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Fad/Commercial Diet Project

NUTR 140
Jane Loprieno
Nov. 4

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Fad Diet 1: The Master Cleanse3-6

Fad Diet 2: The Cabbage Soup Diet.6-8
Fad Diet 3: The Scarsdale Diet.8-10
Fad Diet 4: Jenny Craig10-13
Comparison Table of the Four Fad Diets.14
References.15

For many years now, society has had a negative outlook on an overweight body. More
and more people have come accustomed to trying out new fad diets that claim will help you lose

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weight quickly and keep the weight off. Due to their unhealthy body image, many people
acquire tunnel vision with the hopes of getting that bikini body and do not realize the health
dangers they are putting their bodies through. Diet plans like The Master Cleanse Diet, The
Cabbage Soup Diet, The Scarsdale Diet, and Jenny Craig are some of many diets that have this
effect on people.
The Master Cleanse Diet is one of these fad or tunnel vision diets. It is a fasting diet
where users consume only juice for ten days in hopes of losing weight quickly, resting the
digestive system, and cleansing the body. In 1979, Tom Woloshyn, counselor and avid
participant in holistic health, created this unique diet. Holistic health is the attitude people have
toward diet, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. Woloshyn believes that our sense of well-being is
a reflection of our attitude towards ourselves, others, and the world around us and that
participating in this diet plan will result in this attitude on life.
This diet plan is all explained in Tom Woloshyns book, The Master Cleanse, which is
available on amazon for $10.38. The cleanse consists of 3 phases. The first being the ease-in
phase, then the lemonade diet, and finally, the ease-out phase. Woloshyn claims that the ease-in
and ease-out phases are highly important. They allow a healthy, gradual transition to the intense
diet the body will be undertaking for the next two weeks. These transition phases take three
days; the first day, participants should consume primarily fruits and vegetables, the second day,
consumption should include juices and broth, and the third day, consuming only orange juice.
For the ease-out phase these steps are followed backwards, respectively, to transition back to
peoples regular diet. The lemonade diet, which is the bulk of the cleanse, consists of consuming
only freshly squeezed lemonade, rich maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water, salt, and daily
laxatives.

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People may seem skeptical about this diet because they would not expect it to provide all
the essential daily nutrients; however, these foods surprisingly are very beneficial to the body.
The freshly squeezed lemons are an excellent source of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and
living enzymes. These living enzymes create other cells which provide energy to the body.
Lemons are extremely acidic. Their acidity breaks down unhealthy cells, much like the
processes of bile breaking down fats in the small intestine and saliva breaking down starch in the
mouth. The high levels of vitamin C in the lemons also aid in the cleanse to rid the body of
toxins and prevent future illnesses. Rich maple syrup, another main food group for this diet, is a
source of sucrose and small amounts of glucose and fructose, which are three elements that
provide the body with energy. Another energy provider in the maple syrup is adequate levels of
zinc, magnesium, and amino acids. Cayenne pepper is required for this diet to raise metabolism
and increase circulation. This herb also acts as a blood thinner and purifier. The cayenne pepper
coincides with the vitamin C in the lemons to rid the body of illnesses. Specifically, it breaks
down mucus buildups throughout the digestive system. Two tablespoons of freshly squeezed
lemon juice, two tablespoons of rich maple syrup, and 1/10 tablespoon of cayenne pepper should
be added to purified water and consumed whenever participants are hungry, 8-18 times per day.
Although there are few ingredients in this master cleanse diet, the few ingredients substitute
many of the essential ingredients one would get from a regular diet. These ingredients rise up to
a mere 2040 calories per day which meets the recommended consumption of the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans.
No exercise routine is mentioned for this diet plan. Exercise and eating right are the two
most important ways to lose weight. This diet plan does not fulfill either of these aspects. The
meal plan consists of only three foods which although are very beneficial foods, the body should

