It seems too good to be true–a diet that claims to zap away fat from your waist, hips, and thighs without having to pick up a single weight.
Touted by celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Katy Perry, it’s called the M Plan, and reportedly works according to dieter testimonials.
Jeannette Jackson, a nutritionist and health journalist, also approves of the plan, claiming it can help target fat loss.
“The mushroom diet, just like the fungi itself, means you keep the weight where you want it up top and shed pounds where you don’t down below,” says Jackson, who originally spoke to The Daily Mail. “‘If we eat more mushrooms, it’s likely that less high calorie foods will be consumed throughout the day overall because of the vegetable’s powerful nutritional values.”
How the M Plan Works
Claiming the nutritional properties of mushrooms can alter how a person loses fat, proponents of the M Plan say that replacing one meal with a handful of mushrooms can help people dramatically slim down in two weeks–and in an attractive way.
Said to target common areas where fat accumulates, the M Plan challenges previous beliefs that fat loss is controlled by your genetics, not how you eat.
Not everyone is a fan of the plan, though, including registered dietitian Katherine Tallmadge.
“There’s no evidence that any diet will help you lose weight in a particular spot,” says Tallmadge. “How people lose, and also gain, weight is determined largely by genetics, but factors such as age and smoking habits also play a role.”
In addition, Tallmadge adds that more women are more likely to accumulate weight around their abdomen, not their hips and thighs, all thanks to fluctuating hormone levels.
Even if mushrooms can’t spot target fat loss, Jackson says there are still viable reasons to add them to your diet.
“The dietary fibre [sp] in mushrooms helps promote good bowel function leaving you feeling more satisfied, so you won’t be hungry again as quickly, preventing you from snacking,” says Tallmadge. “Mushrooms are also extremely rich in protein–an ideal nutritional food source yet the vegetable is low in calories which is important where weight loss is considered.”
But even if mushrooms aren’t a favorite, the M Plan still has some good tips–such as replacing one meal with a low-calorie food. You don’t necessarily need to load up on mushrooms, though; salads, fruits, or low-cal veggies can also help trim your waist without feeling deprived.
Nutritionists say you shouldn’t “hold your breath” if you’re expecting it to target spot your trouble areas, however.
“There is no denying that mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutritional benefits and one of their greatest assets is that they are super Low GI,” says Lucy Wyndham-Read, a nutrition expert. “‘But it’s untrue that mushrooms have the power to lose fat from everywhere except the bust. The fact is, if we eat a healthy, well-balanced, clean, natural diet and exercise regularly, we can all lose weight.”
Readers: Would you try this diet?
Sources:
The M Plan – DailyMail.co.uk
Mushroom Diet Not Recommended by Nutritionists – FoxNews.com
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