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Eggs are a popular food known for their protein content as well as a source of nutrients including vitamin D.

A fad diet known as the boiled egg diet seeks to take advantage of the benefits of eggs by incorporating them heavily into one's daily food routine.

Despite the diet's name, it does not only feature eggs. Followers can also eat other foods such as non-starchy vegetables with the aim of losing weight.

Nutrition experts have spoken to Newsweek about the diet's pros and cons. People may consider speaking to their healthcare provider before making any changes to their diet.

The boiled egg diet involves eating several servings of hard-boiled eggs per day.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a nutrition consultant and author of several diet books, told Newsweek: "The boiled egg diet is a low calorie, low carbohydrate diet that will promote weight loss due to a calorie deficit.

"It is a very restrictive meal plan and not likely to be sustainable long term. There are a few variations of the diet, but the general outline of the meal plan is to eat two eggs with fruit at breakfast and then eggs or another lean protein with non-starchy vegetables at the other two meals during the day."

Lean protein in the diet could include fish or chicken. Snacking is generally not permitted on the diet.

Other foods encouraged in the diet are low carb fruits such as oranges, berries, and grapefruit; fats and oils like coconut oil in small amounts; and, in some variations, low fat dairy products.

At the same time, the diet limits high carb foods such as bread, starchy vegetables like potatoes, processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.

One popular version of the diet is based off of a book of the same name by author Arielle Chandler.

While the diet restricts sugar-sweetened drinks, calorie-free drinks such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee can be consumed.

Palinski-Wade said: "This is most likely to help 'speed' weight loss with carbohydrate restriction since cutting carbs will accelerate water losses."

Eating carbohydrates can lead to water retention, which translates to the number on the scale, because of how they are stored in the body.

There is also some evidence that reducing the intake of carbohydrates in one's diet can aid weight loss in the longer term.

A number of experts told Newsweek that they would not recommend this diet even though it might result in some weight loss in the short term.

Part of the reason for this is the diet's restrictive nature, which many people may find difficult to stick to.

"To sum it up, including eggs, lean meats, and vegetables into your diet is a healthy way to boost protein as well as vitamins and minerals," Ashley Irwin, research project manager at the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told Newsweek. "However, limiting yourself to only a handful of foods often takes a lot of the joy out of eating and isn't sustainable for the majority of people.

"A restrictive diet, such as this, will likely result in some weight loss in the short term, but that can be expected when the calories consumed are so low."

Richard Mattes, distinguished professor of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, told Newsweek that diets encouraging high amounts of one type of food are "as old as the hills" and may have short-term results. However, he said that such diets are "often nutritionally unbalanced" and "generally fail" as people may struggle to follow them.

Similarly, Palinski-Wade said the diet includes foods that are rich in nutrients but that "the long list of 'foods to avoid' is the real problem."

"The meal plan is very restrictive, unlikely to be sustainable long term, and cuts out many beneficial nutrients found in foods such as nuts, seeds, oats, beans, and lentils," she added.

Irwin recommended that people speak to a registered dietitian if they're looking for an eating approach that is best for them. "A dietitian can help you to tailor your eating in a way that can help you meet your goals whether you like eggs or not," she said.

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What Is the Boiled Egg Diet and Is It As Crazy As It Sounds? - Newsweek

Search "boiled egg diet" and you might be shocked to learn that, yes, there is a weight-loss trend out there that circles around eating hard-boiled eggs. Since you probably have *a lot* of questions right now, we'll clear it up for ya.

To start, the boiled egg diet doesn't involve eating only eggs (whew). The boiled egg diet is based on the idea that eating at least two or three hard-boiled eggs per day can help you lose weight.

But are boiled eggs really the food that's going to be the X factor to weight-loss success? Spoiler: probably not. But there's a lot to this, so we chatted with experts about the boiled egg diet, the results that it brings, and how it can impact your body.

