| Have you heard of the cayenne pepper and water | | | | The danger in this story as with other fad diets is that |
| diet? Controversy has recently surrounded the | | | | impressionable people, young girls in particular, will have |
| so-called cayenne pepper and water diet, primarily due | | | | heard about this seemingly miraculous cayenne pepper |
| to it's association with Beyonce Knowles who | | | | and water diet and will wish to try it themselves, |
| apparently lost 20 pounds during filming for the movie | | | | without any regard to the obvious and significant health |
| "Dreamgirls" living only on cayenne pepper and water. | | | | dangers inherent in starving yourself in such a way. In |
| The facts are not in dispute, the actress did apparently | | | | particular this form of dieting could be very damaging if |
| lose weight quickly over a short period and there is no | | | | sustained for any length of time, any form of fasting |
| reason to dispute how this was achieved. | | | | should be carefully monitored for signs of deteriorating |
| However the question that must be asked is can this | | | | health. |
| be called a "diet"? Some would say that what | | | | It should also be said that this story and the |
| Beyonce Knowles did was simply starve herself of | | | | controversy it has created are not the fault of |
| food, surviving solely on liquids. Surely the cayenne | | | | Beyonce Knowles, rather it is created by media hype |
| pepper had no noticeable effects other than perhaps | | | | attempting to profit from the possibility others may try |
| adding a little taste to the water? | | | | and follow her example. In recent times other actors |
| It should perhaps be noted that there are certainly | | | | have been required to lose weight quickly for their |
| recorded health benefits associated with cayenne | | | | future roles, for example Christian Bale in the movie |
| pepper, including aiding digestion, strengthening of the | | | | The Machinist. The actor dropped his weight to a |
| heart, claims it contains mild pain relieving qualities, and | | | | dangerously low level by reportedly eating a single |
| there are even reports of using cayenne as a dressing | | | | apple and a tin of tuna every day, but this did not |
| for wounds. | | | | become the "apple and tuna" fad diet, probably |
| Even taking these reported benefits into account, can | | | | because Christian Bale does not have the same |
| this cayenne pepper and water diet really be called a | | | | widespread fashionable image as Beyonce. |
| diet? It should more properly be seen as a purely | | | | So in conclusion is this really a Diet? I would suggest |
| starvation exercise undertaken by a committed actor | | | | not, with the hype surrounding it currently it could be |
| wishing to lose weight quickly in pursuit of her art and | | | | categorized as a fad, and potentially a dangerous one. |
| career, presumably with the safety net afforded to | | | | The only safe way to permanently lose weight is to |
| highly paid and closely monitored movie stars. | | | | eat healthy food, eat in moderation, and crucially |
| Presumably she will have been surrounded by | | | | undertake regular exercise. If you do this you will burn |
| assistants and helpers who would have been | | | | excess fat, your arteries will stay clear and healthy |
| immediately on hand had Beyonce suffered from any | | | | and you won't risk damaging your body by starving it |
| starvation effects or ill health. | | | | of the food it needs to stay fit and healthy. |