ZONE/MACROBIOTIC DIETS

Zone: What: A regulated diet that controls blood sugar levels. Each meal and snack must be 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% unsaturated fat.

Jennifer Aniston has shed the kilos on this diet.

DR TIM CROWE 

Pros: Controls appetite and the restrictive nature helps with weight loss.

Cons: Hard to eat food in the correct ratios, especially when dining out.

DR RICK KAUSMAN

Fad diets are tempting, with the lure of quick weight loss almost spellbinding. However it is almost impossible to sustain any eating pattern when we are asked to folow percentages and are restricted in what, when and / how much we eat.

MACROBIOTIC

What: Organic foods, no meat, eggs, dairy foods and caffeine.

GWYNETH PALTROW is a fan

DR TIM CROWE:

Pros: Low in fat, high in fibre and promotes healthy living

Cons: A strict diet deficient in calcium, iron and vitamins B12 and D. "Disease curing" claims unsubstantiated.

DR RICK KAUSMAN:

  There's nothing wrong with organic foods, but any bans on food can easily lead to feelings of deprivation. If we are deprived of the pleasure of food in a social context, it is almost impossible not to feel emotionally deprived in some way. We eventually respond to this by rebelling. We can develop all or nothing thinking. This sort of thinking says: "what the hell, i've stuffed up anyway, why does it matter if i now over eat or binge?"