Imagine a slimming plan that costs nearly 2,000 euros per week—but if you have a bit of culinary creativity, it's surprisingly accessible. If you're eager to lose weight without giving up your favorite treats or wasting money on gimmicky diet products, it's time to forget the 80/20, Atkins, ketogenic, or Dash diets. Instead, welcome the Sirtfood Diet—a fresh, celebrity-endorsed approach that's capturing attention across the UK.
Popularized on social media and embraced by stars like Adele and Pippa Middleton (not to mention the elite circles of London's top gyms frequented by Madonna and Daniel Craig), this diet promises to help you shed up to 7 pounds per week without sacrificing indulgences like dark chocolate or red wine. Developed by nutritionists Aidan Goggins and Glen Matten—who first connected at the University of Surrey—the plan centers on boosting sirtuins, proteins that play a key role in regulating aging, inflammation, metabolism, and cell death. You’ll find these benefits in everyday, flavorful foods such as green tea, apples, citrus fruits, blueberries, kale, dark chocolate, parsley, olive oil, tofu, and yes, even red wine.
Step into a world where healthy living meets culinary adventure, and discover how you can transform your weight loss journey without compromise.
The Sirtfood Diet: A Nutritional Powerhouse, But Is the First Phase Too Extreme?
The Sirtfood Diet centers around foods rich in sirtuins—nutrients that mimic the effects of fasting and exercise, boosting weight loss and reducing the negative impact of junk food. After testing the diet with 40 members of a prestigious London gym, the creators were astonished by its effectiveness: participants lost an average of 7 pounds in just one week. For an alternative approach, check out The Ultimate Guide to 16/8 Intermittent Fasting: 7-Day Meal Plan for Beginners
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"The original goal was to stimulate cell repair and rejuvenation," the authors explained to The Times. “We knew weight loss would occur due to calorie restriction, but we were surprised by the average 7-pound drop in just seven days.”
The Two Phases of the Sirtfood Diet
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Phase 1 (Week 1):
This phase lasts seven days and involves a strict calorie restriction of 1,000 calories per day for the first three days. Participants consume three nutrient-packed green juices
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made from leafy greens, fruits, and green tea, along with one main meal. Meals include dishes like turkey escalope with sage and capers, curried chicken with kale, or fried shrimp with buckwheat noodles.
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Phase 2 (Week 2):
Calorie intake increases during this phase, with three meals per day and one green juice. After two weeks, the diet encourages maintaining a sirtuin-rich eating pattern without strict calorie counting.
Affordable Foods for Elite Results
While the Sirtfood Diet was initially designed for high-profile clients, the foods it promotes are surprisingly affordable. The high price tag of the original program was partly due to the inclusion of antioxidant-rich juices, which can be expensive. However, many ingredients can be substituted for cheaper alternatives. For example, expensive lovage leaves can be replaced with celery leaves, and matcha tea can be found at a fraction of the cost used in luxury gyms.
The meals recommended in the book are far from exclusive—they’re the same healthy staples we’ve all come to know: fruits, vegetables, lean meats, oily fish, whole grains, and more.
Can You Really Lose 7 Pounds a Week Without Giving Up Chocolate or Red Wine?
The diet claims to help you shed 7 pounds a week while still enjoying indulgences like dark chocolate and red wine. But as co-creator Glen Matten admitted in The Daily Mail, some ingredients can be pricey. Matcha tea, for instance, varies in cost but can be found for around €20 per 100 grams—expensive, but not as outrageous as the €1-per-gram tea used in elite gyms.
Is the Sirtfood Diet Worth It?
The diet has sparked debate among nutrition experts. On one hand, the foods it promotes are nutrient-dense and scientifically backed for their health benefits. On the other hand, the extreme calorie restriction in the first phase raises concerns. While rapid weight loss is possible, it’s often unsustainable and potentially unhealthy.
"At first glance, this isn’t a plan I’d recommend to my clients. Restricting calories to 1,000 per day for three days is extremely challenging and may not be feasible for most people," says Emer Delaney, a registered dietitian. “It’s not just about eating the specific fruits and vegetables on this list—variety is key to a balanced diet.”
Final Thoughts
The Sirtfood Diet offers a unique approach to weight loss by focusing on foods that activate sirtuins, but its initial phase may be too extreme for many. For sustainable results, consider incorporating the diet’s principles—like prioritizing sirtuin-rich foods—without the drastic calorie restriction. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new dietary regimen.