The Hard Boiled Egg Diet

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There's a rumor going around the net that Adrian Brody ate nothing but hard boiled eggs for a month in order to lose weight for his role in The Pianist. He lost 30 pounds in six weeks and his effort earned him an Academy Award. Because of this rumor, a lot of people are curious if eating nothing but eggs is a good way to lose weight.

I searched the web to verify this and it turns out it isn't true. Here is what Brody ate in his own words: "I had two boiled eggs, and then I had nothing for about five hours, then a small piece of chicken, grilled, and then four or five hours later a small piece of fish and a few steamed vegetables."

He says about the experience:

"There is an emptiness that comes with really starving that I hadn't experienced ... I couldn't have acted that without knowing it. I've experienced loss, I've experienced sadness in my life, but I didn't know the desperation that comes with hunger."

There is much talk on the web about eating nothing but hard boiled eggs to lose weight. In fact, many people in the Atkins induction phase eat nothing but hard boiled eggs because they are easy to cook.

Eating nothing but eggs for a month isn't a healthy way to lose weight. Adrian Brody varied his diet to include other items. Even though his diet was varied, it isn't recommended to go on such a starvation diet. Most nutritionists and experts say that losing 1-2 pounds per week is the healthiest way to lose weight. Brody lost 30 pounds in six weeks which comes out to 5 pounds per week. He probably lost a lot of muscle along with fat.

Actors go on extreme diets for their roles. It wins them critical acclaim and awards. It also takes a toll on their bodies. Unless you're up for the role of a lifetime, a starvation diet isn't going to be worth the longterm damage it does to your body.

Eating eggs in excess causes constipation and gas. Any high protein diet can be hard on the kidneys, too. A spokesperson for the American Kidney Fund says:

"We have long suspected that high-protein weight loss diets could have a negative impact on the kidneys, and now we have research to support our suspicions. Dehydration forces the kidneys to work harder to clean toxins from the blood. Kidneys not only filter the blood, but they also help regulate blood pressure and the number of red blood cells."

Regarding high-protein diets, the American Heart Association says:

"Eliminating carbohydrates causes a loss of body fluids... prevent the body from completely burning fat... and form substances called ketones ... Ketosis makes dieting easier because it lowers appetite and may cause nausea."

The healthiest way to lose weight, according to most experts, is to eat less, exercise, and eat foods that pack the most nutrition in the fewest calories. Eggs in moderation are a healthy addition to a well-rounded diet, but eating nothing but eggs will lead to nothing but trouble.

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