Medications should be taken an hour before or after
the life long cocktail because the fiber in the cocktail
may interfere with absorption of medicine.
RisksThe fat flush plan can disrupt menstrual cycles.
Gittleman suggests using black current seed oil rather
than evening primrose oil as a GLA source to avoid
this. According to Gittleman black current seed oil
has a better omega-6 to omega-3 ratio for balancing
hormones.
Gittleman’s fast flush kit contains chromium,
which has been linked toulcersand liver and kidney
damage. Large doses of chromium can be lethal.
Research and general acceptanceResearch
There is little scientific evidence to support claims
made for the benefits of detox diets. Gittleman claims
that her plan speeds up metabolism, detoxifies the liver
by flushing out waste and fat, and helps digest fatty
globules in the lymphatic system. Registered dietician
Jane Kirby, in her bookDieting for Dummies, says that
there is no scientific evidence that the liver is a ‘fat-
burning furnace.’ She says: ‘It’s just a low-calorie diet.
Most people lose weight when calories are cut this low.’
Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic was quoted in
O: the Oprah Magazinein August of 2006: ‘There’s no
such thing as a metabolism-blocking food; the liver and
lymphatic system have no link to weight loss that we
know of; there’s no medical purpose for cleansing the
body with a diuretic; and while the fat-burning supple-
ment recommended [GLA] has been tested in animals,
there’s very little data on its effect in humans.’
General acceptance
The fat flush diet is very popular. Gittleman is a
highly respected nutritionist who has written many
articles and books on women’s health, nutrition, and
detoxification diets, and the fat flush diet has received
much publicity in the popular press. Testimonials as to
the success of the diet are abundant on the Internet.
According to Gittleman’s Website, some individuals
have lost up to 12 inches (30 cm) from their buttocks,
hips, and thighs in the two-week phase 1 of the diet.
One individual claims that it eliminated 95% of her
intractable chronic pain. The fat flush diet has proved
so popular that other entrepreneurs are selling their
own fat flush kits.
Resources
BOOKS
Gittleman, Ann Louise.Beyond Pritikin.New York: Ban-
tam, 1988.
Gittleman, Ann Louise.The Fat Flush Journal and Shopping
Guide.New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Gittleman, Ann Louise.The Fat Flush Cookbook.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Gittleman, Ann Louise.The Fat Flush Fitness Plan.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Gittleman, Ann Louise.The Fat Flush Foods.New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Gittleman, Ann Louise.The Fat Flush Plan.New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Kirby, Jane.Dieting for Dummies.New York: Wiley,
2004.
PERIODICALS
Callahan, Maureen. ‘Fat Flush Diet Review.’Health Mag-
azine(April 2004). Available online:<http://diets.aol.
com/a-z/fatflush_diet/_a/fat-flush-review/
20050610162209990025 >.
Lewis, Kristyn Kusek. ‘America’s Next Diet Craze.’O: the
Oprah Magazine7 (August 2006): 127-130.
Michelle, Lynne. ‘Health: The Fat Flush Diet; Do You
Dream of Dropping a Dress Size in as Little as Two
Weeks? Do You Want to Burn Fat Faster, Detox Your
System and Send Your Energy Levels Sky-High—All in
a Fortnight? Well, Here’s the Healthy Eating Plan
You’ve Been Waiting For.’Sunday Mirror(London)
(January 12, 2003): 34.QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR Have you had other patients who have tried the
fat flush diet?
Is the calorie allowance in this diet adequate for
my activity level?
Is it healthy for me to completely eliminate
grains and dairy from my diet?
Is eight hours of sleep adequate for my needs?
Should I be taking a diuretic?
Should I take GLA and other supplements?
Could the medications that I take interact with
the herbs, supplements, and nutrients in the fat
flush kit?
Are there vitamin and mineral supplements that I
should take while following this diet?Fat flush diet