Yes, there are boiled eggs involved. Although there are some varieties of this plan, it typically involves eating two eggs with fruit at breakfast and eggs or another lean protein at lunch and dinner, along with only non-starchy vegetables, explains New York City-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, RDN.

Though it may sound relatively healthy, the boiled egg diet is a fad diet. This is a version of a low-calorie, low carb diet that will promote weight loss, but will not be sustainable long-term and does not provide your body with balanced nutrition, she says. You may lose weight temporarily, but the results won't necessarily last.

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There are different versions of the diet, but the most common consists of three meals per day, and no snacks or desserts, says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City.

Throughout the day you need to make sure youre eating three eggs, or two eggs at the very minimum. Youre also free to consume lean proteins, non-starchy veggies, specific fruits, and a little bit of fat, Gans notes. More specifically, some samples of allowed foods, according to Gans, are the following:

That said, while there are some common foods that youre able to eat on the boiled egg diet, theres also a significant list of foods that you are not supposed to eat while following this limited plan. Other than eggs, non-starchy vegetables, and a small bit of fruit, other food groups such as grains, dairy, and fats are all off limits, Palinski-Wade says.

Specifically, the diet suggests avoiding all processed foods, and even other veggies like potatoes, corn, peas, and legumes, Gans says. Youre also asked to avoid some fruits: bananas, pineapple, mango, dried fruits, and sweetened beverages, Gans explains.

So, if youre aiming for a balanced diet that includes grains, dairy, various fruits, and fats (which is totally understandable), its important for you to note these limitations before diving into a hard-boiled-egg-focused plan.

Not quite. The recommended foods on the diet do have health benefits, but because there are also so many other foods to avoid, the diet is considered highly restrictive, Gans explains.

You should also know there are long-term concerns. This is a restrictive, unbalanced way to eat that could result in nutritional deficiencies long-term and is not sustainable, Palinski-Wade adds.

Best to chat with a health care provider before trying it.

If weight loss is important to you, know that you'll probably lose weight on this diet, Palinski-Wade explains, since its low in calories and carbs. The initial weight loss will include water losses, resulting in exciting results, but not much actual loss of body fat.

Over time, the calorie deficit will lead to losses in body fat, but the chances of maintaining these results are low based on how restrictive it is, Palinski-Wade notes.

It's true that eggs are a versatile, nutrient-rich food, packed with vitamins and minerals, and "are a great addition to any eating plan," Gans says. "But one should never simply focus on one food or nutrient in order to lose weight." So if youre going to try out the boiled egg diet, be sure to diversify your protein sources and eat a variety of foods so that youre not getting all your nutrients from the same meals each day.

If you have a history of disordered eating or feel that you might be susceptible to an eating disorder, reconsider the boiled egg diet, Palinski-Wade says.

Another reason why results are hard to maintain? Because the diet is highly restrictive, you're not actually learning anything about how to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet for long-term success, but rather how to deprive yourself of eating foods you may enjoy, Gans says. If you have a history of disordered eating or feel that you might be susceptible to an eating disorder, reconsider the boiled egg diet, Palinski-Wade says.

Most likely, you'll end up regaining weight you lose, and possibly more, since you may wind up overeating following such a restrictive plan, Palinski-Wade says. Proceed with caution. (But if you like hard boiled eggs, eat them in moderation!)

The bottom line: The lack of variety in the boiled egg diet diet creates an unsustainable and possibly nutrient-deficient diet if done long-term.

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The Boiled Egg Diet Is The Latest Weight-Loss Fad To Know About - Women's Health

Whether you've been interested in the Whole30 diet for a while or you're already a fanatic, sometimes it can be hard to craft the perfect Whole30 shopping list while living the diet life. Why? Well, there are a lot of ~rules~ partnered with the meal plan, and you might find yourself cooking the same things over and over again. (Boring!)

But hey, don't worryyou can still keep your Whole30 shopping list interesting. That's why WH rounded up the best grocery items to stock up on to nail your Whole30 diet, according to nutrition experts.

