Rules

The new diet taking the US by storm is based more on what the body needs to function healthily rather than any faddy, starve yourself, low cal, detox diets. Obvious? Yes. Sensible? 100%. No wonder SJP and Teri Hatcher are fans. The creator, Ether Blum, is a top New York nutritionist, and she encourages us to give our bodies what they want, when they want it, but in the right amounts, from the right sources.

As well as recommending organic food, Blum also recommends chocolate – one piece once a day. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which releases endorphins in your brain, making you feel happy, as well as serotonin, theobromine and anandamide, all of which increase circulation and elevate mood. Esther also recommends fats, surprising, but the body needs them to make oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone - the hormones that regulate our moods. Starving our bodies prevents our hormones from working properly, making us prone to depression.

You can also eat eggs – she says, ‘Don't believe the hype about eggs raising your cholesterol level. It isn't true. 'Eat the yolk and the white. Egg yolks contain more protein than the white, as well as lecithin and choline, which help the liver break down and metabolise cholesterol.'
Starch - rice, beans, corn - are all beneficial. Cheese is also fine as long as it is organic, cottage, goat's, feta, sheep's milk, buffalo milk and any unpasteurized cheese. They contain fabulous fat, and calcium, essential to ward off osteoporosis in later life. You can also eat chocolate cake, chips, avocado, sorbets and biscuits only as long as interspersed with fruit and veg.
You may be wondering what you can’t eat. Well, banish low-fat, low-cholesterol spreads and margarines – the body has a hard time breaking them down and make sure you never skip a meal – it raises stress levels and your body will start to lay down fat around your middle. Add in supplements to curb cravings and super food flax seeds for fibre and omega-3s.
In short, you can eat what you love, as long as it’s in small quantities and mixed in with lots of veg and fibre. Esther also advises not to start a new diet in January, but in April or May – her reasoning? The days are longer for exercising outdoors, and there’s more fresh fruit and vegetables available. Sounds like a great plan.

Click here to find out more and get Esther’s book

Pros

It’s totally non-faddy and doesn’t require you to wholesale change what you eat, just eat what you like in smaller portions. Unlike other diets it will not stress your body, or result in crazy cravings or tiredness.

Cons

It could be all too easy to have too much of what you like, and you may feel as if you are not on a diet at all. If you don’t already buy organic or supplements it could become quite expensive. You will need to regularly exercise to see any significant weight loss.

Celeb Fans

Sarah Jessica Parker, Teri Hatcher.

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