Werewolf diet: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:37, 3 April 2025

Fad diet based on lunar phases

The werewolf diet, also known as the moon diet or lunar diet, is a fad diet based on the idea that the phases of the Moon influence the body's ability to lose weight and detoxify. The diet recommends fasting or modifying eating habits based on the lunar calendar, and its name comes from the association with the moon and its folklore ties to werewolf mythology.

Overview[edit]

The diet has gained some attention in popular culture due to its celebrity endorsements, including from actress Demi Moore and singer Madonna. Proponents claim that just as the Moon affects the tides, it also affects the body's fluids and metabolism. There is, however, no scientific evidence to support these claims.

Variations[edit]

There are two main forms of the werewolf diet:

Basic Moon Plan[edit]

The basic plan is a short-term fasting method timed with the new moon or full moon. For 24 hours during either of these lunar phases, the dieter consumes only water and freshly squeezed fruit juice or vegetable juice. This version of the diet is often likened to the grapefruit diet in terms of structure and simplicity.

Extended Moon Plan[edit]

The extended version builds on the basic plan by following specific dietary guidelines throughout the entire lunar cycle:

During the full moon and new moon: a 24-hour liquid fast.
During the waxing moon: reduced calorie intake with emphasis on detoxifying foods.
During the waning moon: lighter meals, avoidance of eating after 6:00 PM, and controlled portions to aid weight loss.

Claims and Beliefs[edit]

Supporters of the diet claim it promotes:

Weight loss
Detoxification of the body
Improved metabolism

They believe that following the moon’s phases enhances the body’s natural rhythms and maximizes fat-burning potential. These ideas are not supported by scientific consensus.

Criticism[edit]

Health professionals and nutritionists have criticized the werewolf diet as being a pseudoscientific fad. Key points of criticism include:

Lack of evidence linking lunar phases to metabolism
Promotion of unsustainable or potentially unhealthy eating habits
The diet’s appeal based more on celebrity use than clinical results

Experts caution that extreme fasting and inconsistent caloric intake may result in nutrient deficiencies and yo-yo dieting effects.

Cultural Context[edit]

The werewolf diet is part of a broader trend of "detox" and alternative diet fads that rely on celestial or astrological cycles. Its name is a nod to folklore, where werewolves are said to transform during the full moon.

References[edit]

