Does the Cookie Diet Actually Work?

In the world of fad diets almost nothing can be more absurd than the cookie diet. In essence this diet claims that amino acids baked into cookies can control hunger.

The cookie diet has been around for more than 30 years. Maybe it's completely new to you. And even if you have, you might be wondering if such a strange weight loss plan can actually work.

Fad diets and crazy weight loss tips seem to be everywhere these days. As a general rule, a fad diet is a diet which is designed to last for short periods of time, during which large amounts of weight can supposedly be lost. Most fad diets center on some super weight loss food, much like the cookie diet centers on the cookie. These diets rely on slick pitches that make it seem silly not to buy and try the diet.

The cookie diet was created by a physician named Sanford Siegel in 1975 while he was researching a book on the effect of natural foods on hunger. To maintain the cookie diet people would eat six cookies a day, plus a regular dinner. There was a total of about 500 calories combined in the cookies, and the dinner could be 300 calories in the evening. People went wild over the cookie diet to the extent that 14 clinics opened in Florida. It wasn't long before over 200 doctors were regularly recommending the cookie diet. The diet was quickly expanded to miracle soups and shakes that also contained the amino acids.

A new version of the cookie diet became popular with Hollywood stars as the Hollywood cookie diet. The diet benefited from the media efforts of all the stars who tried it to lose weight. Like the original cookie diet this Hollywood version replaced breakfast and lunch with cookies, then allowed a reasonable dinner. The four cookies allowed on this diet consisted of a combined 600 calories and various vitamins.

If you're thinking of the cookie diet, just forget about it. Eat less, exercise more – that's the formula for good health. Even if the star of your favorite movie claims to love them, avoid so called miracle weight loss foods.