Before we jump in to grocery talk, lets go over the basics. The Whole30 diet is a restrictive meal plan that focuses on consuming only whole, unprocessed foods for 30 days, explains Erin Palinski-Wade, RDN. The goal is to reset your body to curb cravings, reduce inflammation, and improve energy versus focusing on weight loss.

Also, you're supposed to refrain from weighing yourself for the entire month so that the focus is on how you feel, rather than a number on the scale.

Now, let's get a little more specific. Even though Whole30 isn't necessarily an eating plan centered around on weight loss, it *does* have a list of foods that are technically off-limits if you're following the plan closely. "The diet restricts all added sugars, salt, artificial sweeteners, grains, dairy, and legumes," Palinski-Wade explains. P.S., alcohol is a no-go as well. Here's exactly what you shouldn't eat on Whole30.

Now that you know what *not* to be buying during Whole30, let's focus on what you can add to your grocery list. There are Whole30-compliant foods that fit all the main food categories, including protein, fruits, vegetables, oils and fats, nuts, condiments, and beverages. Here's what to shop for under each group.

Protein is going to help build and repair muscle, explains Keri Gans, RDN, as well as help with satiety. Basically, you need protein when doing Whole30 because it helps you feel full and more satisfied when eating a grain-free meal. Your protein inspo:

Nuts and seeds are a great option on Whole30, explains Marisa Moore, RDN. The key, though, is to make sure you're choosing ones that are unprocessed (meaning you should go for the plain, unsalted options instead of honey roasted.) As for nutritional value, nuts provide you with protein and carbs, and they've also got fat to keep you satisfied, Gans points out.

Fruit is packed with antioxidants, which means they have anti-inflammatory properties, Gans says. ICYMI, antioxidants are really freakin good for you: They can help reduce your risk of developing certain cancers, decrease your risk of heart disease, strengthen your immune system, and more, according to Gans.

Choose fruits you really like, as this will help you feel happier when with what you're eating, and you'll get a nutritional benefit regardless, Moore explains.

PSA: Vegetables have a lot of fiber, and since youre not eating any whole grains on Whole30, you'll be getting almost all of your daily fiber intake from veggies, Gans notes. Fiber may help control blood sugar, prevent constipation, and improve gut health, she notes. So yeah, you really need it!

The Whole30 diet recommends that you consume healthy fats, which have shown to prevent heart disease and help keep you full, Gans says. These can be used in things like dressings, cooking, marinades, and more. Oils and fats are going to make sure your diet is flavorful and satiating.

You're going to be a little bit limited when it comes to what condiments you can use on Whole30. "They key would be to stick to the ones that don't have any additives like sulfites or added sugar," Moore explains. (For example, no standard ketchup or mayo.)

When it comes to what condiments do, they're really just meant to make your food more enjoyable (duh). Theres no nutritional value in the following options because you use such a little amount. "But dont underestimate the value of enjoyment," Gans says. "If youre not satisfied with your meal, youre going to want to keep eating."

The list of available beverages is definitely on the shorter side when you're doing Whole30 (reminder: no alcohol). That said, you can still keep things interesting by using fruits as flavoring, drinking nut milks, and having all the coffee you want. Gans notes, "Coffee can also improve physical performance, so it might help you at the gym, too." (Always a bonus!)

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Whole30 Shopping List - Beginner's Guide To Groceries On The Diet - Women's Health

By Keri Wiginton Chicago Tribune

If youre one of the 60 million Americans with a digestive disorder, you may be used to approaching each meal with a sense of dread.

Simply snacking on a piece of fruit can leave you gassy, bloated or in pain. In my case, a couple of pieces of cauliflower can puff up my stomach like a balloon.

I have endometriosis, an inflammatory condition in which uterine cells grow outside of the womb, sparking symptoms like abdominal cramping and bloating. Ditching dairy and meat relieved many of my worst digestive woes. But as I entered my 30s, it seemed as if every bite of food became a gamble.

