The Brown Fat Revolution diet plan was created by plastic surgeon, James Lyons, MD. He asserts that fat can be good. Yes folks! Fat can be good – the right kind of fat. The right kind of fat can keep you looking younger and even provide you with a slim, toned physique. The key is consuming “good fat.” Dr. Lyons essentially color codes fat. The bad fat is called yellow fat. This is the fat in our body that stores all those extra calories. The good fat is called brown fat and is found in smaller amounts in your body. Brown fat, he asserts, actually burns calories to generate body heat. So, how do you reduce the yellow fat and increase the brown fat in your body? Dr, Lyons asserts that by following his four week diet and exercise plan will help you achieve that goal. What you will do during these four weeks is alternate days where you take in high-carb and high-protein. Dr. Lyons claims that alternating the carb and protein levels will control blood sugar levels thus preventing yellow fat from accumulating. He writes, “When you eat high-fiber, low-glycemic index carbs, you manage insulin [and] blood sugar levels and prevent overeating, which in turn reduces yellow fat deposits and increases brown fat.” You will also exercise 20 minutes a day, focusing on your core muscles, using bungee cords and light weights. This helps build lean muscle, boost metabolism which he says will also help convert yellow fat to brown fat.

The guiding principles of The Brown Fat Revolution diet are:
-You eat 6 times a day to maintain optimal metabolism levels
-Alternate “carb days” with “protein days.” Carb days include consuming grains, starchy veggies, high-carb fruits and small amounts of protein. Protein days include consuming protein, low-fat dairy, non-starchy veggies, low-carb fruits and healthy fats.
-Recommends using Glycemic Index to choose the best types of carbs like fruits, veggies, whole grains and Legumes.
-Recommendations for protein includes lean meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, soy, legumes, nuts, low fat dairy, and eggs.
-You are encourages to eat before and after every workout.
-You are encourages to eat a variety of foods but to keep the portions reasonable and drink plenty of liquids.
-You are allowed a “choice day” once a week but must keep your caloric consumption at 2,000 calories.

Another message from this diet is to keep processed foods, artificial sweeteners, colors and preservatives at a minimum. Also daily multivitamin/mineral supplement are recommended as well.

Alicia Keys has tried several diets including the master cleanse diet plan (a diet plan where for 10 days you are only allowed to ingest a “lemonade mixture”). However, she found that too difficult to stick to this diet plan. She has since found success on the 5 Factor Diet Plan by the celeb fitness trainer, Harley Pasternak. She has said that this plan is easy to follow because you’re never hungry….On this diet plan, you eat 5 meals per day (see my review of this diet plan). Keys praises the diet plan saying it is addicting because she feels amazing and tells us that it is the best diet plan for anyone wishing to lose weight, maintain their current weight or just eat right and healthy. Keys has also decided to give up fast food (after watching a documentary, “Food Inc.”). However, she is not ready to give up her one weakness – bread. Keys said, “Delicious, warm soft bread is an indulgence of mine.” Hey, it’s all good – so long as it is in moderation!

As for her exercise plan, Keys hits the gym 4 – 5 times a week. In order to keep from getting bored, she also does a lot of running, switches up her cardio exercises, biking, rowing and hits the exercise machines. One of the exercises Harley Pasternak has Keys do to burn maximum calories is the following: Exercise with only one arm or one leg at a time when strength training with exercise equipments such as dumbbells. This way, while you’re resting one side of your body, you’ll keep the other side going strong. Your heart will also have to keep pumping hard through your entire fitness training exercise, which means that you’ll actually burn more calories overall.

So, I was intrigued when I was researching an article on Miranda Kerr’s diet and exercise plan and found that she has followed a plan that has to do with eating certain foods that are considered “right” for your blood type and conversely, avoiding foods that are “dangerous” for you. So, I thought I would research this diet plan and share it with you.

Peter J. D’Adamo, ND (Neuropathic Doctor), is the author of the book, “Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight.” He purports that your blood type directly affects your digestive system and therefore, the foods you should eat as well as the foods you should avoid. He also believes that your susceptibility to certain illnesses is determined by your blood type and even suggests that your exercise program (and it’s success) should be determined by your blood type.

So, here is a quick breakdown of the foods each blood type should consume and which to avoid:

Type O: Did you know that type O is humanity’s oldest blood line? Thus, D’Adamo states that type O folks’ digestive tract retains the memory of ancient times. As such, type O’s should eat lean meats, poultry, and fish. However, type O’s should restrict the amount of grains, breads and legumes they consume. As for exercise, Type O’s tend to benefit from a vigorous exercise program.

Type A: D’Adamo calls these folks, “agrarian” and say they do best on vegetarian diets. These blood types retain “the inheritance of their more settled and less warlike farmer ancestors.” As such, type A’s diet should consist of soy proteins, grains, and organic vegetables and encourages gentle exercise.

Type B: AKA, the Nomadic Blood type, has a tolerant digestive system. They should follow a low-fat dairy, meat, and produce diet but avoid wheat, corn, and lentils. Moderate exercise is recommended for Type B’s.

Type AB: Called “the modern” blood type have a sensitive digestive tract. Type AB’s should center their diets around seafood, tofu, dairy and produce. They should avoid chicken, beef, and pork. Calming exercises are recommended for this blood type.

D’Adamo says that the proteins in foods are digested differently by each person – based on their blood type. So, these proteins (called lectins) are either compatible or incompatible, thus they will either be helpful or harmful. If helpful, the foods act like “medicine” for your body. If harmful, they act like “poison” to your body (D’Adamo says some examples of harmful side effects are inflammation, bloating, slower metabolism). For example, Type O’s should avoid whole wheat because according to D’Adamo, “eating gluten is like putting the wrong kind of octane in your car … it clogs the works.”

There is not much compelling scientific evidence to support this book and most doctors, nutritionists, etc do not agree with D’Adamo’s assertions. David W. Grott, RD, LD and spokesman for the ADA said, “Within the diet itself are generally good diet recommendations.” He goes on to say, “D’Adamo doesn’t say avoid vegetables and fruit, for example — but his specific recommendations based on blood type — the science is not there to support it. I’m not aware that anyone has duplicated his research.” From my perspective, it does not touch on the very serious subject of portion control or balancing your food intake. While it may be something to read for pleasure, I don’t know if it is something to seriously consider when trying to live a healthy lifestyle.