Look who’s talking: Kirstie Alley (yes, the very same Jenny Craig spokesperson who got the boot after famously losing weight and putting it back on) is once again promoting a diet. Developed by the actress and supported by an advisory board of experts, Kirstie Alley’s Organic Liaison diet is a subscription-based online eating program that emphasizes eating organic foods in conjunction with special supplements. The Dancing with the Stars vet says that she’s lost 90 pounds thanks to the weight loss plan, which was launched in 2009, but the question remains: Should you listen to nutrition advice from this larger-than-life star?
Growing up organic
The Program
As its name implies, Organic Liaison is guided by the principle that you should eat predominantly organic foods—fruit, veggies, dairy, and meat. To help curb cravings, rev metabolism, and improve sleep, Organic Liaison offers a slew of supplements and snacks, including organic popcorn and agave sweeteners, that you can buy online and through QVC. While many of the add-ons are considered optional, the centerpieces are Rescue Me ($49.99), a vitamin mineral drink that you mix with water, and Pagoda ($17.99), a green tea supplement pill.
In addition, you’re encouraged to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day, each of which should include a high-fiber food and low-fat protein. The online tool calculates your daily caloric goals based on your height, weight, and activity levels and allows you to track foods eaten and calories consumed and burned throughout the day. The website also provides sample meal plans, a menu planner, and nearly 700 organic recipes. Send a nutrition question to Organic Liaison’s health director Deborah A. Klein, RD, and she’ll usually respond within 48 hours.
Organic Liaison has three pricing options. On the basic plan, you can register for $18.95 and pay $15.95 month-to-month for access to the online tools; supplements are extra. With the standard plan, you pay $47.85 up front for three months, and the sign-up fee is waived. Organic Liaison’s premium plan includes online access and all of the supplements for $139 the first month and $119 for every month thereafter.
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The Claim
According to Klein, pesticides act like obesogens—hormones that interfere with the way your body metabolizes fat—which stimulate fat growth. Sticking to a mostly organic diet reduces the amount of pesticides you consume, which will in turn prevent increased fat production. Klein also says that organic foods have more nutrients than the regular kind.
Organic Liaison’s supplement line claims to do everything from reducing cravings to cleansing your colon, from boosting energy to helping your metabolism. Klein points out that the Rescue Me elixir contains vitamin B (key to burning carbs and fat), aloe vera (for detoxing purposes), Siberian ginseng (for mental alertness), fiber (to stave off hunger), and a prebiotic (to support healthy bacteria in your digestive system).
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The Facts
The concept of “organic” has generated quite the health halo over the past few years, but eating organic foods doesn’t guarantee weight loss. While there’s a growing body of research that links chemicals such as BPA to obesity, the link between pesticides, in particular, and weight gain is not as well documented. What we do know: A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that babies who were exposed to higher levels of pesticides in utero were more likely to gain weight rapidly and have higher BMI levels. In regard to the claim that organic foods are more nutritious, the jury is still out. A 2010 review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at 50 years of research and concluded that there’s not enough evidence to support the contention that organic foods are healthier than conventionally grown foodstuffs.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to eat organic and cut your level of exposure to pesticides. Just make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. “‘Organic’ is a government-regulated term,” points out Jason Machowsky, RD, creator of the blog Thymelines Fitness and Nutrition. “There’s kind of a baseline of better treatment of food with the organic label—pesticides can’t be used, it regulates the management and treatment of animals—but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthier.” Plus, food only has to be 95% organic to receive the USDA labeling, he adds. If you are going to buy organic foods, focus on the Dirty Dozen, a group of fruits and veggies identified by the Environmental Working Group as those that contain the highest levels of pesticide contamination.
