Apple & Coffee Diet

No diet is clearly defined as an “apple and coffee diet” but rather, it’s a loose concept used to describe a whole range of dietary schemes. In other words, the diet is largely open to interpretation.

Types of Apple And Coffee diets

• A simple Internet query on the topic reveals the broad scope of these interpretations. Sometimes, the diet quite literally means nothing but coffee and apples, for various periods of time—from 24 hours to several days, depending on the proposed goal. On the other hand, like in the 3-Apple-a-Day Plan, apples are simply added on top of a carefully structured meal plan; it makes no specific mention of coffee, however. Still others just throw in apples and coffee seemingly at random and call it an Apple and Coffee Diet. It is important to consider the fact that the vast majority of proponents of this diet and its variations have highly dubious or undisclosed credentials.

Rationale

• Depending on definition of the diet used, the logic behind it varies dramatically. In some instances, the rationale is not explicitly evident, and must therefore be deduced. For example, one can only assume that the idea behind the hard-core version (coffee and apples exclusively) is severe caloric deficit and dehydration. As intended, the combined effects of caffeine--a known diuretic--and the body’s natural response to nutrient/energy deprivation would ensue in diuresis (water loss), which would most certainly translate into rapid weight loss at least temporarily. Some fat and muscle tissue may also be lost, depending on the duration of this diet.

  From the standpoint of physiological health such a technique is absolutely unadvisable.

  Some recommend apples for their superior nutrient content, claiming that their consumption will free us of all our problems. Without a doubt, apples make for a very healthy option: they are rich in fiber and multiple vitamins and minerals, all within a fairly slim amount of calories. Their benefits, however, can only manifest if they serve merely as a component, not the foundation, of an overall healthy lifestyle and proper diet.

  Other advocates suggest that several days of strict coffee and apples can serve a sort of detoxification procedure. Many legitimate fasting and detoxification protocols exist; apples and coffee is not one of them. This “fast” will not detoxify anybody, but what will likely do instead is give a furious headache, insomnia, hyperstimulation and acid reflux, as the effects of caffeine, stress of caloric deficit and dehydration join forces, according to the authors of "Krause’s Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy" and "Textbook of Natural Medicine."

  There is some scant evidence that caffeine can suppress appetite and increase metabolism, but the effect is marginal at best, while the doses required to produce it substantial. Either way, it’s a poor choice, as excessive caffeine consumption has been linked with multiple disorders, including chronic fatigue, PMS and depression, according to the authors of "Krause’s Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy" and "Textbook of Natural Medicine."

If One Had to Choose

• One of the more reasonable apple diets floating around is probably the 3-Apple-a-Day Plan. Considering that it, unlike most others, is actually created by a qualified dietary professional, lends it respectable credibility. Above all, it offers a generally sound nutritional regimen, albeit one that’s disproportionally high in protein while somewhat lacking in several important food categories. Indeed, it’s true, apples are nutritionally valuable and eating them prior to each meal, as this plan suggests, may aid in appetite control—not to mention that they taste best on a hungry, empty stomach. But these characteristics are hardly limited to apples. A variety of fruits should be eaten on regular basis—before, after or during a meal—especially if they replace junk and processed foods. The 3-Apple-a-Day Plan does offer legitimate if not particularly innovative dietary advice, but the inclusion of apples appears largely trivial.

Verdict

• The basic idea of any healthy diet is primarily to avoid junk, animal fat and sugar, while focusing predominantly on vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans and legumes, some nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy (if desired), and occasional meat, preferably as cold-water fish. Total daily caloric intake appropriate to one’s activity level and weight goals is obviously an important factor as well, according to "Krause’s Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy" and "Textbook of Natural Medicine." From this grander perspective, coffee and apples are largely irrelevant.

  Based on the currently accepted standards of nutritional practice, coffee and apples as the principal means of losing weight cannot be recommended. Weight loss should always be gradual and geared toward long-term maintenance, once the desired body composition is achieved.