Some doctors suggested I take probiotic supplements loaded with healthy bacteria, but each pill gave me gas pain. One diet I tried suggested smoothies made of vegetables like kale, peas and garlic. After one souplike shake, I thought my stomach was going to explode.

Then another doctor suggested something Id never heard of: the low-FODMAP diet.

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols certain carbohydrates prevalent in a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as milk and wheat, among other things. These carbs are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and rapidly fermented by bacteria in the colon, causing a wide range of abdominal woes, especially in people with sensitive guts, like those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Whats going on when youre eating a high-FODMAP diet is youre getting this osmotic effect in the bowel, said Bethany Doerfler, a clinical registered dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. That means that youre eating all of these sugars and fibers that are feeding gut bacteria, and theyre causing water to get pulled into the intestine.

The result can be cramping, diarrhea, bloating and those stomach noises even your co-worker three desks down can hear.

Researchers at Australias Monash University created the low-FODMAP diet in 2005 to alleviate symptoms in patients with IBS, but its recently been gaining traction with others (like me) who are digestively challenged. Companies such as Nestle have even introduced low-FODMAP products like ProNourish, a nutrition drink.

I think this is probably the first diet that weve had that has excellent data behind it to say manipulating carbohydrates actually helps change your symptoms, Doerfler said. Before that, it was a little anecdotal.

Those wanting to try a low-FODMAP eating plan should talk to their doctor and consult a dietitian familiar with the diet; its important to make sure youre getting enough nutrients since youll be cutting out or reducing important food groups.

Low-FODMAP followers start by eliminating high-FODMAP foods from their diet, often for a few weeks, before gradually reintroducing them. The idea is to keep a close eye on symptoms to figure out which foods you can tolerate. You might only have a problem with one category, and lower portions of some foods could be fine.

If you eat something problematic, it may take a couple of hours or a day for your gut to get back to normal.

I remind people that if they have a symptom flare, theyre not in danger they just feel crummy, Doerfler said.

What foods should low-FODMAP followers avoid?

Forgo dairy products with large amounts of lactose, a disaccharide. This means no ice cream, milk or yogurt. Humans cant digest lactose without the help of lactase, an enzyme many people stop producing as they age. Products with low-lactose levels butter and feta and cheddar cheeses tend to be well-tolerated. Almond-based milks and desserts are dairy-free alternatives.

Watch out for wheat. If you get gassy after eating bread or drinking beer, you could be reacting to the fructans an oligosaccharide not the gluten protein. Dont just switch to artificially gluten-free products, which can still be hard on the gut. Try sourdough bread. The fermenting process breaks down some of the fibers for you.

Raw onions and garlic are also high in fructans. If youre sensitive to garlic, you can still use garlic-infused oil. For onions, substitute the green parts of scallions or leeks.

Most beans need to be avoided, but you can try a quarter cup of canned chickpeas or a half cup of canned lentils. The canning process leaches out some of gas-producing elements.

Fructose is another red flag. These are the single sugars, or monosaccharides, found in fruit. It becomes a problem when the amount of fructose is higher than the amount of glucose. Opt for fruits like bananas and blueberries instead of apples and cherries.

Limit your intake of sugar alcohols, or polyols. They occur naturally in foods like mushrooms, watermelon and cauliflower and are used to make artificial sweeteners. If you need to add a little sweetness, try table sugar or stevia instead. Avoid any sugar ending in ol.

In my case, I realized Id been eating high-FODMAP foods throughout the day. I put artificial sweetener in my coffee, had whole-wheat toast for breakfast and black beans for lunch. My usual afternoon snack a nutrition bar was chock-full of things on the high list.

I now have steel-cut oats with natural peanut butter and a banana in the morning. Lunch is sourdough bread, tofu and carrots. For dinner, I make sure to cook all my food.

Heat is a great natural digestive enzyme, Doerfler said. I think that for some of these vegetables that might be too difficult to do raw, its a wonderful option to have them cooked.

After the first week, I lost 2 pounds and my post-meal balloon belly had all but disappeared. After three months, I have an even stronger grasp on my problem foods. I still have bloating issues if I dine out, but at least I know my triggers.