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+{{Short description|Fad diet based on lunar phases}}
+The '''werewolf diet''', also known as the '''moon diet''' or '''lunar diet''', is a [[fad diet]] based on the idea that the phases of the [[Moon]] influence the body's ability to lose weight and detoxify. The diet recommends fasting or modifying eating habits based on the lunar calendar, and its name comes from the association with the moon and its folklore ties to [[werewolf]] mythology.
-The '''werewolf diet''', also known as the '''lunar diet''' and the '''moon diet''', is a [[food faddism|fad diet]] that centers upon users fasting according to the [[lunar phases]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Burkart|first=Gregory|title=The Latest Celebrity Health Fad: The Werewolf Diet|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/news-article/latest-celebrity-health-fad-werewolf-diet|publisher=Fearnet|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> This has prompted people to nickname the diet plan the "werewolf diet" as a result.<ref>{{cite web|title=Werewolf Diet: Will juice cleanses during full moons help you lose weight?|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/werewolf-diet-lose-weight-article-1.1597361|publisher=NYDN|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> Celebrities that have endorsed the diet include [[Demi Moore]] and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gans|first=Keri|title=Forget Cavemen, Now Everyone's Eating Like a Werewolf|url=http://www.shape.com/blogs/weight-loss-coach/forget-cavemen-now-everyones-eating-werewolf|publisher=Shape|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref>
+== Overview ==
+The diet has gained some attention in popular culture due to its celebrity endorsements, including from actress [[Demi Moore]] and singer [[Madonna]]. Proponents claim that just as the Moon affects the [[tide]]s, it also affects the body's fluids and metabolism. There is, however, no scientific evidence to support these claims.
-The diet is typically performed in one of two fashions: the "basic moon plan" or the "extended version".<ref name=USN>{{cite web|title=Should You Try the Werewolf Diet?|url=http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2014/02/07/should-you-try-the-werewolf-diet|publisher=US News|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> The first plan is a variation of the [[grapefruit diet]] in that individuals are only permitted to drink water and freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice.<ref name=USN /> This is typically performed in a 24-hour period during either the [[full moon|full]] or [[new moon]].<ref name=USN /> The extended version requires the dieter to begin with the initial fast during the full moon and then follow a series of eating plans tailored to the various moon phases, such as not eating after 6 p.m. or eating less than normal.<ref name=TIME>{{cite web|last=Sifferlin|first=Alexandra|title=Promising the Moon: The Truth Behind the Werewolf Diet|url=http://healthland.time.com/2014/01/28/promising-the-moon-the-truth-behind-the-werewolf-diet/|publisher=TIME|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref>
+== Variations ==
+There are two main forms of the werewolf diet:
-==Criticism==
+=== Basic Moon Plan ===
-The werewolf diet has received some criticism due to its similarity to detox diets as a whole, with some physicians dismissing the diet as a [[fad diet]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Madonna and Demi’s "Werewolf" Diet|url=http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/healthanddiet/diet/8790479/madonna-and-demis-werewolf-diet|publisher=Woman's Day (MSN)|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Melone|first=Linda|title=The Latest Diet Fad That Involves...Werewolves? Oh, And Moons.|url=http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/werewolf-diet-latest-celebrity-diet-craze|publisher=Prevention|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> Criticisms include the diet's effectiveness in the long term, that it hasn't been scientifically proven, and that the weight loss could be attributed more to the low calorie intake as opposed to lunar shifts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Borreli|first=Lizette|title=The Werewolf Diet: Eating To Lunar Calendar Helps You Lose 6 Pounds In 24 Hours, Claims Say|url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/werewolf-diet-eating-lunar-calendar-helps-you-lose-6-pounds-24-hours-claims-say-268014|publisher=Medical Daily|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=WHM /> Others have raised concerns over claims that individuals can lose six pounds in one day, as some nutritionists have said that there is "no solid evidence that anyone can lose six pounds in a day."<ref name=TIME /> They also questioned the diet's long term health risks.<ref name=TIME /> A member of the [[Women's Health (magazine)|''Women's Health'']] advisory board commented that, while the moon had a limited effect on the human body, "the effect isn't so great that you should actually rethink the way you eat during different times of the month" and that "fasting isn't the smartest idea—it can set you up for binges—and the Werewolf Diet's claims that you can lose up to six pounds in a day simply aren't realistic".<ref name=WHM>{{cite web|last=Lindenmuth|first=Katy|title=Should You Try the Werewolf Diet?|url=http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/the-werewolf-diet#.|publisher=Women's Health Magazine|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref>
+The basic plan is a short-term fasting method timed with the [[new moon]] or [[full moon]]. For 24 hours during either of these lunar phases, the dieter consumes only water and freshly squeezed [[fruit juice]] or [[vegetable juice]]. This version of the diet is often likened to the [[grapefruit diet]] in terms of structure and simplicity.
-==References==
+=== Extended Moon Plan ===
-{{reflist|2}}
+The extended version builds on the basic plan by following specific dietary guidelines throughout the entire lunar cycle:
+* During the full moon and new moon: a 24-hour liquid fast.
+* During the waxing moon: reduced calorie intake with emphasis on detoxifying foods.
+* During the waning moon: lighter meals, avoidance of eating after 6:00 PM, and controlled portions to aid weight loss.
-[[Category:Obesity]]
+== Claims and Beliefs ==
-[[Category:Diets]]
+Supporters of the diet claim it promotes:
-[[Category:American inventions]]
+* [[Weight loss]]
+* Detoxification of the body
+* Improved metabolism
+They believe that following the moon’s phases enhances the body’s natural rhythms and maximizes fat-burning potential. These ideas are not supported by [[scientific consensus]].
+== Criticism ==
+Health professionals and [[nutritionist]]s have criticized the werewolf diet as being a pseudoscientific fad. Key points of criticism include:
+* Lack of evidence linking lunar phases to metabolism
+* Promotion of unsustainable or potentially unhealthy eating habits
+* The diet’s appeal based more on celebrity use than clinical results
+Experts caution that extreme fasting and inconsistent caloric intake may result in nutrient deficiencies and yo-yo dieting effects.
+== Cultural Context ==
+The werewolf diet is part of a broader trend of "detox" and [[alternative diet]] fads that rely on celestial or astrological cycles. Its name is a nod to folklore, where werewolves are said to transform during the full moon.
+== See also ==
+* [[Fad diet]]
+* [[Detoxification (alternative medicine)]]
+* [[Crash diet]]
+* [[Lunar effect]]
+* [[Grapefruit diet]]
+* [[Intermittent fasting]]
+== References ==
+<references />
+[[Category:Fad diets]]
+[[Category:Nutrition]]
+[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
+[[Category:Detoxification (alternative medicine)]]
+[[Category:Weight loss methods]]
+{{diets}}