use pre or post exercise (and when hung-over!).

'Not all of the brands are pure though so read labels and avoid the ones with added fruit, which ups the (natural) sugar content' says Amelia.  

Keeping hydrated can help to reduce cravings for foods and is especially beneficial for skins appearance.  'As coconut water is fat free it is fine to drink if trying to lose weight' she adds.

Try Tiana Organic Coconut Water, £1.76, www.ocado.com

'This is a great natural alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners' says Lucy. But, be warned, it is still high in calories, so be careful not to overdose on it.

'A good guide is to only ever have the size of a dice throughout the day, no more than this' advises Lucy. 'The other great thing is that it is relatively low Glycaemic Index so it can help keep your blood sugar energy at a healthy level' she adds.

'The key here is to make it yourself as a lot of shop bought brands can have lots of hidden extra sugar and salt' recommends Lucy.

When making popcorn at home just use the popcorn kernals. 'If you have a sweet tooth add a stick of vanilla into the container once prepared, and for savoury add a little crushed black pepper and spices. You can then have this as a snack twice a day' she adds.

‘I am a huge fan of Omega supplements and will take them daily for the rest of my life’ says Amelia.  We need to have good levels of the good fats and it is hard to achieve this purely through our diet (and now with fish contamination and reducing fishing levels its getting even harder).

But many people have actually been taking too much Omega 3 (which helps against heart disease and builds cell membranes in the brain) knocking out the benefits of Omega 6 (which lowers cholesterol and supports skin health).  Getting the ration right is essential, Amelia suggests a ratio of 1:4 in favour of Omega 6, but a pre-mixed capsule is probably the easiest option.  

Omegas are essential for skin health, for keeping the cell structure firm and supple.Try Boots Pharmaceuticals Omega Oils 3, 6 and 9- 6 Months Supply (180 Capsules), £12.49

There are a lot of rubbish ones out there. Read the list of ingredients first to ensure you aren't drinking one with added sugars/sweeteners and other nasties. Collagen is a very large molecule and can rarely be absorbed in the gut so a lot of them are pointless.  

'I use a pre-digested collagen powder so the molecules are small enough to be utilized and with great effect for joint support as well as skin' says Amelia.

Try Pure Gold Collagen £35.99 for a 10-day supply at Boots.com