What the FLIK...is the sirtfood diet?
The first few months of sheltering in place revolved around binge eating and over-indulging in ice cream, resulting in the Quarantine-15 -- referring to the new pounds many have gained. And now, many are looking for a quick-fix to lose the weight (and then some).
Insert: The Sirtfood Diet.
Infamously the diet-of-choice by Adele and Pippa Middleton, this diet seems to be the next "must-try" diet.
But...what the FLIK does it actually entail?
The Sirtfood Diet claims to activate a "skinny gene" through foods high in sirtuin activators, a type of protein found which helps protect cells, regulate metabolism, increase muscle, and burn fat. Some sirtfoods include red wine, dark chocolate, apples, blueberries, soy, olive oil, kale, and cinnamon.
How does it work?
The diet is broken down into a very strict, two phase approach that should be followed over the course of 3 weeks.
Week 1 - Days 1-4:
- Limit daily calorie intake to 1000 calorie/day, including:
- 3 sirtfood green juices/day
- 1 sirtfood-based meal/day
Week 1 - Days 4-7:
- Increase calorie intake to 1500 calories/day, including:
- 2 sirtfood green juices/day
- 2 sirtfood-based meals/day
Week 2 & 3:
- This is the maintenance stage and is supposed to last 14 days.
- 1 sirtfood green juice/day
- 3 sirtfood-based meals/day
Is it healthy?
This diet cuts out many food groups, thereby limited critical nutrients to help maintain a balanced diet. And while it is high in leafy green vegetables, it is incredibly restrictive and not a sustainable, long-term diet.
Because of the limited caloric intake, exercise is not a requirement on this diet. As a matter of fact, many will feel hungry, light-headed, and fatigued on this diet. If you do decided to approach the Sirtfood Diet, be sure to consult your doctor first.