The SirtFood diet is a dietary plan that restricts calories and food intake. Its creators claim the diet, which includes foods such as strawberries, kale, and dark chocolate, can promote weight loss and help prevent disease and aging. Many celebrities have tried it and say they loved it, including Adele.

However, these are lofty claims, and there is limited scientific evidence that the SirtFood diet is beneficial or even safe for all.

Here is everything a person needs to know before talking with their doctor about the SirtFood diet.

A person selecting sirtuin-rich foods as part of the SirtFood diet.Share on Pinterest
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The SirtFood diet is a newer fad diet that reportedly helps people lose weight, burn fat, build muscle, and prevent disease.

The idea behind the program is that some foods activate the production of sirtuin proteins in the body.

Research shows that sirtuins normally function in the body to repair DNA, reduce inflammation, and defend cells against potentially damaging oxidative stress.

Supporters of the SirtFood plan claim that eating certain foods helps the body produce sirtuins, which then help prevent inflammation, reduce negative effects of aging, help prevent disease, increase muscle mass, and reduce body weight.

The diet is also very calorie-restrictive. Studies show that caloric restriction does increase the production of sirtuins in some organisms, including yeast, fruit flies, and some mammals.

However, one 2015 review examining the effects of sirtuins concludes that claims about these molecules’ impact on humans remain highly controversial.

The review suggests they might have anti-inflammatory effects, particularly related to the antioxidant resveratrol, which is present in red wine.

Other studies show that the compound curcumin may help activate sirtuins, though research on this is preliminary.

However, the review article underscores the fact that there is limited evidence looking at the role of sirtuins in humans, and more research is needed to examine how they work.

Despite the lack of evidence in humans, the SirtFood diet recommends an eating plan high in sirtuin-activating foods.

Asian and Mediterranean diets often contain sirtuin-activating foods.

A 2013 study suggests that combining foods from Asia and the Mediterranean may be the key to preventing disease and helping ensure healthful aging. The researchers also acknowledge that additional studies are needed to investigate the theory thoroughly.

Some people swear by the SirtFood diet, but there is no evidence of its effectiveness for most people.

No published studies investigate how the diet affects weight loss, signs of aging, or disease prevention. The closest study is from 2013, but it does not directly discuss the SirtFood diet, and calls for additional research.

Nevertheless, the SirtFood diet website insists that the program can help people:

  • lose up to 7 pounds in 7 days
  • retain muscle mass
  • decrease the risk of chronic disease
  • improve memory
  • provide anti-aging effects
  • help control blood sugar levels

The website also provides testimonials from users who purchased the SirtFood dietary guidelines book, but it does not provide or reference any scientific evidence of the program’s effectiveness.

It is important to note that short-term fad diet plans for weight loss are typically not effective. On a fad diet, a person will often regain the weight they lost after they stop the diet program.

The diet highlights these 20 foods:

A person can purchase the dietary plan’s official book through their website. There are also several cookbooks available that include meal ideas using SirtFoods.

During the diet, the food is very restrictive to keep the calorie count low.

A person who wishes to follow the SirtFood diet should follow the program’s meal plans and shake preparations to avoid consuming excess calories.

There are two phases to the SirtFood diet plan.

Phase 1

During phase 1 of the SirtFood diet, a person follows an eating plan that severely restricts their calorie intake.

During the first 3 days, a person following the diet would eat one SirtFood-rich meal and drink three green shakes, for a total of 1,000 daily calories.

For days 4–7, a person consumes two SirtFood-rich meals and two shakes each day for a total of 1,500 daily calories.

Phase 2

Phase 2 lasts for 2 weeks. During this stage, a person would eat three SirtFood-rich meals a day and consume one green shake.

This phase emphasizes weight loss in a similar way to phase 1.

After the phases

The SirtFoods short-term diet lasts 3 weeks. A person can then repeat the program immediately or whenever they wish to restart the strict plan.

Otherwise, a person would consume a diet rich in SirtFoods, but with fewer restrictions on calories.

There are no real studies directly examining the SirtFood diet. However, the available evidence provides some information on its potential effectiveness and risks.

According to the National Institute on Aging, some studies suggest calorie-restrictive diets may have several health benefits, such as a lower risk for diabetes or heart disease. However, they also point out that no long-term studies are available.

They also caution that current research on calorie restriction is inconclusive because most consist of animal studies, with not enough investigating effects on humans. They also say that scientists do not yet fully understand the body processes involved with calorie restriction.

People should talk with their doctor before starting a new diet, particularly if they plan on restricting calorie intake. A healthcare professional will help ensure an eating plan provides the necessary nutrients based on a person’s individual needs.

Hunger is a likely side effect of the diet since it involves severe calorie restriction.

The keto and SirtFood diets are calorie- and food-restricting programs. They both provide people with food guidelines and meal plan ideas, and both promote weight loss.

The SirtFood diet focuses on eating foods that affect levels of sirtuin proteins in the body. Though many of these foods are low carb, not all are, and the diet does not revolve around reducing carb intake.

In contrast, the keto diet focuses on eating low carb foods. The plan suggests that a person eat foods rich in protein and healthful fats while avoiding too many carbs, such as fruits, grains, and sugar

The keto diet’s aim is to put a person into a state of ketosis, meaning their body will use stored fat instead of carbs for energy.

A person interested in trying the SirtFood diet should talk with their doctor first. They can provide advice and guidance on determining if the diet is right for them.

Supporters of the SirtFood diet say it helps people with weight loss, has anti-aging properties, and aids in preventing disease.

However, studies on its effectiveness are limited, so a person may wish to approach this diet with skepticism.