FODMAP Tools

For an updated list of high-and-low FODMAP foods, download Monash Universitys app. Its $7.99 at the Apple App Store and $9 on Google Play.

Other helpful resources can be found at MyGiNutrition.com (which receives funding from Nestle Health Science) and KateScarlata.com, a site run by a Boston-based dietitian by the same name.

If youre looking for a guidebook with recipes, check out Healthy Gut, Flat Stomach: The Fast and Easy Low-FODMAP Diet Plan by Danielle Capalino ($17.95, Countryman Press).

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How the low-FODMAP diet helped me beat my bloat - The Ledger

If you're one of the 60 million Americans with a digestive disorder, you may be used to approaching each meal with a sense of dread.

Simply snacking on a piece of fruit can leave you gassy, bloated or in pain. In my case, a couple of pieces of cauliflower can puff up my stomach like a balloon.

I have endometriosis, an inflammatory condition in which uterine cells grow outside of the womb, sparking symptoms like abdominal cramping and bloating. Ditching dairy and meat relieved many of my worst digestive woes. But as I entered my 30s, it seemed as if every bite of food became a gamble.

RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR

Some doctors suggested I take probiotic supplements loaded with healthy bacteria, but each pill gave me gas pain. One diet I tried suggested smoothies made of vegetables like kale, peas and garlic. After one souplike shake, I thought my stomach was going to explode.

Then another doctor suggested something I'd never heard of: the low-FODMAP diet.

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols certain carbohydrates prevalent in a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as milk and wheat, among other things. These carbs are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and rapidly fermented by bacteria in the colon, causing a wide range of abdominal woes, especially in people with sensitive guts, like those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

"What's going on when you're eating a high-FODMAP diet is you're getting this osmotic effect in the bowel," said Bethany Doerfler, a research dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "That means that you're eating all of these sugars and fibers that are feeding gut bacteria, and they're causing water to get pulled into the intestine."

The result can be cramping, diarrhea, bloating and those stomach noises even your co-worker three desks down can hear.

Researchers at Australia's Monash University created the low-FODMAP diet in 2005 to alleviate symptoms in patients with IBS, but it's recently been gaining traction with others (like me) who are digestively challenged. Companies such as Nestle have even introduced low-FODMAP products like ProNourish, a nutrition drink.

"I think this is probably the first diet that we've had that has excellent data behind it to say manipulating carbohydrates actually helps change your symptoms," Doerfler said. "Before that, it was a little anecdotal."

Those wanting to try a low-FODMAP eating plan should talk to their doctor and consult a dietitian familiar with the diet; it's important to make sure you're getting enough nutrients since you'll be cutting out or reducing important food groups.

Low-FODMAP followers start by eliminating high-FODMAP foods from their diet, often for a few weeks, before gradually reintroducing them. The idea is to keep a close eye on symptoms to figure out which foods you can tolerate. You might only have a problem with one category, and lower portions of some foods could be fine.

If you eat something problematic, it may take a couple of hours or a day for your gut to get back to normal.

"I remind people that if they have a symptom flare, they're not in danger they just feel crummy," Doerfler said.

What foods should low-FODMAP followers avoid?

Forgo dairy products with large amounts of lactose, a disaccharide. This means no ice cream, milk or yogurt. Humans can't digest lactose without the help of lactase, an enzyme many people stop producing as they age. Products with low-lactose levels butter and feta and cheddar cheeses tend to be well-tolerated. Almond-based milks and desserts are dairy-free alternatives.

Watch out for wheat. If you get gassy after eating bread or drinking beer, you could be reacting to the fructans an oligosaccharide not the gluten protein. Don't just switch to artificially gluten-free products, which can still be hard on the gut. Try sourdough bread. The fermenting process breaks down some of the fibers for you.

Raw onions and garlic are also high in fructans. If you're sensitive to garlic, you can still use garlic-infused oil. For onions, substitute the green parts of scallions or leeks.

