Kelly Clarkson’s Plant Paradox Weight Loss Diet: Is It Healthy? – Prevention.com

kelly clarkson weight loss

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  • Kelly Clarkson ends rumors that she is taking diet pills and following fad diets to lose weight.
  • Clarkson says she follows The Plant Paradox, a lectin-free diet that eliminates beans, legumes, whole grains, certain vegetables, and dairy.
  • A registered dietitian explains whether The Plant Paradox is an effective way to lose weight.

    Kelly Clarkson wants to put an end to the rumors: When it comes to weight loss, she’s not taking “weird” diet pills. Yesterday, the 37-year-old Voice coach took to Twitter to confirm that her diet is the reason she’s been able to shed pounds.

    “Other fake news that’s going around about me is that I’ve been taking weird pills 4 weight loss or doing weird fad diets. All of this is not true. I ain’t got time 4 all that. I eat the same stuff I always have. It’s all just made w/different flours/sugars/ingredients. #DrGundry,” she tweeted.

    The diet Clarkson is referring to in her tweet is Dr. Stephen Gundry’s . Clarkson claims the diet has helped her lose 37 pounds and help manage her thyroid condition.

    “I did it for this autoimmune disease that I had and I had a thyroid issue,” Clarkson previously told Extra.

    What is The Plant Paradox diet, exactly?

    If you’re not familiar, The Plant Paradox is a lectin-free diet, where you eliminate foods like beans, legumes, whole grains, and some vegetables. Dr. Gundry claims that lectins—the naturally occurring protein in plant-based foods—are dangerous to your health because they cause inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases.

    According to Dr. Gundry, these lectins are basically a defense mechanism for plants to keep insects and animals away from eating them. Lectins are found in beans and legumes, including soy and peanuts, whole grains, and nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. But they are also in cow’s milk and eggs since cows and chickens are fed lectin-containing grains.

    Is The Plant Paradox diet healthy?

    While the diet may have worked for Clarkson, we’re skeptical of elimination diets, so we asked Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN, author of , to weigh in.

    “Kelly Clarkson was diagnosed with a thyroid condition, so this diet could have possibly made a difference. There is some research to support that there could be a negative relationship between some autoimmune diseases and lectins, but there isn’t enough evidence to say that it should be universal,” Gans explains. “The average, healthy person isn’t going to benefit from an elimination diet. They shouldn’t even be thinking about trying it.”

    So while it’s possible that The Plant Paradox diet helped Clarkson treat her condition, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be your new go-to weight loss method.

    “The average, healthy person isn’t going to benefit from an elimination diet.”

    “The first thing in choosing a diet that’s right for us is it has to be individual. What concerns me about this diet is that it’s highly restrictive, and any diet that restricts food groups isn’t a diet that any average person can sustain,” Gans says.

    Plus, eliminating whole grains, legumes, some vegetables, and dairy from your diet can have negative consequences on your health. “Whole grains are high in fiber to prevent heart disease, lower cholesterol, and support gut health. By removing whole grains from your diet, you might actually be hurting your health,” Gans says. Moreover, there are large bodies of evidence that shows that vegetables and legumes are extremely nutritious and packed with disease-fighting phytonutrients that can help boost your immune system.

    Bottom line: Eliminating large food groups is not a sustainable weight loss method for the average, healthy person

    As Gans puts it, “What worries me about this is it’s another celebrity who is promoting restricting food. What message is that to your fans? That’s what bothers me. Restricting food groups isn’t a lifestyle change. Unless it’s recommended from a registered dietitian or their doctor, you shouldn’t follow it.”

    And if you do have an chronic condition? Consult your doctor and a registered dietitian about finding the right diet for you to lose weight and manage your symptoms.


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