From celery juice cleanses to collagen powders, we’re well and truly swamped with celeb-endorsed wellness trends that promise the world. They’ve been irresistible for decades, from Marilyn Monroe’s supposed raw egg smoothies to the high-intensity hula hoop aerobics of the 90s. Whether intentional or not, Hollywood stars, influencers and self-titled wellness gurus have helped turn everyday foods into billion-pound wellness trends.
And, while some of these concepts might look perfectly healthy on the surface, many of the claims made about them race far ahead of the real science. So, we asked the experts about seven Hollywood health trends to find out whether there really is science behind them or they’re just too good to be true.
1. Beyoncé’s 'master cleanse'
Back in 2006, Beyoncé revealed on a talk show that she followed a 'master cleanse' in order to drastically drop weight for her role in Dreamgirls. This involved drinking a mixture of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for up to 10 days, alongside saltwater flushes and laxative tea. It promises a rapid weight loss and a full body 'detox', but experts say the reality is far less glamorous.
“The dramatic drop in weight that people notice in the first couple of days is essentially water,” says registered nutritionist Zara Hiridjee. “You burn through your glycogen, which is the carbohydrate stored in your liver and muscles, and each gram of it holds around 3g of water. As the glycogen goes, the water goes with it, and the scales fall quickly. The early result is fluid, not fat.”
From there, dieters are consuming roughly 600-800 calories a day, almost all of it sugar – with none of the protein, fat or micronutrients the body actually needs. “Because no protein is coming in, the body starts breaking down its own tissue to get the amino acids it needs, which includes muscle,” warns Hiridjee.
She also challenges one of the cleanse’s biggest selling points: “The symptoms people describe as detoxing – headaches, irritability and fatigue – aren’t toxins leaving the body. They’re caffeine withdrawal, low energy, low blood sugar and dehydration. The liver and kidneys already detoxify you continuously.”
And, even if people lose weight, she says it rarely lasts: “Any calorie deficit will produce weight loss, but a deficit this severe with almost no protein means you lose muscle alongside fat, and that combination is what makes it so hard to keep off.”
2. Celery juice
Celery juice’s recent rise to wellness world stardom is largely down to one man, Anthony William, who brands himself as the 'Medical Medium' to his millions of social media followers, despite having no formal medical or nutrition training. He claims the drink contains undiscovered “cluster salts” capable of healing everything from autoimmune disease to chronic skin conditions, and has a host of celebrity endorsements on his website including Gwyneth Paltrow, Pharrell Williams and Adam Sandler.
While drinking celery juice isn’t inherently harmful, there is no scientific evidence to support these wild health claims. “Celery is undoubtedly a healthy vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but there is currently no robust evidence that drinking celery juice alone can detoxify the body, reverse liver disease, lower blood pressure, treat cancer, improve mental health or cure chronic inflammatory conditions,” says GP Dr Semiya Aziz, founder of Say GP.
Any weight loss people experience is likely to have a much simpler explanation: “Some people may notice short-term weight loss while following a celery juice cleanse, but this is often simply the result of consuming fewer calories overall, rather than any unique property of celery itself,” says Dr Aziz. “Unfortunately, this approach is rarely sustainable.”
She says the biggest misconception is the idea that celery juice somehow helps the body eliminate toxins: “Our liver and kidneys are remarkably efficient detoxification organs, continuously filtering waste products and maintaining the body’s internal balance. There is no convincing scientific evidence that celery juice – or any other ‘detox’ drink – enhances these natural processes.”
3. Olive oil shots
Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez are just some of the celebs that have been seen knocking back a neat shot of olive oil each morning, claiming it boosts digestion, immunity and skin health.
Olive oil is undoubtedly good for you, but Hiridjee says there’s no evidence that drinking it neat offers extra benefits: “You absorb the fat and polyphenols reasonably well whether you take olive oil neat or with a meal, so a morning shot isn’t wasted,” she says. “But, where it genuinely makes a difference is in what the oil can do for the rest of your food.”
Olive oil helps the body absorb fat-soluble nutrients from vegetables, so you’re likely to get more benefit by consuming it as part of a meal. “The claim that an empty stomach makes it more powerful is the part I’d be cautious about. There isn’t strong evidence for that, and it’s mostly where the marketing runs ahead of the science.”
“Somewhere around 2 tbsp per day, spread across meals, is where the actual Mediterranean diet evidence lies,” recommends Hiridjee. “The benefit comes from olive oil replacing less healthy fats within a genuinely balanced diet, not from taking it as a shot.”
4. The Sirtfood Diet
When Adele appeared dramatically slimmer in 2020, the Sirtfood diet, a plan built around foods that supposedly activate sirtuins – proteins said to mimic the metabolic effects of fasting and exercise, which include kale, dark chocolate, red wine and buckwheat – was widely credited (although she never confirmed this). The story stuck regardless, helped by the novelty of a diet that “allowed” wine and chocolate.
