Are you considering the anti-aging diet?

The anti-aging diet. Hmmm, interesting...

So what if some “expert” told you of a new diet that not only stops the aging process but can actually reverse it, would you be interested? What if celebrities endorsed this new diet? Would that increase your interest? Unfortunately, for many of us the answer is “Yes”.

I write “unfortunately” because such diet does not exist However, you may have heard of the anti-aging diet (aka "the Perricone diet"); perhaps you'd like to try it.

But before embarking on it, read what follows.

Let me begin with its positive points - not that many, believe me.

The Perricone diet blames inflammation for just about every physical ailment that afflicts us. True, inflammation can contribute to heart disease and arthritis.

The diet contains many healthy food choices such as fish (especially salmon), blueberries, and leafy greens.

So what’s wrong with it?

To begin with, it is too restrictive, and we all know that rigid diets tend to fail.

The list of foods that we should avoid like the plague is rather long. It includes fruit juices, rice, hard cheese, coffee, French bread, beef, pasta, sugar, carrots, peas, watermelon, oranges and grapes.

Dr. Perricone recommends taking over 25 supplements a day; of course, he pushes his own brand. If this is such a healthy diet, why the supplements?

He also developed a line of skin care products, outrageously priced! For example, the Eye Area Contour lotion is just under $200. The PEP supplements cost around $65 for 150grams; the Skin Clear Nutritional Support retails for $75.00. You may be able to find these at Saks and Neiman Marcus.

The Perricone diet claims are simply too good to be true.

Here are a few of such statements: “reverse the aging process”, revolutionary breakthrough”, bad food choices are “directly responsible for wrinkles, degenerative diseases, and accelerated aging“, “a wrinkle can be considered a wound“, etc. etc.. But with his diet and use of his supplements and skin care products , you will look “younger in three days“!!

Who would fall for such outlandish claims??

The diet is very expensive. A few lines above I provided you with some of the prices. Let me add a few more here... A two-month supply of his creams and lotions will easily cost you close to $500. A one-month supply of the supplements is over $120. To this, add the cost of the food itself.

Also, the diet may be dangerous for people who are on certain medications such as blood thinners.

There isn’t much doubt in my mind that the doctor is a good marketer and uses his medical background to lend credibility to his claims and products. Hey, he’s a doctor, he has appeared on Oprah’s, 20/20, and his diet is endorsed by celebrities like Courtney Cox, etc. etc.

There must be something to this, right? I'm afraid that's not so.

Once again, consumer beware! I wonder if the doctor sticks to his revolutionary anti-aging diet. If he does, I really cannot see any positive changes in his appearance; he certainly doesn’t look younger than he did several months ago!

So what's my take-home message here?

Be suspicious of ANYONE who offers you the secret to eternal youth, no matter what his or her credentials.

The Perricone diet isn't much better than the countless other diets that exist out there: the South Beach; The Cardio-free; The Glycemic-load; The Hiberation diet; The Rice diet; and the list goes on...

But I promise you something: if I or anyone else discovers a way to truly reverse the effects of Time, you'll be the first one to know!

Healthy skin and the anti-aging diet

Botox


Doctors give drugs of which they know little, into bodies, of which they know less, for diseases of which they know nothing at all."

Voltaire