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not survive solely on them. Any food consumption not part of the cleanse would be considered a
bad food because it will negatively affect the results of the cleanse. The cleanse calls for a 4tablet daily laxative supplement in order to rid the body of waste through daily detox bowel
movements. The laxatives are also used to replace the lack of ingested fiber during this cleanse.
In addition to the laxatives, the salt water flush component of this cleanse is somewhat critical.
Two teaspoons of sea salt in a quart of warm water should be digested daily to further remove the
waste and toxins from the body. The duration of this process is recommended to be about 2
weeks; however, the creator, Tom Woloshyn, has in the past been on the cleanse for a record of
372 days straight.
After hearing celebrities like Beyonc, Jared Leto, and Robin Quivers who have endured
the cleanse, many people are willing to try it out. There is a mix of negative and positive
reviews. Some said the cleanse was the easiest diet plan to follow, and it had very fast, effective
results. On the other hand, many said they could not complete the ten day cleanse due to
massive headaches and dizziness, hunger pains, and uncomfortable diarrhea. Health
professionals generally take the negative outlook on the diet. They say that not only will
participants lose weight due to the few substantial calories consumed, but they will also lose
muscle, bones, and water. Once people get back on their regular diets, they will most likely gain
the weight back immediately. The liver is an extremely important part of the digestive system.
Its job is to detox the body, making The Master Cleanse an unnecessary process.
Researching this diet has informed me that if this diet is followed correctly, it provides
desired results for only a short period of time. The tunnel vision that overcomes many people
blinds them from seeing the long term consequences. These long term effects are highly

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detrimental and to avoid the health issues that could emerge from participating in this diet, I
would not recommend The Master Cleanse.

Like The Master Cleanse, The Cabbage Soup Diet restricts the variety of food intake in
hopes of losing weight in short periods of time. Catherine Clark, creator of the cabbage soup
diet, claims that a heavy consumption of a low calorie cabbage soup seven times a day will result
in a ten pound weight drop in one week. Clarke has no professional experience with nutrition or
dietetics, just many years of trying to lose weight. After so many weight loss mechanisms had
not worked for her, she developed this cabbage soup diet which many people swear by.
The good foods permitted in this diet include onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, carrots,
mushrooms, celery, cabbage, low sodium V8 Juice, and Cabbage Soup Diet Seasoning. These
foods are considered healthy and they are low in fat which leads to most of the weight loss.
There are no special foods for this diet, just the restricted ingredients mentioned. Four glasses
of water per day is recommended along with the soup. A daily multivitamin is encouraged when
on the Cabbage Soup Diet, however this is the only supplement recommended for consumption.
Due to the reduced calorie load and low energy producing carbohydrates, a limited amount of
exercises is requested in order to save energy and simply because the body would not be able to
undergo a rigorous amount of exercise. People should only be on The Cabbage Soup Diet for
one week increments. If they wish to be on the diet for longer, there should be a two week
period of regular food consumption; following this, people can continue with the Cabbage Soup
Diet.

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The ingredients are available at local grocery stores which is all the necessities for this
diet plan. An eBook by Catherine Clarke, 7 Day Cabbage Soup, is recommended so that users
understand how to thoroughly complete this diet with optimal results. The eBook is available on
amazon for twenty dollars. Many customers have said the book is very useful and provides
information about why and how The Cabbage Soup Diet works while also keeping them
committed to the diet.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress and producer, is a proud user of the Cabbage Soup Diet.
Her participation in this diet makes this weight loss mechanism more credible leading to more
people partaking in it. People become blinded by the desired body they wish to have and do not
realize the effects that could come from this rigorous diet plan. Health professionals do not
recommend this diet. The diet is lacking a sufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates and
essential fats which leads the body into starvation mode, slowing future metabolism rates and
causing the body to hold fat reserves instead of losing body fat. Registered dieticians say that a
balanced, healthy diet combined with exercise is still the most effective and safe long-term way
to lose weight. Professionals claim that it would be impossible to lose this much weight in just
a week. Most likely this weight loss consists of water and muscle tissue, unfortunately, not fat.
People who have gone through the week of only consuming cabbage soup have had
negative remarks about the diet. Some say they did not lose the expected amount of weight,
others say the diet fulfilled the expected results, but weight was gained back rather quickly and
in even more quantities than before the Cabbage Soup Diet was started. Most people said the
diet had quick results but it was difficult to only eat the bland soup for a whole week.

