Top 10 Useless Celebrity Health Therapies
There are plenty of alternative health treatments, diet plans and supplements that all get celebrity backing. The Kardashians for QuickTrim, Valerie Bertineli for Jenny Craig and the list goes on and on. The insurance firm Aviva surveyed 200 general practitioners to determine what health fads are ineffective and sometimes harmful. Dr. Douglas Wright of Aviva said that women are wasting their money on health fads. In addition, he said,
“What’s more worrying is that some [women] are opting for treatment trends rather than seeking medical advice – they might not be fashionable but tried and tested health routes are safer and more beneficial.”
Here’s the top 10 list (according to Aviva) accompanied by a few examples of stars who use the method:
1. Cupping – A form of acupuncture where heated cups are placed on the body to stimulate blood flow. Used by Gwyneth Paltrow. (see photo above)
2. Colonic Irrigation – A water-filled tube is used to cleanse the bowel. Reportedly used by Ben Affleck.
3. Food Intolerance Testing – A very costly test that Geri Halliwell has used.
4. Detoxing – The list is endless of detox plans used by celebrities like Beyonce, Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie.
5. Macrobiotic Diets – Kim Kardashian and Christina Applegate are big fans.
6. Aromatherapy - Smelling herbs and oils to help with things like anxiety, insomnia and addictions.
7. Reflexology - Some practitioners will perform reflexology to target an illness but some use it for weight loss.
8.Vitamin B12 Injections – Boosts energy levels and reduces water retention as it converts carbs into glucose.
9. Extreme Yoga - Yoga is great for the body. It’s just not meant to be used as a quick fix by pushing the body to extreme limits.
10. Overnight Health Farm – Sex and the City star Chris Noth escaped to Brazil to lose weight at a health farm.
What’s the lesson here? All of the above therapies have potential benefits and potential harming effects so no matter what you may try be sure to consult your doctor before trying something new be it exercise, food, diet, therapies and supplements.
Celeb Diet Doctor…
Remember that up to 40% of all positive responses to any therapy are due to the placebo effect. This simply means that the power of your mind to believe that something will work is the main driver for users saying a particular therapy “works.”
