Fat Flush Diet Review

Diet Review

By Amy Paturel

The Fat Flush Plan was born out of author Ann Louise Gittleman's stint as a guest expert on iVillage's diet and fitness channel where she presented the Two-Week Fat Flush. A former nutritionist for the Pritikin Longevity Center, Gittleman watched clients languish with the Pritikin-prescribed low-fat approach to food. After discovering the liver's role in weight loss, she developed Fat Flush to optimize liver function with deoxifying cocktails and specific combinations of protein, carbohydrates and fat. But with severe food restrictions and significant emphasis on supplements like Evening Primrose Oil (which can interact with anticonvulsant medicines and shouldn't be taken if you're on blood thinning drugs or supplements such as fish oil) the Fat Flush Plan may be a recipe for disaster for some dieters. In fact, many dieters will "fail" the plan long before they reach the "lifestyle phase." And her directive to "bounce off fat" on a mini-trampoline is not only unsubstantiated, it's downright strange. Barring the supplement mumbo jumbo and mini trampoline miracle claims, Gittleman's advice regarding sleep, stress reduction and journaling is sound.

Is the Fat Flush Diet healthy?

Yes and No. The emphasis on cruciferous vegetables, healthful oils and fiber-rich fruits is a plus. But the first detox phase is far too restrictive and those addicted to their double cappuccinos, fast-food fixes and daily glass of vino will go through severe withdrawal -- the perfect set-up for a deprivation-induced binge.

What do the experts say?

"This is a typical fad detox diet," says Andrea Giancoli, M.P.H., R.D., Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "There is no credible scientific evidence proving that ‘flushing' and ‘detoxing' the liver results in weight loss. There's also no scientific evidence that there is even a need to flush the liver, much less any benefit from this kind of practice."

Who should consider the diet?

Nobody.

Bottom Line

This is really just another low-carb, low-calorie diet, albeit with a lot of convoluted logic. Any weight loss is likely to be a product of calorie restriction, not improved liver function. Recommendations regarding physical activity and supplements are unsubstantiated and may be harmful for some dieters.

See the Fat-Flush Diet At a Glance
See What You Can Eat on the Fat Flush Diet