Does the Cookie Diet Actually Work?
Olivia on Jan 27 2009 at 3:06 pm | Filed under: Women's Health
In the world of fad diets almost nothing can be more absurd than the cookie diet. The diet relies on eating cookies to control hunger and thus help people lose weight.
It’s been more than 30 years since the cookie diet arrived on the scene. Perhaps you’ve never heard of it. And even if you have, you might be wondering if such a strange weight loss plan can actually work.
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.
The cookie diet came about as the result of research into natural foods done for a book in 1975. This cookie diet consisted of patients eating six cookies each day in place of meals, then eating a reasonable dinner. All told the daily caloric intake was about 800 calories. Very quickly the cookie diet became a huge success, with 14 clinics in Florida and 10 in Latin America expounding this amazing weight loss formula. By the 80’s 200 doctors were pushing the cookie diet. The clever doctor came out with soups and shakes that also contained the amino acids needed to control hunger.
A new version of the cookie diet became popular with Hollywood stars as the Hollywood cookie diet. This diet received a great deal of media attention in part because of the PR efforts of attention grabbing stars and starlets. Like the original cookie diet this Hollywood version replaced breakfast and lunch with cookies, then allowed a reasonable dinner. Each cookie should contain approximately 150 calories, loaded with fiber, protein and 13 vitamins and minerals.
If you’re thinking of the cookie diet, just forget about it. Remember that good health comes from a balanced diet and an exercise program. Forget miracle foods even if a star tells you to try them.
