Why Coffee, Red Wine & Chocolate Are Part Of Adele's New Eating Plan: A Doctor Explains

It's rare that advanced scientific pathways involved in human metabolism make the headlines worldwide. But when it involves weight loss and Adele—two things that interest many people—it's worth exploring the science.

The science of sirtuin proteins actually goes back to the 1980s. But it wasn't until Adele performed at the Billboard Music Awards last month with a noticeably slimmed-down figure that the media started to focus on this obscure family of metabolic regulators. According to the reports, Adele's weight loss was a result of the Sirtfood Diet, which claims to activate the "skinny gene," or SIRT1, which plays a role in metabolism and appetite control. To do so, Adele both limited her calories and ate a diet focused on key foods said to boost the sirtuin metabolic regulators.

For example, resveratrol, found in red wines like pinot noir, is one activator of the sirtuin pathways. You've probably heard of its proposed health benefits before, including in cardiovascular health and general aging.

Though there isn't much research that specifically looks into this diet, in an unpublished trial of 40 subjects, the average weight loss claimed was 7 pounds in one week, along with an increase in muscle mass and vitality.

So, should you try the sirtfood eating plan? The calorie counting is probably too restrictive for most of us. But I think we can all agree that what is not on the diet is noteworthy. There are no processed foods, added sugars, or refined flours. Whether the list of 20 sirtfoods actually will boost your “skinny gene” or not is speculative. But the program appears to be neither dangerous nor expensive.

Instructions:

Mix the greens (kale, arugula, parsley, and lovage, if you're using it) together, then juice them. Next, juice the celery and apple. Peel the lemon and put it through the juicer as well. Pour a small amount of the juice into a glass, then add the matcha and stir vigorously with a fork or teaspoon.