Celebrity diet tricks that work…

6. They eat organic

Organic is all the rage in Hollywood. “The hormones in dairy, meat, and poultry raise estrogen levels, which can cause you to hold onto body fat,” nutritionist Wiatt says. The pesticides on nonorganic fruits and veggies also inhibit hormonal activity in the body, leading to weight gain, claims trainer Kirsch, who has also worked with Heidi Klum. Another no-no: Anything that’s processed or packaged, since it’s often laden with preservatives and salt. “I encourage clients to eat as simply as possible — for example, have just a plain chicken breast sautéed in a little lemon juice to add some flavor,” says trainer Patrick Murphy, who works with Eva Longoria.

Verdict: Not going to hurt you, but …

While it’s definitely wise to avoid exposure to potentially harmful pesticides and eating organic can be healthy, there’s no research to show that organic foods actually help with weight loss.

“Studies that look at the levels of hormones in people consuming conventional dairy products show pesticide levels are negligible,” Crum says. Plus, “It’s impossible to cut all sodium and refined sugars out of your diet – even a plain chicken breast has some salt!” Taub-Dix says. “You shouldn’t assume, either, that all packaged food is bad for you. There are some products, like the Kashi line, that are high in fiber and low in calories, fat, and salt.”

7. They count backward

The 3-2-1 Baby Bulge Be Gone plan from Hollywood trainer Ramona Braganza helped both Jessica Alba and Halle Berry get back in prepregnancy shape. They ate three meals, had two snacks, and drank a minimum of 1 liter of water a day.

“Their meals were as lean and clean as possible – they ate about 1,700 calories a day and completely avoided refined sugar, sauces, and sodium,” Braganza says. Here’s a sample of a day’s menu: a breakfast of egg whites, strawberries, and whole-wheat toast; a snack of low-fat string cheese and almonds; a lunch of green salad topped with salmon; another snack of low-fat yogurt and fruit; and a dinner of baked chicken breast drizzled with lemon juice and mustard, paired with helping of vegetables. Alba met her H2O quotient with vitamin-enriched flavored water.

Verdict: Yes, but …

“The only thing I would neg in this plan is the flavored water with vitamins — it adds an extra 50 calories per bottle — and if you’re already taking a multivitamin, you may run the risk of overdoing it,” Taub-Dix says. You can sub in a zero-calorie flavored water instead.

8. They take ADD meds

Paris Hilton and a number of hot Hollywood actresses are reportedly using Adderall, the attention-deficit disorder (ADD) medication. In Paris’ case, she says she takes it for ADD, which she has suffered from since she was 12. But the drug may have an added attraction: Adderall, a stimulant, was first marketed in the 1960s and 1970s as a diet pill because it decreases appetite and ramps up metabolism.

“Unfortunately, this drug is all too easy to get,” says Scott Isaacs, M.D., an endocrinologist and obesity specialist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. “Anyone can walk into an unscrupulous doctor’s office claiming she has ADD symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness, and walk out with a prescription.”

Verdict: Don’t do it.

You shouldn’t be taking this drug unless you’re under a doctor’s supervision, Isaacs says. Side effects include potentially dangerous increased blood pressure and heart rate. It’s also been linked to problems such as hearing voices and maniacal behavior. If you’re seriously overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about legitimate weight-loss drugs like Alli or phentermine.

9. They cleanse

Ever since Beyoncé admitted to losing 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse — a fast that usually involves at least 10 days of sipping nothing but an elixir of maple syrup, lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper — Hollywood has been buzzing about the weight-loss technique (also called the lemonade diet). The lemon supposedly acts as a purifier and provides bloat-reducing potassium, the cayenne pepper adds metabolism-boosting B vitamins, and the maple syrup provides the energy needed to get through such a grueling ordeal. “While I wouldn’t recommend doing something so drastic for more than a few days, I can say it works if you want to quickly shed three to five pounds,” Peterson says.

Another popular, less-dramatic cleanse is the 30-day Isagenix program, which involves eating about 1,000 calories a day in the form of shakes and snack bars that contain diuretics like aloe vera.

Verdict: Not so fast.

“The first few days, you’re just losing water weight, which is why you may see the scale drop so quickly,” Taub-Dix says. “But it’s counterproductive — all this does is slow down your metabolism, so you’re more apt to regain weight once you stop.” The diuretics also dehydrate you, which is dangerous, especially if you’re working out a lot. “You can become deficient in crucial minerals like sodium and potassium, which affect heart function,” Crum says.

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