Virgin diet is another fad diet that claims that the diet follower can lose huge amounts of weight quickly. It is a crash diet for fast weight loss. How successful is it? Is it safe to adhere to it?
The virgin diet
Nutritionist JJ Virgin started the virgin diet. The name comes from her surname. The diet states that one can lose seven pounds in seven days by omitting seven foods from the daily diet. That means it is a quick weight loss diet in which the slimmer can lose one pound per day. Normally, one can healthily lose one pound in a week. The thought of losing so much weight sounds very tempting. But is it worth it? What are the likely side effects?
The virgin diet (Source: JJ Virgin)The diet advises the follower to eliminate these seven foods from the daily diet for three weeks. These include eggs, dairy, gluten, corn, soy, peanuts, and sugar including artificial sweeteners. The dietitian claims that these foods though common are the root cause of extra fat, tissues and inflammation. Her book on the diet states:
“The removal of offending foods from the diet can deliver a number of health benefits: weight loss, better energy, improvements in sleep, clear complexion, and much more,”
Reintroduction of eliminated foods
At the end of three weeks, the dieter reintroduces these eliminated foods gradually and one by one in the diet. He or she tracks the symptoms resulting from the re-addition of the food in the diet.
First soy is readded in week four and in week five, gluten products are reintroduced. While in the sixth week, eggs can be taken. And the dieter can consume milk and dairy foods in week seven. If a food causes problems, it is again omitted. If there are no reactions to the food, the dieter can continue consuming it.
The virgin diet (Source: Pinterest)Caroline Apovian, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at Boston Medical Center opines:
“An elimination diet can result in weight loss, but cutting out entire macronutrients is not sustainable in the long-term,”
She adds that to eliminate sugar and refined carbs is OK, but eliminating eggs, grains, etc can cause nutritional deficiencies. She states:
“Eggs, for example, are a nutritious, low-calorie source of protein, and can be part of a sustainable diet for weight loss,”
“And whole grains are full of fiber to keep dieters feeling fuller longer, boosting your weight-loss results.”
Besides it is not healthy to lose more than a pound or two in a week.
What the firm JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. says?
Chris Groutt who is the chief operating officer of JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. says:
“The foods she focuses on [eliminating] are good for most people, but if you’re facing stubborn weight-loss resistance you can try taking them out and then gradually adding them back in,”
He adds that one can instead eat fresh fruits and veggies, healthy fats, lean protein, and gluten-free grains. The company feels that eliminating certain food groups for weight loss is not a new concept. Moreover, many people have found success with this diet, according to Chris.
The virgin diet (Source: Facebook)Also, read What is whole 30 diet? Its pros and cons explained!
If you do want to follow this fad diet, do it under the supervision of a dietitian for safe and better results.