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This diet, while unhealthy, would be only a diet to begin if users are trying to lose weight
for a specific event with minimum amount of time because the weight they lost will be tacked
right back on. I would not recommend this diet or this tactic of weight loss, however. The best,
long-term results come from eating a heathy, balanced diet along with daily exercise. This
method requires a great deal of perseverance which causes many people to take part in fad diets
instead. It is important that people become educated about the dangers of these diets and start
working for the body image they desire with healthy methods.

The Scarsdale Diet is a rapid weight loss regime consisting of a low calorie, low
carbohydrate diet. This international diet started in 1978 by cardiologist, Dr. Herman Tarnower,
and is still being used by dieters today. Tarnower first created this diet plan for his at-risk heart
patients. The diet developed into a book, The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet, written by
Oscar Dystel for those looking to lose weight, not necessarily experiencing cardiovascular
difficulty. The book is available for $7.19 and has become so popular that it is now an 11 million
dollar profit.
Adults who wish to lose 7-15 pounds are recommended to abide by a rigorous, limited
diet plan for 1-2 weeks where the daily calorie consumption ranges from 650 to 1,000 calories.
43% of these calories come from protein, 22.5% from fat, and 34.5% from carbohydrate intake.
People on the Scarsdale Diet should not continue on the diet for more than two weeks. If one
wishes to prolong the diet, there should be a two week period of proper eating habits before
returning to this unhealthy fad diet.

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The consumption guidelines are very strict. For example, one day on the Scarsdale Diet
should not stray far from black coffee and half of a grape fruit in the morning, lean cold cuts and
diet soda at lunch, and salad with low fat dressing and lean fish for dinner, along with four
glasses of water, daily. These good foods should be consumed daily within the 2 week period.
Bad foods not permitted when on this diet include oils, butter, beans, corn, and many more.
Snacking between meals is not permitted unless the snack is vegetables or carrots causing this
meal plan to be very strenuous and much perseverance is required.
Due to the minimal calorie intake, strenuous exercise is not recommended. The body is
not capable of completing a full workout. This component alone should be a red flag for people
to stay from diet plans like these however due to the tunnel vision factor, they cannot. People
who have experienced this fad diet have a very positive outlook on the results.
People enjoy the diet and its results. They say it is their miracle diet and they had
great first results. Consumers say that although the diet is bland, the plan is easy to follow and
the results are drastic and fast. Health experts have a different view of the Scarsdale Diet. They
say the food choices make it unlikely that the dieters will meet he nutrient requirements of
calcium, fiber, or fat. Weight will be lost but not for a long term amount of time. The diet is
difficult to continue with for a long period of time due to its high commitment and little food
variety. The Scarsdale Diet, a fad diet with limited food choice, inadequate amount of daily
exercise, and insufficient nutrient intake will provide users with desired outcomes but not for the
desired time length. I would not recommend the Scarsdale Diet because the weight loss method
is achieved through unhealthy means, much like many other fad diets.