Most beans need to be avoided, but you can try a quarter cup of canned chickpeas or a half cup of canned lentils. The canning process leaches out some of gas-producing elements.

Fructose is another red flag. These are the single sugars, or monosaccharides, found in fruit. It becomes a problem when the amount of fructose is higher than the amount of glucose. Opt for fruits like bananas and blueberries instead of apples and cherries.

Limit your intake of sugar alcohols, or polyols. They occur naturally in foods like mushrooms, watermelon and cauliflower and are used to make artificial sweeteners. If you need to add a little sweetness, try table sugar or stevia instead. Avoid any sugar ending in "ol."

In my case, I realized I'd been eating high-FODMAP foods throughout the day. I put artificial sweetener in my coffee, had whole-wheat toast for breakfast and black beans for lunch. My usual afternoon snack a nutrition bar was chock-full of things on the high list.

I now have steel-cut oats with natural peanut butter and a banana in the morning. Lunch is sourdough bread, tofu and carrots. For dinner, I make sure to cook all my food.

"Heat is a great natural digestive enzyme," Doerfler said. "I think that for some of these vegetables that might be too difficult to do raw, it's a wonderful option to have them cooked."

After the first week, I lost 2 pounds and my post-meal balloon belly had all but disappeared. After three months, I have an even stronger grasp on my problem foods. I still have bloating issues if I dine out, but at least I know my triggers.

FODMAPTools

For an updated list of high-and-low FODMAP foods, download Monash University's app. It's $7.99 at the Apple App Store and $9 on Google Play.

Other helpful resources can be found at MyGiNutrition.com (which receives funding from Nestle Health Science) and KateScarlata.com, a site run by a Boston-based dietitian by the same name.

If you're looking for a guidebook with recipes, check out "Healthy Gut, Flat Stomach: The Fast and Easy Low-FODMAP Diet Plan" by Danielle Capalino ($17.95, Countryman Press).

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How the low-FODMAP diet helped me beat my bloat - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Tribune

You aren't getting enough calories istock/monticellloWait, isn't the point of a diet that you are supposed to cut calories? Yes, but according to registered dietitian and author of Belly Fat for Dummies Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, it's only a piece of the puzzle. "A calorie is not just a calorie," she says. "Depending on what you consume, calories from nutrients such as protein and unsaturated fat keep you full for an extended period, whereas calories from simple sugars digest rapidly." If you're cutting calories but not getting the proper vitamins, protein, and fiber you need, your weight loss plan is not going to work. According to a study from Japan, calorie restriction leads to slower metabolic rate, which means without enough calories, your body goes into survival mode, slowing down your metabolism to conserve energy and prevent weight loss. "Focus on improving the nutritional quality of your diet rather than your calorie intake for improved body weight and health," Palinski-Wade says. Doctors wish you'd stop following these weight loss "tips." You're skipping meals istock/_thesomegirlAs with cutting calories, cutting meals isn't effective for healthy weight loss. Being overly hungry throws off the balance in your body, as Laura Moore, RD, director of the dietetic internship program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, explains. "Energy intake, or what's consumed, and expenditure, or what's burned, is coordinated by signals from several systems, including the endocrine, adipose tissue, neurologic, and gastrointestinal systems," she says. Chemical signals that increase and decrease appetite are sent to the brain. "This weight regulation system helps maintain a healthy weight for most people by modifying hunger, activity, and metabolism to keep the body weight within a target," Moore says. "Moving below this target, or set point, by skipping meals can be challenging because the brain's energy-balance system goes into action, pushing the weight back to its set point or even above." That means you're basically fighting with your body over where your weight should be. Instead, Moore recommends listening to your body's signals, eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. Here's what happens to your body when you skip breakfast. You're not mindful when you eat istock/Eva-KatalinBut if your goal is to eat less, how can you still satisfy your body's hunger signals? The trick may be in changing how you eat as well as what you eat. Moore recommends "mindful eating," which means being acutely aware of everything you put into your mouth. "Take small bites of food and chew it slowly, stopping two or three times during a meal to determine if you are hungry or if you feel satisfied," she says. Reexamine your potions based on how big your plates areaccording to research from Cornell, serving food on bigger plates has a direct effect on how much is consumed. Be mindful of other triggers that promote overeating like noshing directly from a package, buffet meals, and food advertisements. And if you're paying attention, you'll be less likely to finish off those extra bites of mac and cheese from your kid's plate. Also, Moore says to eliminate distractions while eating. "Are you watching television, working through lunch, eating at your desk, or while driving in your car?" she says. "It is important to disengage and focus on the meal, which will allow a person to experience hunger and satiety." Read about the healthiest foods from every color of the rainbow.

