Beyoncé’s Diet Plan Receives Criticism From Nutritionists

Two weeks ago, Beyoncé released a YouTube video which has been viewed almost two million times. The video broke down how Beyoncé got in shape for her Coachella 2018 performance. Beyoncé revealed that she followed Marco Borges’ 22-Day Plan for 44 days in order to lose the weight she wanted for her Coachella performance. As of now, the singer has teamed up with the author to promote this restrictive, plant-based diet but not all nutritionists agree with this idea.

The video showed Beyoncé stepping onto the scales, saying this is “every woman’s nightmare” and that she “still has a long way to go”. The singer breaks down Borges’ programme which is a plant-based diet that eliminates many food groups. In her Homecoming documentary, Beyoncé states her diet as “No bread, no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no alcohol” and she even says she’s “hungry”. A number of nutritional experts have criticised Beyoncé’s diet as it cuts out so many important food groups. 

Charlotte Stirling-Reed who is a registered nutritionist has stated the dangers of removing so many central food groups from your diet. She begins by saying how Beyoncé’s diet is “really disappointing” and that it is “hugely restrictive”. She states “the majority of the main food groups we are recommended to have are being eliminated, with no explanation to her fans about alternatives to offer instead.” She provides an example, “those cutting out dairy need to be replacing the nutrients that you may find in dairy foods- like calcium, iodine, B vitamins – with the same nutrients from other foods- like fortified plant milks, nuts and seeds, lentils & pulses-every day.” Those who follow this diet are “therefore at risk of becoming deficient and lacking in energy.”
Charlotte also states that the diet “suggests it is OK to feel hungry – hunger is our body’s way of helping us to survive, helping to ensure we eat enough to sustain energy for everyday functioning of our heart, lungs and brain. Encouraging people to ignore this is irresponsible.” 

Nutritionist Daniel O’Shaughnessy told the BBC that “Beyoncé is selling a dream” and that it “is worrying as she has a number of teenage followers who are easily susceptible.” Stirling-Reed also adds that many of these followers will not have the access Beyoncé does in order to follow this diet successfully. She states “Beyoncé likely has a team of GPs, chefs, nutritionists at her beck and call” which “means she can get balanced meals  created for her, making her eating plan somewhat easy to follow and sustainable – for her.” 

Ultimately, Beyoncé’s support of an incredibly restrictive diet could have a negative effect on many of her young female followers. Stirling-Reed positively concludes "It’s much better to take an individual approach to your health. Look at aspects that you as an individual could change, as well as why you want to make those changes. Setting mini goals that are about improving your overall health are much more likely to be realistic for you in the long run, and are much more healthy for your body and your mental health too!"

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