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The Jenny Craig diet is designed to help people lose weight, particularly 1-2 pounds per
week. In 1985, Jenny Craig and her husband, Sidney Craig, two health crazed entrepreneurs
created this weight loss plan. Although they are not professionally accredited with health or
nutrition titles, their business has assisted many clients to healthily achieve their weight loss
goal.
The plan follows a 1200-2300 calorie diet, depending on how active the client is or how
much food the client consumes. The meal plan is primarily focused on portion control which is
Jenny and Sidneys main argument concerning the key to weight loss. Clients are given
consultants who aid them in the process of choosing seven breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack
foods that satisfy both their taste buds and essential nutrient needs. There are neither
supplements nor good or bad food choices in particular. There are, however, healthier
choices. With the help from the consultants to balance their diet, the customers are able to enjoy
healthy amounts of the foods they love and at the same time lose weight, this is one of the
aspects of the Jenny Craig system that attract most people. The recommended time length to use
this product is 8 weeks to result in a 10 pound weight loss; however, people are free to use the
system as long as they would like depending on how many pounds they wish to lose.
A concern that surfaces regarding the Jenny Craig Diet is if the clients are getting all the
essential nutrients. The diet plan is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans where
45-60% of calories come from carbohydrates, 20-30% from fat, 20-30% from protein, along with
2-4 grams of sodium, 2-5 grams of potassium, and 20-40 grams of fiber each day. Along with
portion size, another prominent aspect of this diet plan focuses on satisfied hunger. Without
eating too much and staying healthy this concept can be difficult. Dietitians involved in the
Jenny Craig system have created meals that have low energy dense foods to keep people fuller

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for longer. The best way to achieve this combination is by consuming products that are low in
fat and rich in water, fiber, and protein. Checking in with the consultants, customers can easily
manage their essential nutrients each day while maintaining the number of calories they are
meant to consume.
The Jenny Craig Diet is known to be expensive. There are two plans including the all
access plan and the as you go program. The all access plan is $19 per month along with a
$99 enrollment fee. The advantage to this package is that the customers can contact their
consultants unlimited times a week unlike the as you go program where clients can contact
their consultants only once a week. This plan is $29 per month without the enrollment fee.
These prices are just to be a part of Jenny Craig, the cost of food is added to these amounts.
Normally, the food costs about $15-23 per day.
When people are trying to lose weight, the best results come from both eating healthy and
exercising regularly. The exercise plan recommended for Jenny Craig users is to get at least
thirty minutes per day, five days per week. This is a starter exercise plan. Clients should start
this exercise plan with a goal of exercising sixty minutes every day. Adding a few minutes each
day to your exercise habits is the best way to build up to an hour of activity every day.
With the help of celebrities like Kirstie Alley, Queen Latifa, Mariah Carey, and Valerie
Bertinelli, the Jenny Craig Diet Plan has skyrocketed in not only America but Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and France. People all over the world are catching on to this fad diet and clearly
enjoying the results. Customer reviews depict a very satisfied community of Jenny Craig users
with comments like, easy to use, fast results, tasty food, invaluable support from
consultants, and people are more and more informed on the importance of portion control and

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how to make sense of it. Health professionals have also had positive results from the Jenny
Craig Diet. It meets all nutritional recommendations and no indication of health risks have come
to their attention.
After researching information about the Jenny Craig Diet, I believe this diet is different in
that the people who use it actually lose weight while also being healthy. For this result, alone, I
would recommend this diet. While the Jenny Craig users may have tunnel vision to lose their
excess weight, they are aware that it will come off if they follow their meal plan. Following their
meal plan keeps the people healthy, keeps their portion sizes to a minimum, leading to gradual,
healthy weight loss, and healthier body images. More diets should be like this one where body
weight is being maintained along with healthy food consumption.
Diets should be a lifestyle change, something people can maintain for a long time. This
is the only way health professionals say that a desired weight can be achieved. People need to
give up partaking in fad diets and start being healthy and taking care of their bodies. New
Zealand, and France. People all over the world are catching on to this fad diet and clearly
enjoying the results. Customer reviews depict a very satisfied community of Jenny Craig users
with comments like, easy to use, fast results, tasty food, invaluable support from
consultants, and people are more and more informed on the importance of portion control and
how to make sense of it. Health professionals have also had positive results from the Jenny
Craig Diet. It meets all nutritional recommendations and no indication of health risks have come
to their attention.
After researching information about the Jenny Craig Diet, I believe this diet is different in
that the people who use it actually lose weight while also being healthy. For this result, alone, I