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10 Hidden Reasons Your Diet Isn't Working - Reader's Digest

By George Severson

CREATED Feb. 9, 2012

PALM DESERT - What do some of Hollywood's leading ladies, fashion experts and the NFL's leading players all have in common? Their diet plan. It's called the Alkaline Diet.

The diet is based on the philosophy that feeling out of balance isn't just a mind game. It's rooted in your body chemistry.

For years, a mysterious illness was sidelining Jan Brehm, an Alkaline Dieter. "I have been in the emergency rooms three times thinking I had a heart attack, and it was acid," Brehm claims. Jan thought her eating habits could be the culprit, so she decided to try the alkaline diet.

Registered dietician Erin Palinski says it's based on the philosophy that what we eat and drink affects our body chemistry, or p-h level, which is naturally "alkaline" at 7.4.  The goal is to keep that level in check.

"The people that promote the alkaline diet state that by being able to increase your intake of alkaline forming foods, and decrease your intake of acidic foods, you can actually alter the chemistry in your body," says Palinski.

Promoting things like weight loss, improved immunity, and even disease prevention, celebrity nutritionist Dr. Lindsey Duncan is a proponent of the alkaline diet. He says our meals are increasingly acidic, and our bodies are paying the price.

"Cardiovascular disease, depression, forgetfulness, poor mood, mind, memory," all things affected by diet says Duncan.

To reverse this, Dr. Duncan recommends avoiding meals packed with acidic foods like wheat, dairy, meat, fish, sugar, and caffeine. Instead, he says, load your plate with p-h balancers.

"Anything that's dark, leafy, and green. The general rule of thumb is the more bitter your foods, the more alkaline," says Duncan 

Other examples include watermelon, almonds, oranges and apples. Jan says she felt a difference within days of making the switch.

"Not only does the fatigue lift, but the mood shift, energy," Brehm claims.

Palinski says that while the alkaline diet dishes up healthy foods with actual science behind them, when it comes to p-h level. there have been no human medical research studies that prove any of the claims of the alkaline diet.

 "Our body really naturally, unless we have some kind of health problem, is going to keep our pH within the optimal level," Palinski says. She says the diet can also be restrictive, and some take it to the extreme, consuming supplements that promise to boost your ph, or even ingesting baking soda.

"This can make the body too alkaline and bring it outside of the optimal range, and that can actually have potentially deadly side effects," warns Palinski

But Dr. Duncan says there are plenty of studies that show the health benefits of alkaline foods, and that balance is the key.

"The proper ratio of food is 70-75% alkaline and 25-30% acid," says Duncan.

While experts continue to debate the food and p-h level connection, Jan says she is a believer.

"All I have is what I've experienced, and the difference that I feel is night and day," says Brehm.

Some alkaline dieters test their p-h daily with strips, which are available at the drugstore. 

 Dr. Dan Cosgrove who practices internal and preventatvie medicine at Wellmax in La Quinta says his take on the diet is that it is healthy. He says eating alkaline foods - like leafy greens - are always better for you than eating acidic foods like meat and processed foods. He says our bodies mantain blood p-h very tightly at about 7-point-4 and ph doesn't actually change that much at all with diet.

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Diet Monday: The Alkaline Diet