The underlying science isn’t that straightforward though. “Sirtuins are real proteins involved in metabolism and how cells handle stress,” says Hiridjee. “The claim that eating certain compounds switches them on and makes you burn fat is where it overreaches.”
She points out that the early research behind the theory relied largely on studies using doses far beyond what anyone could realistically eat. “There’s no food that flips a genetic switch and makes you thin,” she says. The diet’s first phase also restricts calories to around 1,000 a day: “You get the same rapid water and glycogen loss, so the scale moves and it looks impressive,” she says. “The Sirtfood framing is essentially marketing built around a low-calorie diet.”
That doesn’t mean the foods themselves are unhealthy: “Kale, blueberries, olive oil, buckwheat, cocoa and green tea are genuinely nutritious, polyphenol-rich foods, and there’s every reason to eat them. It’s the diet and sirtuin mechanism that are the sales pitch.”
5. The alkaline diet
Popularised by Tom Brady’s TB12 method, the alkaline diet claims that avoiding so-called acidic foods, such as meat, dairy and grains, can alter your body’s pH and improve health.
But, according to Hiridjee, that’s simply not how the body works: “Blood pH is held within a very narrow range by the lungs and kidneys, and it stays there regardless of what you eat,” she says. “If food could genuinely shift it, that would be a medical emergency.” What food actually changes is the pH of urine, she points out, which is “simply the kidneys doing their job."
The theory traces back to the older 'acid-ash hypothesis' later popularised by the author of The pH Miracle, who was eventually convicted of practising medicine without a licence. Part of why it persists, Hiridjee suggests, is that it happens to recommend more fruit and vegetables, so people feel better and credit the pH theory rather than the healthier foods they’re eating.
6. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal has become a wellness favourite, popping up in everything from juices and smoothies to supplements, with many claiming that it can pull toxins from the body and leave you feeling cleansed. While activated charcoal does have a genuine medical purpose, experts say it shouldn’t be confused with everyday detox products.
“Activated charcoal does have a real medical use in poisoning cases,” explains Julie Boora, superintendent pharmacist at TribElle. “It can be used as an emergency treatment after certain poisonings or drug overdoses because it binds some substances and toxins that are still in the stomach or intestines, reducing the amount absorbed into the bloodstream. However, it is only effective for specific substances, has to be given within a short window – usually within an hour – and should only be used under medical supervision.”
Outside of these emergency situations, the evidence simply isn’t there: “Unfortunately, there isn’t any good-quality evidence that regular activated charcoal supplements detoxify the body,” says Boora. “Our bodies already have an incredibly efficient detoxification system in our liver, kidneys and digestive system.”
What’s more, charcoal doesn’t discriminate between harmful substances and beneficial ones: “One of the main concerns with using charcoal is that it doesn’t select what to bind with,” she explains. “You could be taking prescribed medication, such as the contraceptive pill, blood thinners or antidepressants, and charcoal could reduce their absorption. It may also bind to nutrients from food that we need.”
Because of this, Boora says certain groups – including people taking regular medication, those with swallowing difficulties or some gastrointestinal conditions, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding – should avoid activated charcoal unless advised by their doctor.
7. Collagen powders
Collagen powders have become one of the most heavily marketed 'ingestible skincare' products of the last few years, promoted by countless influencers and celebs as a way to firm your skin, smooth wrinkles and support hair health.
But, according to Dr Louise Newson, hormone specialist and founder of hormone health app Balance, the evidence doesn’t match the hype: “The market for collagen supplements has exploded in recent years, but data on the efficacy of collagen is limited and inconclusive,” she says.
What’s missing from the conversation, Dr Newson explains, is the role hormones play in skin health. “The skin is our largest organ and it’s a very useful window into our overall health – so, if you’re noticing changes in your skin, it could be a sign that other things are going on, including hormone changes.
“It’s really important to remember hormones in the broader collagen conversation; the hormone oestrogen helps with collagen production, so when oestrogen levels fall – as they do in perimenopause and menopause – it starts to affect our skin’s thickness and elasticity.” Research has shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can increase skin thickness in menopausal women, highlighting the important role hormones play in maintaining skin heath.
Dr Newson is also concerned that women may spend money on supplements instead of investigating what’s driving their symptoms. “These products only put a temporary sticking plaster over a single symptom at best. They won’t address an underlying hormonal cause in the way that hormone treatment can.”
Food trends will come and go, often with a celebrity endorsement and a promise to transform your health overnight. But, if there’s one thing these Hollywood-backed fads have in common, it’s the promise of a shortcut to better skin, effortless weight loss or a body reset – something the evidence simply doesn’t support.
That doesn’t mean the foods themselves are bad – olive oil, kale, berries and celery can all be part of a healthy diet. The problem is when they’re packaged as a miracle cure, or come as part of extreme diets that encourage restriction instead of sustainable habits. As our experts agree, lasting health comes from balanced meals, regular movement, good sleep and seeking medical advice when something doesn’t feel right.
All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
source https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/celebrity-diet-trends-hollywood-food-myths-debunked
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