Day 276- The Champagne Diet

I admit it, I'm a sucker for champagne. Drinking this bubbly beverage elicits the feeling of happiness and celebration. But to create a diet around this bubbly treat may be taking it a bit too far. I understand that just as I do, people drink champagne for the same reasons. So including something into your diet that evokes a sense of happiness seems to be the missing ingredient in a normal diet regime. But when you take a look at this so called, "champagne diet," is champagne the reason that people are seeing weight loss results, or is it due to the foods that are suggested during the diet?

Cara Alwill Leyba, is the creator of the Champagne Diet, who will also be releasing a book called "The Champagne Diaries," to explain this new diet that is taking New York by storm. The diet encourages a daily flute or two of champagne a day as part of the weight-loss plan. Or as Cara so eloquently describes the diet, "the Champagne Diet is two parts healthy living, one part fun."

Sounds promising to me!

Why champagne?
Well besides the way champagne makes you feel when you drink it,

“A normal glass of Champagne has just 91 calories per glass,” she says (Laurent Perrier’s Ultra Brut, beloved by Kate Moss, has even fewer at 65 calories). “And because the bubbles reach your bloodstream more quickly, you consume less.”

While the diet encourages the consumption of champagne, there are no dietary no-no's, no restricted foods, and no portion limitations. What the diet does suggest is eating real, nutrient-dense foods. Eating these types of foods verse say a McDonald's cheeseburger just makes you feel better. The diet plan encourages you to glamorize your meals; making your meal match your tasty glass of bubbly. Cara's theory behind this?

"Eating “classy” foods makes you value your body more so you are less likely to overeat. It’s a theory that has weight."

Well it has worked for Cara, who went from always being depressed and stressed out about her weight to a slimmer happier person with a new lust for life.

Is this a diet that I would recommend? Not exactly, although it does follow my beliefs on nutrient-dense real foods, as well as the occasional self indulgences. I think that this should still be done, just sans the daily two flutes of champagne. Not saying that champagne should be completely avoided as there have been studies performed on the health benefits of this beverage, but the daily consumption of alcohol in my eyes is never a healthy choice. Although maybe at first your pants feel a little looser, in the long run your body won't be thanking you.

Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP

To read more about the Champagne Diet:

• A Diet to Raise a Glass to
• The Champagne Diet