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would recommend this diet. While the Jenny Craig users may have tunnel vision to lose their
excess weight, they are aware that it will come off if they follow their meal plan. Following their
meal plan keeps the people healthy, keeps their portion sizes to a minimum, leading to gradual,
healthy weight loss, and healthier body images. More diets should be like this one where body
weight is being maintained along with healthy food consumption.
Diets should be a lifestyle change, something people can maintain for a long time. This
is the only way health professionals say that a desired weight can be achieved. People need to
give up partaking in fad diets and start being healthy and taking care of their bodies.

Fad Diet
Comparison Table

The Master Cleanse

The Cabbage Soup

Diet

The Scarsdale Diet

Jenny Craig

Creator and
credentials

Tom Woloshyn

Catherine Clarke

Dr. Herman
Tarnower

Jenny Craig and

Sidney Craig

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Promised Outcome

Weight loss,
cleansing/detoxing
the body.

10 pounds of weight
loss in 1 week.

7-15 pounds of
weight loss in 1-2
weeks.

1-2 pounds of
weight loss per
week.

Nutritional
breakdown

Substitute essential
nutrients with
vitamins, minerals,
supplements.

Inadequate amounts
of protein,
carbohydrates, and
essential fats.

650-1000 calories
with 43% protein,
22.5% fat, 34.5%
carbohydrates per
day.

Consistent with the

Dietary Guidelines
for Americans

Accessibility to
product. Good vs
bad foods?

Only consume juice.

Good foods limited

to the ingredients in
the soup.

3 meals per day with

no snacking, no oils,
butter, beansetc.

No good or bad
foods necessarily.

Involve Supplement

Laxatives

Multi vitamin

None

None

Target Audience

People trying to lose

weight fast and
cleanse body.

People trying to lose

maximum weight in
minimum time.

Adults looking to
lose weight fast.

Adults looking to
further manage their
weight.

Cost

The book, The

Master Cleanse is
sold on amazon for
$10.38

The eBook, 7 Day

Cabbage Soup,
available on amazon
for $20.00

The book The

Complete Scarsdale
Medical Diet
available on amazon
for $7.15

$19 per month with

$99 enrollment fee.
Or $29 per month
with no enrollment
fee.

Time commitment

Recommended for
duration of two
weeks.

One week.

1-2 weeks

However long it
takes to get to the
desired weight.

Exercise

None

Recommended to
limit exercise.

Limited exercise

Ideally 60 minutes
every day.

How promoted/

Promoted through
the internet.
Beyonc has used
the cleanse.

Sarah Michelle
Gellar.

None

Many commercials
with known
celebrities
discussing product.

Celebrity?

References
Callahan, Maureen. "The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet." - Diet Fitness. Health Media
Ventures, Inc, 2008. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
Clark, Catherine. "Considering the Cabbage Soup DietWatch This First." Cabbage Soup Diet.
Law Office of Michael E. Young PLLC, 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.

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Dansinger, Michael. "Master Cleanse (Lemonade) Diet Review, Ingredients, Effectiveness."

WebMD. WebMD, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2014
Frey, Rebecca. "Scarsdale Diet." Diet.com. Diet Health, Inc, 2004. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
Haupt, Angela. "Jenny Craig Diet." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 04
Nov. 2014.
"Jenny Craig." Weight Loss Programs & Diet Plans. Socit Des Produits Nestl S.A., Vevey,
Switzerland, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Olaski, Mike. "Master Cleanse and The Lemonade Diet." The Master Cleanse. Word Press, 5
Sept. 2014. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.
Zinczenko, David. "The Cabbage Soup Diet: Report." The Cabbage Soup Diet: Report. Weight
Loss Resources Ltd, 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.